The spleen: how to take care of it according to Chinese medicine

the spleen It is an organ located above the stomach and below the ribs (the left side). Chinese medicine, with the theory of the spleen and stomach or Pi Wei Lun, considers this organ to be the center of the body. Therefore, this medicine proposes ways to care for the health of the spleen so that the body is in balance.

What is the spleen for according to Chinese medicine?

We live on a planet where water and earth make up life and energy. Water nourishes the earth and the earth creates and sustains life. In fertile land life is born. Let’s observe nature a little more and reflectisn’t it true what our wise Chinese ancestors said?

Observing the human body and its interrelationship with nature, the ancient Chinese sages created a human energy map so delicate and wonderful that it still endures. the famous book Huang Di Nei Ping (The Book of the Yellow Emperor) lay the pillars of Chinese medicine by making understand this relationship between nature and the human body.

From one of these pillars developed the spleen and stomach theory or Pi Wei Lun.

Chinese medicine differentiates energy or chi life in two types: chi celestial and chi land.

He chi of heaven is stored in the kidney and is inherited of the parents, although needs to feed on chi of earth, generated by the spleen from food. Hence the importance of the spleen as a vital and active organ: its mission is to nourish the kidney, the organ that stores the hereditary basal substance.

In China, when a person has a good character, they are said to have good chi of spleen. Because?

According to the theory of the five elements, the spleen belongs to the Earth element and occupies the centerwhere it connects with the other four elements. Its main function is called yun hua (transport and transformation) and make a couple Yin Yang with the stomach

His flavor is sweet and the emotion related to him is the reflectionworry and think without solid arguments.

The spleen domains extend to the musclesthe containment of the blood so that it does not get lost, the restraint of the organs on your site and hair nutrition, among others.

Its organic liquid is salivathe season which represents the end of summerhe weather element the humidity and his color he yellow.

Translating what was said, the spleen is the center of the body.

His work it is on the one hand, transform (whoa) the food ingested from the stomach in the pure and nutritious substances chi and xue (energy and blood)two fundamental elements of the body, and on the other hand, transport them (and a) to the lung (for oxygenation through breathing) and to the heart (for constant pumping of the blood), so that the distribution is complete and the wastes go down to the intestines for elimination.

The relationship between the spleen and stomach

Between the spleen and the stomach, a very subtle and delicate balance of yin and yang. The main balance depends on it.

The stomach is a very yang organ and it likes water and cold, but not the spleen: excess moisture and water weakens the chi and inhibits its activity.

The spleen is an organ yin but that performs an activity totally yang. For example, the first organ that receives the water we ingest is the stomach, but the water cannot reach the kidney directly: in order to transform and transport it, the chi of the spleen, and that happens with all the substances that enter through the mouth.

The stomach and spleen are like the headquarters of a company. From there all the functions and extensions are derived, it is where life is made and each living being is shaped. as it is well said “we are what we eat”.

Why does the spleen get sick?

The causes of sick spleen They are multiple, and Chinese medicine divides them into two types: internal and external.

The causes external include climatic factors (heat, cold, wind, humidity, dryness…) and hemorrhages caused by accidents and trauma.

Among the internal causes are excessive fatigue, physical and mental, wear and tear caused by other illnesses, blood loss, emotional disturbances (worry, head-spinning, disgust and fear), improper eating habits (to eat irregularly or monotonously) and excessive rest.

The consequences triggered by dysfunction of the spleen they are innumerable.

Simplifying, The theory of the five elements is based on the interaction between the five vital organs. That is, the “mother organ” creates or generates the “child organ” and controls the grandchild at the same time: if the mother gets sick, the son gets sick; if the son is weak, he demands more from the mother; and the mother is also exposed to the rebellion of the grandson.

spleen and stomach They are the fundamental basis of subsistence but precisely because of their daily and direct function They are very vulnerable. If the spleen and stomach do not generate enough chi and blood, evils arise like tiredness, anemia, insomnia, gas, abdominal pain, excessive hunger, organ prolapse, cold extremities, constipation or diarrheaamong many other ailments.

How to take care of the spleen

Moderate raw food. The spleen is the organ of maximum yin, and the cold does not favor him. need the yang to develop their work, therefore, Especially in winterraw and cold food is not to his liking.Beware of sweets. The sweet tones it, but an excess can harm it very seriously.away from moisture. Wet weather inhibits the yangsince the yang it is a hot, light and active energy and humidity is just the opposite of that character. If you live in a humid place, such as on an island or a coastal city, you have to compensate with adequate food and good habits.Good mood. Maintaining a good mood is important as worry and overthinking wears out the spleen enormously without producing anything in return except weakness and blockage of chi.Good character. have good chi of spleen does not mean saying yes to everyone or escaping from reality. It is being a healthy, balanced person, who knows how to take and leave things at the right time, accepts reality and does not dwell on what has no answer, nor anticipates events or ignores what happened.

What happens if your spleen is removed?

Energy is a very subtle thing. A person without a spleen or with only one kidney still has their energy in the corresponding place with the help of other organs, as its “mother organ” or “daughter organ”, in the tissues, in the meridians and even in the acupuncture points.

It must be taken into account that the body works together and not with independent organs. The relationship of the five elements is, in this case, the plot that they weave and where they are consolidated and take shape.

After the spleen is removed, your meridians continue to function with the help of the stomach and other organs such as the lung, kidney, liver, and heart. The body is capable of self-regulation in an extreme case like this.