WHEN YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH and say “aah,” you tell your doctor all sorts of things even though you can’t form an actual word. The tongue, one of the body’s few organs that’s visible without a scalpel, can be a key diagnostic tool, according to Michelle Loy, MD, assistant professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. “We can infer a lot about a patient by examining their tongue—hydration level, coffee or tobacco use, immune health, and vitamin deficiencies,” she says. Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a 3,000-year-old discipline incorporating ancient healing practices, also pay close attention to the tongue, noting its size, shape, color, coating, and texture. “In TCM, the tongue is considered the gateway to our bodies,” adds Loy, who’s also a medical acupuncturist. From its position at the top of the digestive tract,“it reflects what’s going on inside and gives us a snapshot of the digestive process,” she explains.
And now futuristic medicine is getting in on the tongue action, joining mainstream Western practices and ancient ones. In a recent small study, Iraqi and Australian researchers used artificial intelligence to analyze tongue images from patients with diabetes, renal failure, and anemia, resulting in correct diagnoses in 94% of the cases.
Take a look at your own tongue. A healthy one is usually pink, with no swollen veins on the underside (which can mean high blood pressure) or scalloplike indentations (which can indicate thyroid problems, anxiety, or other issues). If your tongue is swollen, red, painful, or fuzzy, mention it to your healthcare provider so you can nip potential problems in the (taste) bud. —Amy Maclin
Want to get a little happier? Look no further than Finland. The Nordic country has repeatedly clinched the very top spot in the World Happiness Report, and its tourism board is spreading the joy with an online class in happiness—or onnellisuus, in Finnish. The program covers four areas key to Finns’ positive mindsets: nature and lifestyle, health and balance, design and everyday, and food and well-being. Each lesson includes a short video or two, plus homework (like spend some phone-free time in nature, tell someone you’re sorry, upcycle an item in your home, or cook a new recipe). Upon completion, you’ll get a certificate you can hang as a reminder to nurture the things that keep you fulfilled. The best part: The course is free! You can’t put a price on happiness, after all. Learn more at visitfinland.com. —Melissa Matthews
COURTESY OF VISIT FINLAND AND ELINA SIRPARANTA
Illustration by Abbey Lossing