Deconstructing the moss-peeling tongue, depression and yin deficiency, the spleen does not rise clear as its main disease mechanism, followed by the commonly used medication on the birth of moss Dan.

I. The redefinition of moss-peeling tongue: from "dry soil" to "blocked drains" in Chinese medicine

1. Breakthroughs in traditional theory

Let's take a look at what the 9th edition textbook Diagnostics of Traditional Chinese Medicine has to say about peeling moss:

I don't know why, but when I look at the textbook, I feel sad.
It's like when a crop field is dry and no more crops grow, and you come up and say there's no water in the pool. We people know to take a look at whether the canal is blocked, the water can not pass. Or look at the pressure pump is not the pressure is small, the water can not be pumped up.

On the subject of the tongue, we can take a look at this previously written article:The Principles of Tongue Production.Techniques | Deconstructing the Principles of Tongue Diagnosis
If we follow this analysis, I would say that all five organs and six viscera are related to the production of tongue moss, as is stripping moss. Spleen qi operates, kidney yang warms, liver qi promotes, and lung qi declares.

Then so remember, the brain feels clear, the actual use is a mess, unclear, confused. Then we directly change a minimalist thinking to see the problem. In fact, just like acupuncture, you can treat the disease from the meridian point of view, from the image of thinking about the treatment of disease is as effective, I use the five points of the five elements of the five elements of the birth of grams is also effective. For example, you are upstairs in the shower, is washing suddenly no water in the shower. Then we can consider from three aspects.
Number one that water reservoir is out of water. Secondly, the hose is clogged somewhere with hair or some kind of cloth or other debris. Thirdly, the water pressure of the upward pressure pump is too low, and the water can't be pushed up.
Corresponding to our principle of peeling moss production from this perspective, I summarize it as follows:Depression, Yin deficiency, Spleen does not promote clearing.

This sums up Depression and Yin Deficiency, Spleen Doesn't Rise and Clear (Three Liters), which is simple and easy to remember, takes better care of, and is very comfortable to use.

• ​Textbook definitions: peeling moss = stomach qi deficiency/stomach yin damage, but clinical findings:
  • In patients with stripped moss, the tongue is more pale and tender (Yang deficiency) than fat and large (phlegm-damp congestion).
  • New particles can be seen on the peeled tongue (a sign of rising yang energy)
• ​Modern Verification: Tongue flora assay shows reduced diversity of flora in the moss stripping region (Nature Microbiology 2023 data).

2. Three-element model of moss stripping generation

① depression (qi, blood, phlegm, cold and heat) → drain blockage
② Yin deficiency (spleen and stomach insufficient source of transformation) → barren soil
③ Spleen does not rise clear (liver and kidney yang qi propulsion weakness) → water pump failure  

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​Second, 12 tongue mapping analysis and conditioning program

1. Classification of typical peeling tongue

Let's look at tongue analysis again:

2. Medication logic

​Tongue Characteristics	​core pathogenesis	​Recommended Formulas
front part of the moss with tooth marks	depletion of the spleen and trapping of qi (TCM)	Tonifying the middle Jiao Qi Tang + Raw Malt 15g
Root peeling moss white and greasy	Kidney-Yang deficiency prevents water-dampness from resolving	Zhenwu Tang+Sha Ren 6g
Flower peeling moss with dark tongue	lit. depression of the liver and blood stasis (idiom); venereal disease with depression and blood stasis	Easy San + Peach Kernel and Safflower Decoction
Mirror tongue with cracks	deficiency of both qi and yin	Shengmusan+Dendrobium 15g

3. Essentials of the Formulation of San Moss Dan

• ​Core Compatibility::Stir-fried Chinese yam (tonifying spleen yin) + raw malt (elevating liver qi) → invigorating the spleen and elevating Qing, breaking up depression and generating moss.
  These two herbs, one of which strengthens the spleen and stomach and replenishes qi and yin, address the source of the problem. One is raw malt, which itself has the property of ascending and developing, soothing liver qi and helping the liver wood to ascend and develop, and also helping the spleen to ascend and clear. It is included in the pathogenesis of stripping of moss, depression and yin deficiency, and the spleen's failure to elevate and clear.
• ​mnemonic chant::
  "Strip the mossy tongue, three liters of tonic, yam and malt together at large;
  The stagnation is dispersed, yin fluids are born, and the tongue produces moss like a spring seedling."

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​Third, the common misunderstandings of modern people and crack the way

What is rigid and fixed in textbooks cannot be fully applied to clinical practice. It is like the saying in "Nezha 2: The Brain of the Devil Child": "Break it for me!" You have to keep trying to unravel what is fixed.

This era has changed, it is the era belonging to our new generation of young Chinese medicine practitioners, we have to be confident, the love of Chinese medicine will constantly give us the power to go forward, so that we shine in this era.

The last sentence:Inherit the way of healing, every person who loves Chinese medicine has the responsibility, not to carry forward, but only to pass on the essence.

It's a long way to go, and I'm going to go up and down the road.

1. Three fatal misconceptions

• ​Myth 1: Use Yin-supporting medicines when you see peeling moss
  • ​correct solution (a math. equation): tongue pale and tender, peeling moss → spleen yang deficiency, need Li-Zhong Tang+Sha Ren
• ​Myth 2: Red tongue with stripped moss = Yin deficiency and fire
  • ​correct solution (a math. equation)Red tongue with little moss and cold fear → upper heat and lower cold, need Jiaotai Pill + Cinnamon
• ​Myth 3: Peeling moss = Stomach yin damage
  • ​correct solution (a math. equation): Peeling of moss with abdominal distension → Spleen deficiency and Qi stagnation, need Xiangsha Liu Junzi Tang

2. Conditioning cycle planning

• ​Broken Depression (1-2 weeks)Add yu jin and xiang fu to detoxify the liver.
• ​Mossy period (3-4 weeks)Ginseng Ling Bai Zhu San + Sheng Mai Zhu, strengthens the spleen and rises the Qing Dynasty.
• ​Sterilization period (5-6 weeks): turtle-deer and two immortals gum to strengthen the root, with a small amount of cinnamon stick to promote Yang