Your tongue is a muscular organ covered with a mucous membrane and small bumps. It helps you taste, chew and swallow the food, and form words. Increased levels of growth hormone, abnormal protein buildup in the body, Down syndrome, hypothyroidism and certain cancers can cause your tongue to swell. Sudden swelling may also occur as a result of an allergic reaction which may require emergency medical help. Treatment depends on the underlying cause. Alternative therapies such as acupuncture may also help treat a swollen tongue. However, talk to a doctor before using acupuncture to make sure it is right for you.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is part of traditional Chinese medicine, and it is one of the oldest healing practices in the word. It helps to treat a wide variety of conditions by stimulating specific anatomical points in your body which are, in turn, connected to vital energy pathways in the body. Acupuncture is fairly popular in the United States. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 3.1 million adults and 150,000 children used acupuncture in 2010. However, it is important to remember that not all benefits of acupuncture have been proven scientifically.
Swollen Tongue
According to traditional Chinese Medicine, the tongue is connected to several internal organs, and hence, the color, texture and size of your tongue may play an important role in the diagnosis of various conditions. According to the website Sacred Lotus Arts, swollen tongue may indicate spleen or heart heat as well as excessive alcohol consumption. If the swelling is localized, then the area of swelling will help indicate the associated health problems. For example, swollen sides of the tongue indicate liver and gallbladder problems, and swelling between tips and central portion of the tongue points to spleen or lung diseases. Treating these underlying disease may help reduce the swelling of the tongue.
Treatment
Activating the patients Qi or vital energy using pressure points on the left eye and the lower limbs can help improve brain tumor and the tongue swelling associated with it, says Dr. Shmuel Halevi in an article published in the "Journal of Chinese Medicine." As per a case study reported by Dr. Christopher M. Norris in the book “Acupuncture,” tonifying the Qi by using pressure points such as ST-36, SP-3 and SP-6 may help treat patients who have a swollen tongue or spleen disorders. An article published in the July 2001 issue of the journal “Acupuncture Today” also points out that pressure points on the median ends of the two eyebrows, around the naval, forearm and lower leg may help treat hypothyroidism which may lead to swollen tongue.
Precautions
Most complications associated with acupuncture occur due to inadequately sterilized needles and improperly delivered treatments. Hence, it is important to check the credentials of your therapist before starting the treatment. Make sure the practitioner uses a new pack of needles and swabs the skin with a disinfectant before piercing it. Consult your doctor to find out if acupuncture is right for you.
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