The Spleen organ in Traditional Chinese Medicine is associated with the earth element and functions of transformation of food into energy and blood.
Energetic functions
- Function of transformation and transportation of food and liquids we ingest into Qi and Blood.
- Governs the ascending of the pure. The pure of food it ascends to Lungs, Heart and to the head.
- Sustains the tissues in their place.
- Hemostatic function: sustains blood within blood vessels.
- Post-Heaven Qi.
- Its maximum energy is from 9 to 11 in the morning.
- Relationship with the sense of taste.
Related physiological structures
- The Spleen as a Zang organ does not correspond solely to the spleen we know in anatomy. It also includes the pancreas. In fact, the Spleen channel is known in many texts as Spleen-Pancreas. It has great relationship with the digestive system and the immune system.
- It also has relationship with the mouth, the extremities and "the flesh" of the body, the muscles.
Psycho-emotional functions
The Spleen is the dwelling place of the Intellect. The psychic aspect of the spleen is reflection, logical thinking. Excess reflection, obsessions, harm the spleen. Also a person with weak spleen tends to rumination, thinking goes round and round on itself, obsession, worry.
Main symptoms of dysfunction
- Tiredness.
- Loss of appetite.
- Heaviness.
- Dampness, oedema.
- Abdominal distension or swelling.
- Loose stools, diarrhea.
- Prolapses, ptosis.
- Hemorrhages.
- Weakness of the muscles.
- Worry, obsession.
Related syndromes and pathologies
Combined syndromes
- Concurrent Spleen and Heart Deficiency.
- Spleen- and Lung-Qi deficiency.
- Lung- and Spleen-Yang Deficiency.
- Spleen- and Kidney-Yang Deficiency.
- Spleen- and Stomach-Yang Deficiency.
- Liver Attacking Spleen.
- Heat and Dampness of Spleen and Stomach.
- Disharmony between Spleen and Stomach.
Pathologies
Channels
- Spleen Channel.
- Divergent of Spleen.
- Connecting Channel of Spleen.
- Muscle Channel of Spleen.
- Great Connecting Channel of Spleen.
Return to Zang Organs