TCM regards the spleen as an organ of digestion, processing food and liquid into Qi and Blood for distribution throughout the body.
Acupuncture can provide nourishment to and support for its function in maintaining muscle tone in all four limbs of the body, including its ability to move muscles around.
Nourishes Blood
The Spleen is essential in providing essential nourishment to Blood cells to strengthen the body’s defence system and is especially critical as we transition from late summer (Earth) into fall or autumn (Metal). An underperforming Spleen makes you susceptible to colds, flus, and infections that could otherwise go undetected.
As a Greater Yin meridian, the Spleen is responsible for producing and transporting Qi and Blood throughout the body. It transforms partially digested food from the Stomach into Grain Qi which travels upward to combine with Air Qi inhaled through breathing to become Blood. Furthermore, the Spleen also distributes vital fluids throughout its own meridian to provide nourishment to limbs, bones and hair, with an overly-weak Spleen leading to easy bruising.
Emotionally, the Spleen is affected by worry, obsession and sympathy – too much of any can deplete its reserves, leading to poor digestion, bloating, weight gain and muscle weakness. Furthermore, its role is protecting organs by keeping them upright – prolapse is considered a sure sign that its strength has diminished.
Acupuncturists who treat the Spleen use acupuncture points that focus on strengthening digestion, increasing energy levels and decreasing dampness. Furthermore, they will consider any emotional aspects that come up regarding it as part of treatment.
Diet is key to supporting a healthy Spleen. Aim to consume warm foods instead of cold drinks as this allows the Spleen to use less energy breaking them down, and therefore boost its health more effectively. Such as whole grains, root vegetables and lean proteins. Soups, stews and broths all make fantastic Spleen-boosting foods as they allow the body to absorb nutrients with minimal effort required in digesting them.
Avoid foods that could create dampness in the body, such as raw foods, cold drinks and processed food products. Dampness impairs the Spleen’s ability to transform and metabolise food and fluids properly and can result in digestive issues or general fatigue as a result.
Supports Digestion
The spleen is responsible for converting food and fluids into energy (Qi) that the body needs, then transporting that Qi to our muscles and limbs. When its power is weak, this may manifest in digestive issues like bloating or IBS as well as poor appetite or generalized feelings of heaviness (such as water retention or polycystic ovary syndrome).
TCM believes that seasonal foods provide excellent nourishment for the Spleen as the organ is most active at various points during the year. Roasted root vegetables and hearty stews offer nourishment during winter, fresh berries and salads help clear away congestion in summer, while light broths and soups offer relief come autumn.
Cold foods and beverages tend to put pressure on the spleen, as they can slow its transformative function and contribute to slower digestion. Cold food requires additional digestive fire so if our spleen has already become overworked this may further deplete its reserves causing us to have to dip deeper into its reserves to digest what we ingest.
Eating a variety of foods and keeping mealtimes regular are both vital in supporting spleen health, along with chewing food thoroughly and not drinking too much fluid during meals. Warm and cooked foods should also be prioritised as these tend to be preferred over raw ones and cold beverages by your spleen.
Some herbs can provide extra nourishment for the spleen in the form of herbal teas, pills or granules. Astragalus membranaceus may boost immunity while strengthening and supporting digestion. You can find this herb at many natural health stores as powder. Si Jun Zi Tang also offers four herbs designed to strengthen and tonify overall Qi, providing much-needed support for Spleen health as well as tonify overall Qi; however it should be avoided if signs of deficiency arises since overworked spleen will produce excess heat that may be hard to control.
Calms the Mind
Chinese Medicine holds that emotions stem from the Spleen, and influence its functions alongside those of Heart, Liver, and Lungs. When out-of-balance Spleen can create emotional imbalances manifesting themselves physically as symptoms; having a healthy and strong Spleen can help you stay grounded while feeling calmer overall.
Acupuncture can provide invaluable support for the spleen, and you can take some steps at home to keep it nourished. Here are a few pointers to help get you going:
Eating well can have a dramatic effect on spleen health, according to TCM practitioners. They advise eating simple, cooked food that’s easy for digestion; since sweet is what the spleen loves most (such as fruit, honey and some vegetables), naturally sweet tasting food such as fruits can also benefit it greatly; also root crops like kumara squash etc have a beneficial impact.
Herbal medicine can be an invaluable aid to balance spleen function and increase mental clarity and focus. Our experts can tailor a tailor-made herbal formula that addresses your specific needs.
Yuan Zhi (Polygala Root) is an effective herbal solution to ease anxiety and promote relaxation, while Suan Zao Ren (Sour Jujube Seed) may ease restlessness and promote sleep. Gan Cao (Licorice Root) may help regulate stress response while improving cognitive performance; Long Gu (Dragon Bone) and Mu Li (Oyster Shell) can also act as soothing herbs that can reduce anxiety while aiding relaxation and encouraging restful nights’ rest.
After experiencing trauma, we may shut off or close down mentally to protect ourselves. When this occurs, negative emotions may become trapped within a particular memory and become associated with that specific memory. Energy psychology techniques combined with acupuncture may help unlock memories and release associated emotion – specifically at GV20 and Yintang where our experts offer instruction. Our experts also can teach and supervise home practice of these techniques for maximum effect.
Nourishes the Stomach
The spleen and stomach are responsible for digesting food and beverages to produce energy sources for our bodies, such as Qi (pronounced “chee”) and Blood. This process ensures our muscles and limbs receive sufficient nourishment so they have enough energy to function optimally.
If your digestion isn’t functioning as it should or you are having difficulty digesting your food, it could be a telltale sign that your spleen and stomach are deficient. You might experience not being able to consume enough food; wanting but being unable to be hungry; feeling overwhelmed by work or life; experiencing feelings of being too much food to digest; excessive worry, rumination or intrusive thoughts as well as digestive problems like bloating diarrhea indigestion or fatty stool could all indicate this issue.
To nourish the spleen, it is best to consume foods that are warm and cooked – particularly soups, stews and broths – as these will be easier for the body to process and support its functions. Cold foods or drinks should be avoided as they place additional burdens on digestion. Yellow and orange foods as well as warm spices such as ginger cinnamon or fennel are excellent ways to stimulate its function in digestion. It is also advised that we chew our food thoroughly and eat in an ambient environment in order to give our spleen time and do its work effectively.
Spleen Qi is an essential component of overall body health and any reduction can lead to serious consequences such as weakness in limbs and muscles, fatigue and lethargy, excess phlegm or dampness in the body, loss of appetite, organ prolapse or other ailments. Therefore it’s vital to consume regular meals containing various types of food as well as take regular exercises so your spleen stays strong and healthy.
Acupuncturists are adept at assessing the health of your spleen and creating a treatment plan to restore balance to this essential energy center. Acupuncture can also provide significant health benefits that go far beyond just treating one condition; contact us now if you would like an holistic approach to improving your wellbeing!
