I have a love/hate relationship with the TCM Spleen system. I love damp foods! But I also need my Spleen to be functioning optimally for teaching, focusing on my patients, exercising, and to keep things from going down. At my age, believe me, things ARE starting to get affected by gravity!

You’ll find everything you wanted to know about the TCM Spleen, right below.
Enjoy 🙂

Keep Rocking it using TCM!

Clara
TCM Geek

PS: you may also check out All About the TCM Liver, All About the TCM Kidneys, All About the TCM Heart and All About the TCM Lung

If you enjoy my graphics, check out my illustrated guide for acupuncture points here.

 

The Spleen System in Chinese Medicine: functions and causes of imbalances.

Spleen Functions in Chinese Medicine

 

TCM Spleen Functions

Spleen Function in TCM


The 5 Element Theory: Earth

5 elements Earth


TCM Spleen Patterns Spleen TCM Patterns for diagnosis


TCM Spleen Food Cures

TCM Spleen food cures


Soft and easy to digest food (mostly cooked), combined with ST 36, SP 3, SP 6 and REN 6 should boost Sp Qi and restore balance.

Sp Qi deficiency

When extreme fatigue is due to Sp Qi def., the basic TCM treatments are Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (with Astragalus – Huang Qi to help boost and raise Qi).

Additionally, the following acupuncture points: St 36, Sp 6, Ren 6 and Du 20 (needled with the meridian to lift Qi).

Sp Qi Sinking

 

The TCM Spleen Emotions: Worry and Over Thinking

Worry overthinking Spleen

 

The Spleen Meridian & Its Most Used Points in Clinical Practice. #AcupunctureRocks!

 

Some of the commonly used Spleen Acupuncture Points

SP 3 being a Yuan Source Point makes it the perfect acupuncture point to help the Transformation and Transportation function of the spleen in TCM.

Great for malabsorption of nutrients, bloating, Stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and feeling sluggish.

 

Sp 4 is amazing to address any TCM blood issues, since it’s the Confluent point of the Chong meridian (Called the Sea of Blood).

 

SP 5 is a great point to treat SP Qi deficiency with Dampness such as diarrhea, fatigue, and abdominal distension. It also calms the mind and helps with speech disorders, and stiffness of the tongue post stroke.

SP 5 acupuncture point

SP 6: the Jack of all trades acupuncture point!

Because it crosses the Spleen, Kidney and Liver meridians, it can treat many conditions associated with all three organs.
– Digestive disorders: diarrhea, bloating…
– Organ prolapse.
– Menstrual issues (irregular, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, abnormal uterine bleeding).
– Difficult labor.
– Insomnia and anxiety.
– Dizziness, hypertension.
Note: it is contraindicated during pregnancy until the last stage.

Spleen 6


SP 9 rocks when it comes to too much dampness!

Great for any swelling in the body, cysts, bloating, nausea, loose stools or diarrhea, runny nose, or sinusitis. And of course, avoiding diet high in sweets, dairy and greasy foods can also reduce dampness.

Spleen 9


SP 10 (The Sea of Blood!) is fantastic for all issues due to Heat in the Blood!

Invigorates and moves the Blood, cools the Blood, benefits the skin (for rashes, eczema and allergic reaction, with red and hot symptoms), regulates menstruation for dysmenorrhea, metrorrhagia and irregular periods, and benefits the Lower Jiao (bladder infections, genital outbreaks).

SP 21: The major Luo connecting Point.

Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia. Needling the tender points, and adding SP 21 which is the best point for muscle soreness all over, will result in a great outcome.

Sp 21