Basics of TCM Tongue Diagnostics and Herbal/Dietary Interventions

Presented by: Oscar Sierra, L. Ac.Dipl. Ac., C.H.

Original Presentation Date: September 24, 2021

Course Description: 

The course from Collaboration Cures 2021 was tailored for dental professionals who sought to enhance their expertise in tongue health. This session guided participants through a comprehensive exploration of the significance of developing tongue awareness in dentistry. Through practical applications, attendees learned to identify various tongue issues, understand their representations, and implement holistic correction methods. We analyzed common clinical presentations of tongues, allowing for a nuanced understanding of their diverse manifestations. Participants learned to evaluate and differentiate the clinical significance between unhealthy and healthy tongues, applying strategies to improve tongue health and address associated issues. Practical implementation skills were showcased as we discussed the appropriate treatment protocols for tongue infections and more severe diagnoses. The course culminated in an insightful discussion on future trends and developments in the dynamic field of tongue health and wellness. Participants had the opportunity to expand their knowledge and refine their practical skills in optimizing tongue health in dental practice.

Learning Objectives:

• Comprehend the significance of developing tongue awareness in the dental profession.
• Apply the ability to identify various issues with the tongue, understand their representations, and implement holistic correction methods.
• Analyze and comprehend the common ways in which tongues present in a clinical setting.
• Evaluate and differentiate the clinical significance between unhealthy and healthy tongues.
• Apply strategies to improve tongue health and address issues related to an unhealthy tongue.
• Apply the appropriate treatment protocol for tongue infections and more severe diagnoses, showcasing practical implementation skills.
• Evaluate and predict future trends and developments in the field of tongue health and wellness.

Speaker Bio:

Oscar Sierra is the founder and head practitioner of Sierra Botanica & Collaborative Medicine (SBCM), a full-service compounding apothecary and clinic based in Atlanta. SBCM works with patients with chronic diseases, such as cancer, by combining ancient botanical medicine with modern functional medicine analytics.

Oscar hails from the martial arts, where finding/feeling pressure points to humanely neutralize opponents easily transferred over to acupuncture to help restore balance in medical practice. Concepts of balance, Yin & Yang, meridians, Qi, flow, the 5 Elements, and precision remained unchanged, pivoting to the Medical Arts. Oscar earned a bachelor's degree in nutrition science & minored in anthropology with a focus on Traditional Medicine at the University of Georgia. After 3,000+ hours of hands-on apprenticeship training and national board exams, Oscar earned his Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture National Board Certifications (2009). He became a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild (2021). In addition to the valuable seminar, conference, and workshop continuing education in ancient Traditional Medicines with plant, animal, and fungal-based pharmacopeias, Oscar also continued studies in the more biomedical and systems engineering fields of Functional Medicine and wholistic oncology. Since 2012, he has been a regular speaker at regional and national symposia on dentistry, functional medicine, and traditional medicine. He presents on incorporating plant- and fungal-based therapies into clinical practice.

The amalgamative zenith of these areas of study is called the Eclectic Triphasic Medical System (ETMS), an approach created by master herbalist Donnie Yance, one of Oscar's mentors. In the ETMS, the ancient wisdom of Traditional Medicine (Chinese, Ayurvedic, American Eclectic, Southern Folk) informs modern functional analytics to produce patient-centered care. Suppose he's not out mountain biking, playing music, giving lectures, or going on herb walks with the Georgia Herbalists Guild or Mushroom Club of Georgia. In that case, you can usually find him custom compounding herbal formulas for patients via SBCM or consulting via Zoom with patients worldwide from the renowned Mederi Center in Oregon.