Ayurvedic Tongue Diagnosis & Constitutional Medicine
9-Week Course (Live Online Series)
Oct 1 to November 26, 2025
Explore the transformative power of Ayurvedic Tongue Diagnosis & Constitutional Medicine in this unique course by Shantree, author of ‘Ayurvedic Tongue Diagnosis’, blending ancient Ayurvedic wisdom with decades of research.
Discover the tongue's role as a diagnostic mirror reflecting internal organ conditions and nutritional states. Gain insights into overall health, identify imbalances, and kickstart your holistic well-being journey. Ayurvedic tongue diagnosis, a noninvasive tool, unveils the secrets of your digestive system, connecting you to the essence of Ayurveda—where simplicity meets profound health benefits without side effects. Start your path to excellent health through the wisdom of Ayurveda: do less, be more.
Course Information
Leadership Pathway
Universal Interconnectedness, the body’s Constitution and Life Forces are the Primary Basis of Ayurvedic Medicine.
“As long as we are not living in harmony with nature and our constitution, we cannot expect ourselves to be healed. Ayurveda gives us the means.”
- Dr. David Frawley
The Ayurvedic Tongue Diagnosis & Constitutional Medicine Course is a unique program that incorporates the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda and the many years of Shantree’s decades of research and clinical practice based on his book ‘Ayurvedic Tongue Diagnosis. The tongue, often referred to as a mirror, displays the condition of the internal organs, mainly related to digestion, and indicates an organism’s nutritional and digestive state. Ayurvedic tongue diagnosis has various benefits, such as providing insight into a person’s overall health, identifying imbalances in the body, and serving as a starting point for further examination. According to the ancient science of Ayurveda, the tongue is a potent and primary diagnostic tool. This is because when digestion functions optimally, it affects all aspects of our health, and the tongue, which begins the digestive tract, plays a significant role in the process. Ayurvedic tongue diagnosis is a noninvasive diagnostic tool that can provide insights beyond the mouth and into the 30 feet of our digestive system.
The best thing about Ayurveda is that its treatments always yield benefits without side effects. Ayurveda suggests two simple steps to attain excellent health: to do less and be more.
Did you know that our tongues are a crucial diagnostic tool, according to the ancient science of Ayurveda? This is because digestion plays a vital role in our overall health, and the tongue is where the digestive tract begins. So, a healthy tongue is an indicator of a healthy digestive system.
In Ayurvedic medicine, the tongue can provide valuable information about the functioning of various systems in the body. The tongue’s size, shape, colour, and coating can be examined to identify imbalances. This method of diagnosis can help locate issues related to digestion, circulation, or inflammation.
Benefits & Advantages:
Easy to Learn Technique for Health Practitioners & the Layman
Fast Client Assessment Method
No Equipment Needed
Ability to help us make a differential constitutional diagnosis
See Healthy Changes Quickly
A practical and effective, noninvasive method to perform an auxiliary diagnosis anytime, anywhere.
Treatment Protocols Using Ayurvedic Principles in Whole Foods & Herbs
Tongue diagnosis is a vital diagnostic Ayurvedic tool for assessing the current health of a patient and providing a basis for prognosis
It also informs about the underlying challenges of the patient’s constitution.
The tongue gives accurate information about the state of Prana and blood, disease progression and regression, degree of heat and cold, and the depth or penetration of a pathogenic imbalance.
89% to 97% percent accuracy before any blood tests, hair analyses, or urinalysis results come back from labs.
“Knowledge of constitution is the key for a holistic and integral health care, the true basis of any preventative medicine.”
- Dr. Vasant Lad“Every single cell in the human body replaces itself over seven years. That means there’s not even the smallest part of you now that was part of you seven years ago.”
~ Steven Hall
Includes:
Ayurvedic Tongue Diagnosis Charts
Herbal and Nutritional Protocols
Updated Ayurvedic articles and research papers
Advanced Ayurvedic Tongue Diagnosis Manual
Tracking your progress worksheets
Engaging Practices with a Buddy
Before and After photos
Case Studies
Experiential models to deepen active learning
Three 1-hour one-on-one support sessions
Articles & Essays
The Healing Tastes Manual
Integrated home learning
Designing your Constitutional Lifestyle Program
Leadership Presentation Opportunities
Ayurvedic Foundations Manual
Ayurvedic Tongue Diagnosis e-Manual.
