6 Big Social Media Myths About Body Signs
Hundreds of images are shared on social media every day:
“If the tip of your tongue is red, such-and-such organ is ill.” “If you have this spot on your nail, you’re short of this vitamin.”
These posts are easy to understand and appealing. But they have a problem: the body is far more complex than these formulas.
Here are the 6 most common myths, and the truth.
Myth 1: “White tongue = fungus”
The truth: A white tongue can have many causes: oral hygiene, dry mouth, smoking, medicines, digestion… Fungal infection is only one of them. If a white coating that wipes off comes with burning and pain, fungus can be investigated. See Why Is My Tongue White?
Myth 2: “White spots on nails = calcium deficiency”
The truth: The most common cause of small white dots on the nail is small knocks to the nail root. A particular deficiency cannot be diagnosed by looking at a single white dot. See White Spots on Nails: Is It Calcium Deficiency?
Myth 3: “Bad breath comes from the stomach”
The truth: In most cases of bad breath, the source is the mouth itself: tongue coating, gum disease, tooth problems and dry mouth. Digestion sometimes plays a part, but usually isn’t the main cause. See Does Bad Breath Really Come from the Stomach?
Myth 4: “A bitter mouth = liver disease”
The truth: A change in taste can have many causes, from medicines and mouth problems to reflux and infections. A bitter mouth on its own doesn’t mean liver disease. See A Bitter Taste in the Mouth
Myth 5: “Puffiness under the eyes = kidney disease”
The truth: Swelling around the eyes can have many causes, such as lack of sleep, a salty diet, allergies, crying and age. In kidney disease there are usually other signs too, such as changes in urine and swelling in the legs.
Myth 6: “Dry skin = Sevdavi temperament”
The truth: Temperament is not determined by a single sign. Dry skin can be due to many causes, such as the season, water intake, soap use, age and some diseases. Diagnosing temperament is diagnosing a pattern, not a sign. See What Is Temperament, and Why Should You Know Your Own “Normal”?
Why are these myths so widespread?
Because they are simple. The formula “sign A = disease B” is memorable and easy to share.
But the truth is:
- One sign can have more than one cause.
- One disease can show itself with different signs.
Real diagnosis comes from the combination of signs.
The right approach: look for the pattern
When you notice a change, instead of looking at a single formula, ask:
- Is this change new, or was it always there?
- Is it in one area, or in several places?
- What other signs come with it?
- What makes it better, and what makes it worse?
- Do they all together form a pattern? See 5 Golden Questions for Reading the Body
Traditional medicine is against formulas too
Contrary to what many think, Sina–Unani medicine doesn’t take a “one sign = one disease” approach either. Traditional physicians read the tongue together with the pulse, urine, complexion, sleep, appetite and digestion.
Seeing a spot at one point on the tongue and saying “This area belongs to such-and-such organ, so that organ is ill” is a method suited neither to traditional nor to modern medicine.
Conclusion
Social media formulas look tempting, but the body must be read like a book, not like a word.
For the whole subject, read The Body Speaks to Us Before Illness Does.
If you want to learn the body’s sign language step by step, Dr Kalan’s “Elaim & Delail” book and the Body Signs online course (currently in Turkish) will guide you. To start with your own baseline, take the free temperament test.
This article is for information only and is based on traditional medical sources and general health knowledge. It is not a medical diagnosis, treatment or prescription and does not replace an examination by a doctor. If you have a health complaint, take regular medication, are pregnant, or are considering this for a child, consult your doctor before applying anything. Herbal products can interact with medicines.
