The School of Traditional Chinese Medicine (STCM) at Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM) has published a new academic book titled A Beginner's Guide to Tongue Diagnosis: Understanding Health Through the Tongue (《舌诊入门指南—通过舌头看健康》). Edited by Prof. Chen Shaodong, Dean of STCM, the book is published by Fujian Science and Technology Publishing House.

Prof. Chen Shaodong also serves as Chair of the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies (WFCMS) Specialty Committee of Tongue Research and is a scholar with extensive experience in traditional Chinese diagnostic techniques.

Tongue diagnosis is one of the four fundamental diagnostic approaches in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), alongside observation, smelling, questioning, and pulse-taking (望闻问切). It is a longstanding method used to assess a patient's health condition through visible changes on the tongue.

The book is structured around a "Theory–Atlas–Application" framework:

Theory: Offers a systematic overview of the development of tongue diagnosis, from its classical origins in the Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) to modern clinical research.

Atlas: Features more than 200 high-resolution images of various tongue presentations, each accompanied by analysis of underlying conditions and associated treatment strategies.

Application: Provides practical guidance through case-based intervention plans, incorporating herbal medicine, acupuncture, and dietary therapy.

Designed for both educational and clinical use, the book aligns with China's national TCM curriculum standards and aims to support teaching, diagnosis, and treatment. It also presents its content in accessible language, making it suitable for students, practitioners, and general readers seeking to understand TCM principles.

"This book reflects our effort to bridge classical theory with modern clinical practice," said Prof. Chen Shaodong. "We hope it will serve as a valuable resource for readers in Malaysia, China, and beyond."

A Beginner's Guide to Tongue Diagnosis will also be used as a teaching reference in XMUM's TCM programme, supporting both foundational learning and clinical training.

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