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Answer on the tip of your tongue

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The eyes are the windows to the soul, says the adage. In traditional Chinese medicine, though, it's the tongue that gives insight into the overall physical status of the body, otherwise known as zheng.

Now, in a modern update to the ancient practice, University of Missouri researchers, working in collaboration with Beijing's Tsinghua University, have developed computer software that does tongue analysis to warn of disease.

Based on this software, the researchers aim to create an application for smartphones within the next year that will allow anyone to take a photo of their tongue and learn the status of their zheng. This could help both practitioners and patients better predict or prevent disorders and chronic conditions.

'Zheng is an overall description of health, similar to how Westerners look at body temperature and blood pressure to gauge physical status. Zheng is of a similar spirit,' says Professor Xu Dong, chairman of Missouri's computer science department in the college of engineering and study co-author.

'In a healthy state, your zheng is balanced, and if you exhibit abnormal features, such as a discoloured tongue, your zheng is unbalanced.

'Knowing your zheng classification can serve as a pre-screening tool and help with preventive medicine. Our software helps bridge Eastern and Western medicine, since an imbalance in zheng could serve as a warning to go see a doctor.'

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