Tongue Diagnosis, Visible Responses to Pathology

Ann Cecil-Sterman is an acupuncturist clinician, teacher, and author of the acclaimed books, Advanced Acupuncture and The Art of Pulse Diagnosis. Tongue Diagnosis, Visible Responses to Pathology contains a detailed, step-by-step exploration of the energetics of internal health and shows how that leads to a method of tongue diagnosis, useful for any style of Chinese medicine practice and invaluable for telemedicine. The aim of this book is to convey the principles of diagnosis rather than require memorization of tongue presentations. In this way any tongue viewed can be approached step-by-step, leading to an insightful and accurate diagnosis. Tongue Diagnosis includes discussions and analysis of tongue shape, length, moisture, texture, color, coverage, coat, spots, froth, lines, cracks, thorns, eruptions, hollows, trapped heat, pulse vectors, sublingual veins, and organ function, all as described on the tongue. Much of this material appears in print for the first time including discussion of tongue diagnostics for all the channels of acupuncture, including Primary channels and the complement channels: the Eight Extraordinary, Divergent, Luo, and Sinew meridians. Throughout the theory, case studies, and frequently asked questions, there are methodical protocols that can deeply inform everyone's practice, from beginners to advanced practitioners, and of particular use not only to acupuncturists and herbalists but dietary practitioners, and beyond. The book includes the practice of correlating tongue indicators with advanced dietetics. Tongue Diagnosis contains 306 photographs and 96 diagrams. Designed and illustrated by Cody Dodo. Foreword by Dr. Hung Tran. Printed in the USA, London, or Melbourne. Hard Cover, 202 pages.

Tongue diagnosis in Chinese medicine is a holographic system that reveals in-depth information about our patients, and is especially important in this new era of telemedicine and long distance patient care. Ann has delivered her new book with an impressive amount of detail, allowing the practitioner to diagnose and make herbal, dietary and lifestyle recommendations for patients even in situations where they are unable to come into the office for evaluation or treatment. The photos and diagrams are highly instructive, including channel differentiation as well as standard zang fu (viscera bowel) patterns. As with Ann's other books, her sense of practicing medicine as an art as well as a science is maintained throughout, making this an enjoyable and inspiring reading/study experience.

-Z'ev Rosenberg, L. Ac. 醫生, Professor, Alembic Institute, Chair Emeritus, Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, San Diego, CA.

In my vast personal library of Chinese medicine books, none are more valuable to me than the ones written by Ann Cecil-Sterman. Without exception, her books penetrate beyond mere clinical utility to illuminate the subtle interplay of basic principles. Each book serves independently as a Great Reveal of how, hidden beneath the surface of our medical traditions, all the keys are present for seeing with great precision exactly what's going on in an individual's body and what help it is seeking to regain balance and flow. Still, even holding these expectations formed from my experience with her previous works, Tongue Diagnosis, Visible Responses to Pathology exceeded my imagination of what a book about tongue diagnosis could possibly achieve.

-John Heuertz, DOM, author of Clinical Guide to Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Formulas, (and dozens of articles on Chinese medicine).

Ann Cecil Sterman's Tongue Diagnosis gets to the literal heart of a powerful diagnostic tool that we used during the pandemic period when remote diagnosis and treatments became a necessity. This text is a bright light, informed by Dr. Jeffrey C. Yuen. Explanations are clear and concise. Moving beyond the basic parameters of tongue diagnosis this text is beneficial for holistic practitioners of all modalities of medicine. This book is written for those who practice medicine from their heart and soul, using preventive, therapeutic and restorative approaches to healing.

-Jomo K. Alakoye-Simmons, L.Ac. H.M.P. (Holistic Medical Practitioner)

Ann Cecil-Sterman, MS, L.Ac, is the author of the widely acclaimed books, The Art of Pulse Diagnosis, Illustrations of the Complete Acupuncture System, and Advanced Acupuncture: A Clinic Manual, a required text in many acupuncture schools in the United States. She travels all over the world, to Spain, England, Mexico, Italy, Australia, Canada, Poland, and all over the United States, to teach the application and methodology of the Complement Channels, the art of pulse diagnosis, and with her husband, Andrew Sterman, the use of food as medicine. For many years she taught Advanced Clinical Observation and was a senior clinic supervisor at the school of acupuncture founded by Dr. Jeffrey Yuen in 1997 in New York City. She is a long-time student of Dr. Yuen, having extensively studied acupuncture, diet, Chinese medical history, herbs, Qigong, essential oils, stones, and philosophy with him across North America. Ann was director of the Classical Wellness Center in Manhattan where for many years she practiced and taught classes on advanced diagnosis and the theory and application of Classical Chinese Medicine. Currently, her patients-children and adults of all ages-come from all over the world, working through illnesses, or on personal cultivation. Ann's practice features the Complement Channels of acupuncture-the Sinew, Luo, Divergent, and Eight Extraordinary Channels-and is augmented with Classical Chinese dietary therapeutic guidance. Ann also paints large-scale abstract works depicting physiological function, especially pulses. As a musician, one of her three CDs was nominated for an ARIA (Australian Grammy). She occasionally tours with the Philip Glass Ensemble, having toured with them in Europe, Australia and the United States. She lives in Chelsea, Manhattan, with her husband and two children. www.anncecilsterman.com

Cody Dodo, MS, LAc, studied acupuncture under Dr. Jeffrey Yuen at the Swedish Institute in New York and later completed advanced studies with Dr. Yuen in acupuncture and Chinese dietary therapy. Prior to his pursuit of acupuncture, Cody had a long career as a graphic designer in the publishing industry. Cody has a private acupuncture practice in Manhattan, and teaches Classical Acupuncture internationally, and at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. He also designed the author's other books, Advanced Acupuncture: A Clinic Manual (2012, 2018), Illustrations of the Complete Acupuncture System (2014), and The Art of Pulse Diagnosis (2015).