PowerPoints & PDF Files
Articles & Charts
Engaging Practices – Every Module will include:
3-Modules with a 28-day Transformation Process in each module
Living the Essential Keys
Reflections & Insights
Interactive Format
Group Processes
Buddy Mate for Change
Key Lessons
Q & A
Recorded Sessions for Future Viewing
Recommended Reading: Shantree’s Ayurvedic Tongue Diagnosis book
An Ayurvedic Tongue Diagnosis Certificate of Completion upon completing a thesis.
“By having reverence for life, we enter into a spiritual relation with the world.”
~ Albert Schweitzer
The Learning Journey
“A strong life force can be seen in physical vitality, courage, competent judgment, self-mastery, sexual vigour, and the realization of each person’s unique talents and purpose in life.”
- Ayurvedic Essential Principles
Module I
Foundations & Diagnostic Principles:
The Art of Seeing: Prakruti, Vikruti & the Inner Terrain
(Weeks 1–5)
Oct 1 - 29, 2025
5 Wednesday Evenings
7 - 9:30 pm.
“When diet is correct, medicine is of no need.” “Ayurveda teaches us to cherish our innate nature “to love and honour who we are,” not as what people think or tell us, “who we should be.”
- Ayurvedic Wisdom.
Introductory principles to the art of understanding the body’s inner landscape through Ayurvedic tongue diagnosis. Over five weeks, participants learn to read the tongue as a mirror of constitution (Prakruti) and current imbalance (Vikruti), identifying doshic patterns, elemental influences, and subtle tissue and channel imbalances. Through guided observation, self-assessment, partner exercises, and practical protocols, students gain tools to support digestion, enhance metabolic balance, reduce stress, strengthen immunity, and promote overall vitality. By connecting tongue signs to diet, lifestyle, and herbal practices, this module empowers students to cultivate a deeper awareness of their body-mind relationship and make informed choices for long-term well-being.
Curriculum
Week 1: Introduction to Ayurvedic Tongue Diagnosis
History and philosophy of tongue diagnosis (Ayurveda vs. TCM)
Why the tongue reflects the body-mind
Overview of the four pillars of diagnosis in Ayurveda
The tongue as a mirror of constitution and imbalance
Daily self-observation practice begins
Week 2: Understanding the Constitution via the Tongue
Dosha overview: Vata, Pitta, Kapha through tongue signs
10 constitutional types: tongue shapes, moisture, and colour
Identifying Prakruti vs. Vikruti
Student photo assignment: “My Prakruti Tongue”
Exercises: self-assessment and partner comparison
Week 3: The Five Elements & Tongue Expressions
Pancha Mahabhutas (five elements) and their tongue expressions
Ether & Air: dry, cracked, thin, trembling
Fire: red, sharp, pointed, inflamed
Water & Earth: thick, swollen, pale, coated
Mapping elements to tongue regions
Understanding elemental imbalances and their progression
Week 4: Subtle Tissues, Channels & Tongue Feedback
Dhatus (tissues) and tongue indicators (plasma through reproductive tissue)
Malas (waste) and Ama signs on the tongue
Role of Srotas (channels) in detoxification and tongue clues
Saliva testing, pH, and tongue moisture levels
Practice: evaluating a friend’s tongue using dhatu and srotas signs
Week 5: Agni & Ama
The four types of Agni and their tongue manifestations
Ama buildup: stages, coat types, and locations
Dietary and herbal protocols to clear Ama
Practice: observing tongue changes pre- and post-meals
“As long as we are not living in harmony with nature and our constitution, we cannot expect ourselves to be healed. Ayurveda gives us the means.” – Dr. David Frawley
“As long as we are not living in harmony with nature and our constitution, we cannot expect ourselves to be healed. Ayurveda gives us the means.”
