Tongue?

December 2nd, 2023| Topic: RaMbLeS | 0

Engineers from Middle Technical University (Baghdad) and the University of South Australia (Adelaide) used a USB web camera and computer to capture images of patients’ tongues, focusing on 50 individuals afflicted with conditions like diabetes, renal failure, and anemia. They then compared the captured tongue colors with a comprehensive database of 9,000 tongue images and sought to diagnose those same conditions among those 9.000 patients.

Believe it or not, leveraging advanced image processing techniques, researchers achieved a diagnostic accuracy rate of 94 percent. (And in addition, the system automatically generated voicemails specifying the patient’s tongue color and the detected disease, which were sent as text messages to either the patient or their designated healthcare provider. Easy-peasy!)

The results were published in the American Institute of Physics Conference Proceedings as “Computer-Aided Diseases Dagnosis System Based on Tongue Color Analysis: A Review”:

The tongue color is a mirror that reflects the health status of a patient. It could be used in diagnosing some diseases without any physical contact with the patient, which facilitates the process of primary healthcare.”

Of course, this is not new. Said Prof. Ali Al-Naji, one of the authors:

Thousands of years ago, Chinese medicine pioneered the practice of examining the tongue to detect illness. Conventional medicine has long endorsed this method, demonstrating that the color, shape, and thickness of the tongue can reveal signs of diabetes, liver issues, circulatory and digestive problems, as well as blood and heart diseases.”

Not only the Chinese, but the Hebrews, too. The Bible is rife with references to the tongue.

He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.
Proverbs 21:23

A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit.
Proverbs 15:4

Said one reviewer of the study:

Distinct diseases manifest specific tongue colors: diabetes patients often exhibit a yellow tongue, while cancer patients may have a purple tongue with a thick, greasy coating. Acute stroke patients, on the other hand, may present with a red and crooked tongue.”

I like that—“crooked tongue.” And the Bible has lots to say about that, as well!

There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Proverbs 12:18

A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
And a flattering mouth works ruin.
Proverbs 26:28

The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue Is a fleeting vapor,
the pursuit of death.
Proverbs 21:6

This corruption of tongue, according to Proverbs, is one of the things God hates vehemently:

There are six things which Yahweh hates,
Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: … a lying tongue, …
Proverbs 6:16

Back to Al-Naji:

Taking this a step further, new methods for diagnosing disease from the tongue’s appearance are now being done remotely using artificial intelligence and a camera—even a smartphone. Computerized tongue analysis is highly accurate and could help diagnose diseases remotely in a safe, effective, easy, painless, and cost-effective way. This is especially relevant in the wake of a global pandemic like COVID, where access to health centers can be compromised.”

Indeed, the value of the tongue!

The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver.
Proverbs 10:20

A soothing tongue is a tree of life.
Proverbs 15:4

She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
Proverbs 31:26

Yup, we need to watch our tongues (in more ways than one):

He who guards his mouth and his tongue,
Guards his soul from troubles.
Proverbs 21:23

SOURCE: StudyFinds; AIP Conference Proceedings; Vecteezy.com