The black coating indicates interior syndromes of extreme heat or excessive cold. It is usually found in the critical stage of a disease. dampness due to yang deficiency or excess cold excessive fire with exhaustion of body fluids Black dry moist, slippery The gray coating is light black, and is usually transformed from the white coating or found simultaneously found with the yellow coating. it indicates interior syndromes and may be found in heat or cold damp syndromes. phlegm retention or cold damp accumulation damage to body fluids by excess or yin deficiency heat Gray yellow and dry moist The yellow coating indicates an interior, heat, or Spleen and Stomach disease. internal excess heat accumulation with body fluid damagethick and dry damp-heat in the middle burner, or accumulation in the Stomach and Intestinesthick and moist wind-heat or heat syndrome with body fluid damage wind-heat or heat syndrome without body fluid damage Yellow thin and moist thin and dry This tongue indicates an exterior wind cold syndrome or a disease of the Lung. damp accumulationthick and moist cold damp syndromewhite and moist wind-heat or dryness attacks the Lungs with yin impairment normal, or exterior wind cold syndrome White thin and moist thin and dry IndicationsCoats and Modifiers pale deep burnt heat accumulation (extreme heat syndrome) pathogenic heat stagnation (severe heat syndrome) mild heat syndrome