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By Kenneth Wang

Functions of the Spleen 

 

The Spleen is central Organ in production of Qi.

Called the “Foundation of Postnatal existence”. Extracts Food Qi (Gu Qi) from food and liquids taken into Stomach. Food Qi is basis for formation of Qi and Blood.

  1. Governs transformation and transportation
  2. Controls the Blood
  3. Controls the muscles and the four limbs
  4. Opens into the mouth and manifests in the lips
  5. Controls the raising of Qi, the “raising of the pure”
  6. The Spleen houses thought

Governs Transformation and Transportation

  1. Transformation/transportation of Gu Qi (Food Qi) 

    Spleen is central Organ in production of Qi. Stomach “rots and ripens” ingested food and drink, and prepares the way for the Spleen which separates and extracts the GU Qi (food Qi) and refined essence from the digestate. 

    Food Qi goes upward to the Lungs in the Upper Burner. Food Qi combines with air to form Zong Qi and goes to the Heart to form Blood. Flavors are distributed to the various organs, sweet to the Spleen, salty to Kidney, bitter to Heart, sour to Liver, pungent to Lung.

  2. Transformation/transportation of Fluids 

    Spleen also separates usable from unusable fluids ingested. Pure “clear” part goes upwards to the Lungs for distribution to the skin. “Turbid” part goes to Intestines for further separation. 

    In health, transforming and transporting function of Qi ensures good digestion, good appetite, normal absorption, regular bowel movements. Impaired function, poor appetite, bad digestion, abdominal distention, loose stools. 

    When transformation/transportation of fluids impaired, fluids can accumulate to form Dampness and then Phlegm. 

    “The Spleen likes Dryness and hates Dampness”. Its transformation and transportation function can be impaired by Damp e.g. Damp-forming foods like salads, dairy, etc. 

    Spleen Yang, essential to the process, impaired by excessive consumption of cold liquids (esp. ice water, ice cream, etc.) Conversely, Deficient Qi or Yang of Spleen can CAUSE internal Dampness.

Spleen Controls Blood

  1. Keeps Blood in Vessels 

    If Spleen Qi healthy, Blood circulates normally (see also Liver) and stays in vessels. Deficient Spleen Qi or Deficient Spleen Yang, Blood may spill from vessels = hemorrhages, subcutaneous bleeding, etc. (petechiae, purpura) Also, especially lower body hemorrhage, e.g. metrorrhagia can be caused by Xu Spleen Qi.

  2. Important role in Blood formation. 

    (Food Qi extracted by Spleen sent to Lung and to Heart to form Blood with assistance of Yuan Qi from Kidney). To tonify Blood, always tonify Spleen.

Controls the Muscles and Four Limbs

Food Qi eventually goes to nourish all tissues in the body, transported throughout body by Spleen. Particularly directed to the muscles. Weak Spleen Qi: fatigue, muscles weak or even atrophied. Tonify Spleen in fatigue.

Opens to the Mouth and Manifests in the Lips

When food enters mouth, chewing prepares food for transformation and transportation. Therefore Spleen related to mouth. Normal Spleen Qi; good sense of taste and moist pink lips. 

Controls the Raising of Qi

  1. Spleen has Lifting effect along midline of body that ensures that Organs in proper place. When raising function impaired, Spleen Qi “sinks”: prolapse can occur of uterus, Bladder, Stomach, Kidney, or hemorrhoids).
  2. Spleen raises pure Food Qi to Lung and Heart.

Spleen Houses Thought 

Is residence of I (Yi). Influences our capacity for thinking, studying, concentration, memorizing, etc. Weak Spleen Qi; thinking dull, poor concentration, poor memory, etc. Excessive studying, mental work etc., weaken Spleen.

]]> Blood http://acuherb.us/blood/ Fri, 29 Jun 2012 17:17:56 +0000 http://acuherb.us/?p=1508

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is said…

Blood is denser form of Qi
Blood is inseparable from Qi
Qi moves Blood; Blood is the mother of Qi
Qi gives life and movement to Blood, but Blood nourishes the Organs that produce Qi.

