The spleen is located in the abdomen. The spleen in Chinese Medicine (CM) is responsible for digestion and absorption. The spleen plays a major role in maintaining life activities. Spleen is regarded as “the acquired base of life” and the “Source of qi, blood and body fluid”.
Note: As I mentioned in a previous article, the organs in CM focuses on the physiological functions of a system rather than an anatomical organ. Therefore the “Spleen” in CM does NOT equal to the organ Spleen in Western Medicine.
Physiological Functions of the Spleen
1. Govern Digestion, Absorption, and Transportation of Nutrients and Water
The spleen is responsible for digesting and absorbing the nutrients of food and water. Although the food and water are taken into the stomach, small intestine and large intestine, but without the spleen the nutrients and water cannot be digested, absorbed and transported to all parts of the body.
2. Command Blood
The fixating function of Spleen-qi restricts the blood from flowing out of the vessels. Therefore a deficiency in spleen-qi can lead to the blood flowing out of the vessels, resulting in hematochezia, hematuria, sudden profuse uterine bleeding, and subcutaneous purpura.
Relationship of the Spleen and its Correspondents
| Five Zang Organs | Five Elements | Five Constituents | Five External Manifestations | Five Sensory Organs | Body Fluids | Emotion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spleen | Earth | Muscle | Lips | Mouth | Saliva | Contemplation |
1. The Spleen governs the Muscle and the Four Limbs
The muscle and four limbs depend on the nutrients absorbed, transported and transformed by the spleen to nourish.
2. The Spleen opens into the Mouth
The mouth is the passage that the food enters into the digestive system.
3. External Manifestation on the Lips
Lips are the external parts of the mouth. The color and shape of the lips can reflect the state of the spleen. For example, if the spleen is not functioning normally, nutrients cannot be absorbed properly so that a person will have a qi and blood deficiency, leading to a pale, lusterless or even sallow lips.
4. Spleen and Saliva
Spleen is responsible for the digestion of food and water. Saliva also helps the digestion of the food. Therefore spleen is related to the fluid saliva.
5. Emotionally Contemplation is to Spleen
Excessive Contemplation will impair the Spleen. More will be explained in a later article.
Up next I will discuss the forth Zang Organ – Liver!