- Dr. David Frawley
Module II
Seeing Deeper: Diagnostic Techniques & Energetic Indicators
Nov 5 - 26, 2025
4 Wednesday Evenings
7 - 9:30 pm.
An in-depth exploration of the tongue as a diagnostic and energetic tool, connecting its appearance to organ health, emotional patterns, digestive balance, and subtle energetic imbalances. Over six weeks, participants learn to observe and interpret Vata, Pitta, and Kapha characteristics, track changes with a tongue diary, and apply these insights to personalized nutrition, daily routines, and herbal protocols. Through guided practice, case studies, peer observation, and advanced diagnostic techniques, this module equips students to integrate tongue observations into a holistic understanding of constitution, imbalance, and restoration, fostering conscious, nourishing choices that support digestion, immunity, vitality, mental clarity, and overall well-being.
Curriculum
Week 6: Mapping the Tongue – Organs, Systems & Emotions
Identify organ zones: heart, liver, lungs, GI, kidneys, reproductive system
Recognize emotional indicators: anger, grief, fear, worry, repression
Interpret topography and colour charts
Practice: weekly organ map reflection and journaling
Week 7: 4-Step Tongue Diagnosis Method
Step-by-step technique for systematic observation:
Spirit – lustre, vitality, overall tone
Shape & Movement – trembling, deviation, swelling
Colour & Coating – red, pale, gray, yellow; thick vs. thin
Moisture & Secretions – saliva, dryness, stickiness
Real-time group observation and peer evaluations
Using a tongue diary to track progress
Week 8: Ayurvedic Food Protocols for Tongue Signs
Six tastes and their role in correcting tongue imbalances
Personalized guidance based on Prakruti/Vikruti
Foods to reduce coating, enhance lustre, and strengthen Agni
Daily routines and cleansing practices tailored to tongue observations
Case Study: “From Coated to Clear” – nutrition plan application
Week 9: Herbal Support & Rasayana for Restoration
Rasayana herbs to restore tone, moisture, and digestive fire
Tongue-based herbal protocols for Vata, Pitta, and Kapha
Understanding tonics versus purifiers based on tongue signs
Create your own herbal formula for a case study tongue
Final Observation & Assessment
Templates for tracking and recording tongue observations
Optional certification assessment: submit final case study with analysis
Final Q&A and group case study review
“As long as we are not living in harmony with nature and our constitution, we cannot expect ourselves to be healed. Ayurveda gives us the means.”
- Dr. David Frawley
Included Course Materials
NEW: Ayurvedic Tongue Diagnosis: A Foundational Guide to Understanding the Body’s Inner Landscape – Shantree Kacera
Printable tongue maps & diagnostic charts
Client intake forms & tracking templates
Ayurvedic food and herb protocols
Access to all class recordings
Advanced Studies of Ayurvedic Tongue Diagnosis Manual – Shantree Kacera
“Foolish the doctor who despises the knowledge acquired by the ancients.”
- Hippocrates
The Course is done through Zoom. The link and all materials will be sent to you via email.
The Experience
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” - Benjamin Franklin
Through this Ayurvedic Tongue Diagnosis and Constitutional Health Protocols program, you will learn a new way of thinking and being. You will discover to source your leadership from this connection and stay attuned to the patterns in your own life, creating a new level of success and awareness in your stepping forth – empowered!
Receive Lifetime Access to all Video Lecture Recordings
9 Live & Interactive Classes with Shantree
Case-study-based learning with intimate weekly discussion rooms
9 Podcast-Style Audio/Video Recordings
12+ Herbal Formulations & Health Protocols
9+ Journal Prompts
10+ Live Case Studies
2 Manuals to support your learning process
1 Capstone Client-Case Taking
Certification of Completion post-graduation
You will explore the correlation between ecological design thinking and the related disciplines of bioregionalism and inner ecology, and apply this to designing a healthy nutritional program.