Blood and Ying (Nutritive) Qi are particularly closely connected: flow together in the vessels.

The Origin of Blood

  1. Food Qi produced by the Spleen is sent upward to Lungs, and Lungs push it to the Heart, where it is transformed into Blood. The transformation requires the assistance of the Original Qi stored in the Kidneys.
  2. Kidney Essence produces Marrow: this generates the bone marrow, which contributes to making Blood.

Therefore: Blood is formed from the interaction of the Postnatal Jing (source of Food Qi, refined from Food by Spleen and Stomach) and the Prenatal Jing (stored in Kidneys).

Chinese theory of blood forming function of the bone marrow predated the arrival of Western Medicine.

Function

  1. Nourishes the body: complements the nourishing action of Ying Qi. As a denser form of Qi, it flows with the (Ying) Qi in the vessels and channels all over the body.
  2. Moistens body tissues, ensures that they do not dry out. Blood is part of Yin, fluid-like and moistening .
  3. Supports the Shen. The Shen is said to live in the Blood Vessels, which are part of the Heart. The Blood nourishes and supports the Shen, giving it a foundation.

Where Blood is deficient, the Shen can become uneasy, with symptoms of vague anxiety, slight irritability, unease and inability to fall asleep.

 

Relationship of Blood with the Internal Organs

The Heart

  1. The Heart governs the Blood. The Blood Vessels (tissue associated with the Heart and part of the whole system of the Heart in TCM) are where it circulates.
  2. The Blood is made in the Heart, via the Heart Fire (Yang). Blood on the other hand, cools the Fire and prevents it from flaring up.

The Spleen

  1. Spleen produces Food Qi, which is the basis for the formation of Blood.
  2. Spleen Qi keeps the Blood in the Vessels so that it does not extravasate.

(Deficient Spleen Qi can result in Qi being unable to hold the Blood, resulting in hemorrhages.)

The Liver

Liver stores the Blood.

  • When person is active, Blood flows to the muscles and tendons (governed by the Liver). When person lies down, Blood flows back to Liver.
  • Liver Blood moistens the eyes, ensuring good eyesight and also moistens the sinews, promoting flexibility of joints.
  • Liver Blood supplies the uterus with Blood, together with the Penetrating Vessel (Chong Mai – one of the eight Extraordinary or Ancestral Vessels), with which it is closely related. Therefore Liver Blood is very important for regular and healthy menstruation.

The Liver, Blood, and Gynecology

Kidneys store Jing and Liver stores Blood. 
Kidneys are the mother of the Liver in 5 Element theory. 
Jing and Blood mutually support each other. 
Jing is indirectly transformed into Blood, and Blood nourishes and replenishes Jing. 
Kidney Jing controls reproductive function and influences Blood. (Kidney Jing creates Liver Blood). 

Women’s physiology is more dependent on Blood than that of men. 
State of Liver Blood is very important regarding menstruation. 
E.g., if Liver Blood deficient, this can cause amenorrhea or scanty menstruation. 
E.g., if Liver Blood is stagnant, this can cause dysmenorrhea.

Lungs

  1. Assist Spleen in sending Food Qi to the Heart to form Blood.
  2. Control the channels and Blood Vessels by filling the Blood Vessels with Qi to assist the Heart’s pushing action.

Kidneys

  1. Original Qi (stored in Kidneys) is needed to transform Food Qi into Blood.
  2. Kidney stores Jing, which produces Marrow. Marrow generates bone marrow, which contributes to the formation of Blood. 

To nourish Blood in TCM, we must therefore tonify (increase energy of) the Spleen and Kidneys.

However, the Heart, Spleen & Liver have the most direct relationship with the Blood: Heart governs Blood, Spleen holds Blood in the Vessels and the Liver stores Blood.

 

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