A: Coating of the tongue usually reflects a more systemic concern rather than a local process just affecting the mouth. In serious illnesses in which a person may be immuno-suppressed, a whitish coating can be evidence for infections such as thrush, which is due to the fungus, Candida albicans.
Candida is almost universally present but produces problems when the host's immune system is weakened. Thrush is diagnosed when the white patches on the tongue are scraped off and the underlying red tissue bleeds slightly. If this is the case, I recommend you see your family physician or dermatologist to make a precise diagnosis and receive specific therapy.
More commonly, a coated tongue reflects some weakness in your digestive power. According to Ayurveda, the ancient healing system from India, a coated tongue is an expression of ama. This Sanskrit word means "undigested residue" and is a manifestation of the accumulation of toxins in the physiology. There are many causes for ama accumulation including the consumption of toxic foods and substances, emotional stress, recent surgery, chemotherapy or antibiotic treatment.
Ama has both physical and emotional components. Just as we can accumulate toxicity in our body, we can accumulate mental and emotional toxicity when we hold on to toxic emotions such as hostility, resentment, jealousy and regret. We can also store toxins in our mind body system when we tolerate toxicity in our relationships and work environment.
To reduce the ama in your life, address the various components that comprise a human being. Look at your environment and honestly assess where you may be tolerating toxins. Look at the air you breathe and the water you are drinking. Eliminate tobacco and other recreational substances and reduce the alcohol and caffeine in your life.
Try simplifying your diet for a few weeks consuming only easy-to-digest foods such as rice, cooked vegetables and dahl soups made from mung beans. Use spicy herbs such as ginger, basil, thyme, sage and cardamom. Consider fasting for one day per week consuming only fresh fruit and vegetable juices on that day. Reduce your consumption of dairy, particularly cheeses, ice cream and yogurt.
From an herbal perspective, the first approach worth trying is to rinse your mouth with aloe vera juice four times a day. First swirl about a tablespoon in your mouth, spit it out and then drink a tablespoon so you are receiving four tablespoons internally. Try this for two weeks. An Ayurvedic herb worth knowing is Neem (Azadirachta indica). This is one of Ayurveda's most potent blood purifiers. Make a decoction by boiling a tablespoon of Neem leaves in a cup of water until the volume is reduced in half. Then gargle and swish your mouth with this bitter, but purifying herb. Neem can be found in most Indian or Middle Eastern grocery stores.
Sluggish bowels are another symptom of accumulated ama. The Ayurvedic formula known as Triphala can be helpful in mobilizing and eliminating toxicity through your digestive system. The recommended amount is about a gram per day in divided doses.
Gently cleaning your tongue when you brush your teeth provides an assessment of your current level of ama. You are not going to eliminate ama by cleaning your tongue, but you should notice progressive improvement as you engage in life- and heart-purifying practices.