The foundation of an ecological worldview (wholistic design, systems thinking, and rebalancing human gut microbiome) and the application of living systems principles to the design of systems, objects, and places;
You will develop personal and group inquiry practices to raise awareness of the interdependent relationship between the individual, society, and nature and between theory, experience and practice;
You will develop and enhance your design, communication, and facilitation skills in support of communities of place and interest.
You will make use of a range of tools, methods and facilitation techniques for project delivery;
You will collaborate to develop practices and principles encouraging a regenerative and healing approach to designing projects. You will then apply these practices in both class and community projects. Additionally, you will learn how to evaluate the relationship between the environment and built structures, behaviour, well-being, and resource consumption using research indicators and case studies.
“All the beauty that’s been lost before. Wants to find us again.”
“It is the supreme art of the educator to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”
- Albert EinsteinComplementory Bonus; Sign-up for the Elemental Insights: Introductory Package
Registration Details
Course Dates – 2025
Module I: October 1 – 29
Module II: November 5 – 26
Time: Wednesday evenings from 7:00 – 9:30 pm (Virtual)
Investment (Sliding Scale)
We’re happy to offer AfterPay at checkout so you can pay in 4 easy, interest-free payments.
Early Bird (1-Month before Starting Date)
Full 9-week live & recorded sessions, digital materials, NEW Ayurvedic Tongue Diagnosis book written by Shantree
Regular: $797
Reduced: $697
Standard Course Package (After Sept 1, 2025)
Private Q&A sessions
Regular: $997
Reduced: $897
Premium Course Package
Standard benefits + one 45-min 1:1 consultation with Shantree
Regular: $1,297
Reduced: $1197
Deposit: A non-refundable deposit of $500 secures your place.
The balance is due before the course start date.
Limited Enrollment
To maintain the depth and quality of mentorship, this course is limited to 12 participants. Early registration is encouraged.
Refund Policy
This course requires a minimum number of participants to proceed. Should we not meet the required enrollment, you will be notified two weeks in advance and receive a full refund of any payments made.
Meet Your Instructor
Shantree Kacera, R.H., D.N., Ph.D., an international author and teacher, co-directs The Living Centre Eco-Spiritual Education Sanctuary since 1983. Shantree is the author of the first book published in English on Ayurvedic Tongue Diagnosis. With a doctorate in Ayurvedic Medicine, Clinical Nutrition and Herbalism, Shantree pioneers integrative approaches to Ayurvedic Medicine, Living Nutrition, and Herbalism. Recognized as an elder by the Canadian Council of Herbalists Association.
Testimonials
✺ Frequently Asked Questions ✺
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Yes. Payment plans are available directly through our website via Afterpay. Afterpay allows new users to pay in installments for orders up to $2,000 CAD. If you've used Afterpay before, your limit may be higher depending on your account history.
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This course is designed for individuals seeking a deeper understanding of Ayurvedic medicine, tongue diagnosis, and constitutional healing. No previous experience is required, though a curiosity about holistic health is encouraged.
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No prior experience is necessary. The course begins with foundational teachings and is designed to support both beginners and those with some background in holistic health or wellness. All concepts are explained clearly, with space for questions and guided learning throughout.
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All sessions are held live online through Zoom. A Zoom link and course materials will be emailed to you before the start of each module. Recordings will be provided if you are unable to attend live.
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Each session is 2.5 hours long. In addition, you may wish to spend 1 to 2 hours reviewing materials, completing reflections, and engaging in buddy work between sessions.
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You will receive digital manuals, charts, worksheets, case studies, video recordings, reading materials, and access to three one-on-one mentorship sessions with Shantree.
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Yes. A Certificate of Completion in Ayurvedic Tongue Diagnosis is awarded when you complete this course along with a 5,000-word thesis.
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A: Absolutely. You’ll gain skills to assess your own tongue and apply personalized nutrition, lifestyle, and herbal strategies. For health professionals or wellness practitioners, the course provides advanced observation techniques that can be applied with clients safely and effectively.
Still Have Questions?
If something is stirring or you’re feeling the call but aren’t quite sure yet, we welcome you to reach out. We’re here to listen, clarify, and walk with you as you explore if this journey is aligned.