The stiff tongue lacks flexibility. It is difficult to protrude, retract, or roll which can make it difficult to speak or give rise to slurred speech. It results from extreme heat, Liver wind, or phlegm disturbing the Heart. retention of turbid phlegm in the interior or wind stroke heat invading the Pericardium or excess heat exhausting the body fluids Stiff external cause internal cause The limp tongue is unable to protrude or curl up due to atrophy of the tongue muscle. It is due to extreme deficiency of qi and blood, or exhaustion of yin, either of which leads to a severe lack of nutrition in the tongue muscle. yin collapse qi deficiency fails to distribute body fluids deficiency of both qi and blood Limp IndicationsState and coats chronic and pale acute and dry deep red This tongue body trembles uncontrollably. It indicates malnutrition of the tongue body caused by a deficiency of qi, blood, and body fluids; or internal wind due to any one of various pathogenic factors. extreme heat which directly stirs up Liver winddeep red, withsevere trembling body fluid exhausted by heat leading to internal wind which manifests as spasm of the tongue muscles body fluid impairment, depletion of yang, deficiency of qi and blood Trembling pale, with slight trembling red and dry