In modern medical science, the spleen is the largest immune organ and the storage of blood. But in traditional Chinese medicine, the spleen plays an important role in the digestive system, and it is also related to the circulatory system.
The energy of sustaining the functions of the spleen is called spleen-Qi. In traditional Chinese medicine, the spleen is an important organ that promotes the digestion of food, the absorption and delivering of nutrient substances and water, controlling blood in vessels, and keeping the normal positions of internal organs.
Food is decomposed by stomach, and is delivered to the small intestine. Small intestine separates the clear from the turbid. The clear substances are nutrient substances and necessary water, which are absorbed by small intestine. The turbid substances include waste and supernumerary water. Waste is delivered to large intestine and is excreted as stool. Supernumerary water seeps through a channel which is named triple-Jiao into the urinary bladder, and is excreted as urine.
The digestion and absorption of food are activated and promoted by spleen-Qi. The spleen delivers nutrient substances and water to nourish other organs, the head and limbs. In the heart, nutrient substances and water form blood. In the lungs, nutrient substances and water together with Qi from the air of the nature form Zong-Qi. Zong-Qi is the important part of the Qi of the human body, and it is the energy that promotes many physiological processes of the human body.
If spleen-Qi is deficent, spleen can't efficiently promote the decomposition and absorption of food. Meanwhile, nutrient substances and water can't be efficiently delivered.
Nutrient substances can’t be efficiently delivered, leading to the decrease of the formation of Qi and blood. Water can’t be efficiently delivered, leading to the formation of pathogenic fluids like dampness and phlegm. Therefore, the patient feels dizzy and tired. His abdomen has the feelings of distention and oppression. His stool is loose, or he suffers from diarrhea.
Nutrient substances and water are delivered by the spleen to muscles and limbs. When spleen-Qi is sufficient, muscles are nourished, so arms and legs are strong. But if spleen-Qi is deficient, muscles will lack nutrition, leading to weak arms and legs. The serious deficiency of the spleen-Qi can cause flaccid limbs, even leading to the inability to move. Because the role of spleen in delivery of nutrient substances and water, the spleen is described as governing the muscles of the body.
The spleen is a very important organ in traditional Chinese medicine, so therapists always advise people to take good care of the health of the spleen. However, in the modern medical science, the spleen may be even removed surgically. So, please don’t confuse the spleen in traditional Chinese medicine with the spleen in modern medical science.
The moving direction of spleen-Qi is upward. By contrast, the moving direction of stomach-Qi is downward. The moving upwards of spleen-Qi and the moving downwards of stomach-Qi make the digestive system work smoothly. Spleen is called the source of the generation and transformation of Qi and blood. Theory about spleen and stomach, a book written in the 13the century, even says, “All diseases are caused by the weakness of spleen and stomach.”
The Qi of the body pushes blood forward to flow in vessels. At the same time, Qi controls blood for preventing vessel rupture. The formation of the Qi of the human body depends on the functions of the spleen-Qi, so the spleen is described as the internal organ of controlling blood in vessels.
Because the moving direction of spleen-Qi is upward, the hemorrhages caused by the deficiency of spleen-Qi generally appear in the lower parts of the body, such as blood in the stool or the urine, or uterine bleeding.
Because the spleen governs the muscles of the human body, the hemorrhages caused by the deficiency of spleen-Qi may also be subcutaneous hemorrhage or sweat pore bleeding.
Hemorrhages may caused by different factors. In the case of the deficiency of the spleen-Qi, the excreted blood is generally light colored and thin, while the patient is anorectic and languid, and his complexion is withered. He lacks strength, gets tired easily, and even easily faint.
The moving upwards of spleen-Qi supports internal organs to keep staying in their normal positions. The deficiency of spleen-Qi may cause gastroptosis, nephroptosis, hysteroptosis or rectocele.
Therefore, in traditional Chinese medicine, medicinal materials of invigorating spleen-Qi are often used to improving downward displacement of internal organs. Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang, which literally means the decoction of strengthening spleen and stomach and nourishing Qi, is often used for treating the syndrome.
Ling Shu, one of theoretical books of traditional Chinese medicine, says, “The spleen-Qi opens to the mouth. When the functions of the spleen are harmonious, the mouth correctly distinguishes different kinds of grains.”
According the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, the gustatory sensation is related to the spleen. When spleen-Qi is sufficient, the gustatory sensation is normal, and the appetite is good. If spleen-Qi is deficient, the gustatory sensation will be abnormal, and the appetite will be lost.
The deficiency of spleen-Qi may lead to the disorder of the spleen’s function for delivering water to other organs and parts of the body. The pathologic dampness that is from the nature may also disturb the spleen’s function for delivering water. The disorder of the function causes the formation of pathologic fluids as dampness and phlegm. The person feels there is sticky and greasy fluid in his mouth.
The disorder of the spleen also disturb food digestion. The retention of food in the stomach may generate the pathologic heat, leading to bad breath.
The lips are also related to the spleen. When the spleen works normally, Qi and blood of the body are sufficiently formed, so the lips are ruddy. If the functions of the spleen are weakened, the Qi and blood of the body will be deficient, so the lips will be pallid. Because the mouth and lips are all related to the spleen, so the book “Ling Shu” says, “The mouth and lips are the organs of the spleen.”
According the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, there are two kinds of saliva. The thin saliva is from the spleen, and the thick saliva is from the kidneys.
The thin saliva is transformed from spleen-Yin and delivered by spleen-Qi. The functions of the thin saliva are to moisten the oral cavity for protecting oral mucosa, to wet food for chewing and swallowing, and to promote digestion.
When spleen-Qi and spleen-Yin are sufficient, thin saliva is formed and delivered normally, and it is well controled so it doesn't flow out over the mouth.
The disorder of spleen or the deficiency of spleen-Qi may cause the thin saliva increase pathologically and flow out over the mouth.
The deficiency of spleen-Yin will reduce the formation of thin saliva, leading to dry mouth and dry tongue.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the feeling of worry is related to the spleen. If spleen-Qi is sufficient, the Qi and blood of the body are sufficient, the feeling of worry lasts only a short time, and the person won’t become anxious. However, if spleen-Qi is deficient, the person cannot withstand the feeling of worry and may suffer from anxiety.
If a person is excessively worried all day, his spleen-Qi and stomach-Qi may stagnate and lose activity. Spleen-Qi can’t move upward to deliver the clear, and stomach-Qi can’t move downward to deliver the turbid, leading to the disorder of the functions of the spleen and the stomach. The person will feel dizzy and lose appetite. His abdomen will have the feelings of distention and oppression. So in traditional Chinese medicine there are the words, “Anxiety harms the spleen.”
Yike Jiang
Article category: Chinese Medicine