5 Reasons to Scrape your Tongue 👅(and How to Do it)
Tongue scraping is an easy win to add to your daily habits. It’s a gamechanger.
Tongue scraping is an ancient Ayurvedic practice that takes less than one minute a day.
It has numerous benefits, five of which we’ll get into below. I’ll share that if I ever miss a day of tongue scraping, I don’t feel “right.” It’s become an ingrained habit that allows me to feel truly clean. After tongue scraping I’m ready to rest after a day of talking, digesting food, and maybe kissing a loved one ;)
In Ayurvedic medicine, a doctor or practitioner will look at a patient’s tongue to see. The tongue is a blueprint of the body.
For example, if your tongue has lesions, it is likely their are lesions somewhere in your intestinal tract. Or, if their is a lot of white plaque built up, this is an indication that the body is carrying more than it can digest and that “excess” is built up as plaque/white matter aka as “ama” in Ayurveda vocabulary. When toxins are not properly digested and eliminated, they accumulate in the body and begin to compromise our well-being and immunity. Tongue scraping is one preliminary measure to take in clearing your body from the unwanted buildup of toxins.
FIVE BENEFITS OF TONGUE SCRAPING
Clears toxins, bacteria, and dead cells from the tongue to prevent bad breath
Enhances your sense of taste
Promotes overall oral and digestive health
Gently stimulates internal organs
Increases your awareness of your state of health
How to Do it:
First you’ll need a tongue scraper. I’m partial to copper tongue scrapers since it is a natural material found on earth and revered in Ayurveda for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
If you are in a pinch, a clean metal spoon will do.
Friend and Ayurveda colleague Sami Mayhew shows us how tongue scraping’s done! Thanks Sami 👅
Stand in front of a mirror, open your mouth, and stick out your tongue.
Gently set the rounded end of the tongue scraper at the back of your tongue.
If you’re worried about gagging, you may find it helpful to start at the middle of your tongue. You can gradually start from farther back as you get used to scraping.
Gently touch the scraper to your tongue. Slowly pull it forward, toward the tip of your tongue. You should never push the scraper from the tip of your tongue back. Always go from the back of the tongue to the tip.
After each scrape, use a washcloth or tissue to remove debris from the scraper.
Repeat until you’ve scraped the entire surface of your tongue. One to two scrapes across the same area is usually enough.
Wash the tongue scraper with warm water and/or soap, dry, and store in a clean, dry area.
The entire process usually takes less than two minutes. Repeat as needed throughout the day.