THE SPLEEN

The spleen is located in the middle energizer and below the diaphragm. Its main physiological
functions are to govern transportation and transformation, ascend the lucid substances, and control
blood circulation. Its meridian is connected with that of the stomach. That is why the spleen and
stomach is exteriorly and interiorly related. The spleen and stomach are the major organs for
digestion and transformation of water and cereal into essences and nutrients, thus they are
indispensable to the ongoing of life activities and the production of qi, blood, and body fluid. For
this reason, they are called the source of qi and blood and the postnatal foundation of the body.
The spleen opens into the mouth and manifests its luster on the lips, associating with earth in the
five elements, contemplation in the five emotions, slobber in fluids, and muscles and four limbs in
body constituents.
The Main Physiological Functions of the Spleen
1. The spleen is in charge of transformation and transportation; in other
words, the spleen can transform the water and cereal into nutrients and
transport them to all over the body. Such a function can be divided into
two aspects: one is transportation and transformation of water and cereal,
and the other is transportation and transformation of water and fluid.
Transportation and transformation of water and cereal refers to the
digestion and absorption of water and food and the distribution of nutrients.
After the initial digestion of the stomach, the water and food are
transported to the small intestine for further digestion. The small intestine
separates the lucid substances from the turbid ones, and then transmits the
nutrients to the spleen, which further disperses them to the heart and lung
and, ultimately, to various parts of the body for nourishment. The nutrients
transformed by the spleen are basic materials for production of qi, blood,
body fluid, essence and other substances indispensable to the constitution
and sustainability of the body. This function relies greatly on the conditions
of spleen qi. If the spleen qi is vigorous, the transportation and
transformation of water and cereal as well as the absorption of nutrients
will be normal, and so will be the production of qi, blood, body fluid and
kidney essence, thus ensuring the adequate nourishment of various organs
and tissues of the body and the normal physiological functions of the
body. Otherwise, if this function weakens, digestion and absorption will
become abnormal, leading to abdominal distension, loose stool, anorexia,
or lassitude and emaciation, etc. Hence it is said that the spleen is the
postnatal foundation of the body and the source of qi and blood.
Transportation and transformation of water and fluid, also called transportation
and transformation of water and dampness, refers to the absorption,
transmission and dispersion of water and fluid so as to maintain their
metabolic balance within the body. After being received and absorbed by
the stomach, water and fluid are transmitted to the lung via the spleen, and
ultimately distributed all over the body. Through the ascending and
descending function of the lung, water and fluid can nourish the viscera
internally, and moisten the skin, hair and striae externally. The turbid substances
are partially excreted in the form of sweat, and the rest reaches the
urinary bladder via the kidney. It is thus evident that the spleen, through
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transportation and dispersion, plays a significant role in the metabolic process
of water and fluid. If the spleen qi is vigorous, the circulation of water
and fluid will be normal, and there will be no retention of dampness,
phlegm or fluid, etc. On the contrary, if the spleen qi is weak, and the spleen
fails to transport properly, there will be dampness, phlegm and fluid retention,
etc. This is exactly the pathological mechanism of the production of
dampness, phlegm and retained fluid due to spleen deficiency.
2. The spleen governs the ascent of lucid substances; in other words,
the spleen is characterized by ascending the nutrients from water and
cereal to the heart, lung, head and eye so as to produce qi and blood and
nourish the whole body. Ascent and descent is a pair of opposites in terms
of visceral qi activities. The ascent of lucidity by the spleen is often mentioned
in relation to the descent of turbidity by the stomach, and only
when they are in a dynamic balance will digestion and absorption by the
body be normal. Otherwise, the deficient spleen qi will fail to ascend the
nutrients from water and cereal to the head and eyes, leading to dizziness,
tinnitus and fatigue, etc. Moreover, the ascent of the spleen can also prevent
visceroptosis. The reason why the viscera can maintain their relative
position lies in the ascending function of the spleen. Only when the
ascending function of the spleen is normal can the viscera maintain their
original position. On the contrary, if the spleen qi is deficient, and the
ascending force is weak, there will be sinking of qi marked by falling and
distending sensation of the lower abdomen, frequent urination, chronic
diarrhea, anal prolapse, metroptosis, nephroptosis or gastroptosis, etc.
3. The spleen controls blood, which means that the spleen can contain
blood within the vessel, preventing it from flowing out. This is all due to
the controlling function of qi. In Jin Gui Yao Lue Zhu written by Shen
Mu Nan, it is said that spleen qi controls blood from the five zang-organs
and six fu-organs. So the function of the spleen in controlling blood and
the function of qi in controlling blood are not contradictory. The spleen
controlling blood is closely related to the fact that the spleen is the
source of qi and blood. If the spleen qi is vigorous, the production of qi
and blood will be normal, and the function of containing blood within
the vessel will also be sound. Otherwise, the function of producing qi
and blood will be debilitated, so will the function of controlling blood.
Since the spleen governs the ascent of lucid substances and the spleen qi
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is characterized by ascending, we often attribute hematochezia, blood
urine and metrorrhagia and metrostaxis to the spleen because it fails to
control blood.