Spoon test for determining the condition of internal organs.

Sometimes you can find a simple “home test” on the internet that suggests using a regular metal spoon to assess your health condition.

How to perform the spoon test

To conduct this test, you need a clean metal spoon, a transparent bag, and a light source, such as a desk lamp:

1. run the spoon over the surface of your tongue so that a small amount of saliva and coating remains on it;
2. place the spoon in the transparent bag and seal it tightly;
3. hold the bag up to the lamp and heat it for about one minute;
4. remove the spoon and examine it, paying attention to any possible streaks or color changes;
5. assess the smell, if it has developed after heating.

It is claimed that the color of the streaks and the smell can indicate the condition of the thyroid gland, kidneys, respiratory system, and blood sugar levels.

Interpretation of the smell:

• foul, sharp smell — problems with the lungs or stomach;
• sweet smell — possible diabetes;
• ammonia smell — kidney diseases.

Interpretation of streaks and coating:

• thick white or yellow coating — thyroid dysfunction;
• purple streaks — bronchitis, poor circulation, high cholesterol;
• white streaks — respiratory infection;
• orange streaks — kidney diseases.

In practice, such conclusions are not confirmed.

Why the spoon test doesn’t work

Despite its apparent simplicity and clarity, this method cannot be used as a self-diagnostic tool. Below are the main reasons why the results of such an experiment do not reflect the condition of internal organs.

The coating on the tongue is not a direct sign of diseases

The amount and color of the coating on the tongue depend on many factors that are not directly related to specific organs.

• the state of the coating is influenced by oral hygiene, the regularity of brushing teeth and tongue;
• diet, coffee, tea, spices, and colorings can temporarily change the color of the tongue’s surface;
• smoking and dehydration often increase the coating and make it more noticeable;
• the composition of the oral microbiota and the time of day also affect the appearance of the tongue;
• the same coating can occur in both completely healthy people and those with various diseases.

One can’t draw conclusions about the condition of the thyroid gland, kidneys, or lungs based solely on the coating on the spoon or tongue.

The streaks on the spoon are related to physicochemical processes

When you place the spoon with saliva in the bag and heat it near the lamp, ordinary physicochemical processes occur:

• proteins and enzymes in saliva partially denature when heated and can produce cloudy or slightly colored streaks;
• salts and minerals leave spots of various shapes and intensities when drying;
• the reflection of light from the metal creates optical effects and “shades” that can be easily misinterpreted;
• the quality of the metal, the presence of micro-damage, and the cleanliness of the spoon also change the appearance of the streaks;
• purple, yellow, or orange hues are more often related to lighting and the angle of view rather than specific diseases.

All these changes reflect the properties of saliva and metal, not the condition of the thyroid gland, bronchi, blood, or kidneys.

The smell after heating does not provide accurate medical clues

The smell from the mouth and the smell of saliva depend on a large number of factors, and it is impossible to reliably link them to a specific diagnosis based solely on a household experiment:

• foul or sharp smells are more often associated with oral problems, cavities, periodontitis, chronic tonsillitis, and pronounced coating on the tongue;
• consumption of garlic, onions, alcohol, coffee, and spices noticeably changes the breath and saliva smell;
• dehydration and infrequent tooth brushing also intensify unpleasant odors;
• even if a sweet or acetone-like tint appears, a precise assessment of metabolic condition can only be made through tests;
• the perception of smell is subjective, and different people describe the same smell differently.

Even in situations where the smell may be associated with serious disorders, laboratory methods are used for diagnosis, not a spoon and a lamp.