NMT150: Naturopathic Therapeutics I - TCM PDF

NMT150: NATUROPATHIC THERAPEUTICS I TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM) E-LEARNING LECTURE 5 T C M S P L E E N A N D S TO M A C H FUNCTIONS AND THEORY Author: Dr. Romi Fung, ND, M.Sc, Ph.D (cand.) LEARNING OBJECTIVES Learn the functions of TCM Spleen and Stomach TCM SPLEEN FUNCTIONS TCM SPLEEN F...

NMT150: NATUROPATHIC THERAPEUTICS I TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM) E-LEARNING LECTURE 5 T C M S P L E E N A N D S TO M A C H FUNCTIONS AND THEORY Author: Dr. Romi Fung, ND, M.Sc, Ph.D (cand.) LEARNING OBJECTIVES Learn the functions of TCM Spleen and Stomach TCM SPLEEN FUNCTIONS TCM SPLEEN FUNCTION Governs transformation and transportation The Spleen transforms the ingested food and drink to extract Qi from it: this is called Food-Qi and is the basis for the production of Qi and Blood. Once Food-Qi is formed, the Spleen transports this and some refined parts of food, called ‘food essences’, to the various organs and parts of the body TCM SPLEEN FUNCTION Governs transformation and transportation Crucial to the process of digestion and production of Qi and Blood. If this function is normal, the digestion will be good, with good appetite, normal absorption and regular bowel movements. If this function is impaired, there may be poor appetite, bad digestion, abdominal distension and loose stools. TCM SPLEEN FUNCTION Governs transformation and transportation The Spleen separates the usable from the unusable part of the fluids ingested; the ‘clear’ part goes upwards to the Lungs to be distributed to the skin and the space between the skin and muscles, and the ‘turbid’ part goes downward to the Intestines where it is further separated TCM SPLEEN FUNCTION Governs transformation and transportation If Spleen function is normal, then transformation and movement of fluids will be normal. If this function is impaired, the fluids will not be transformed or transported properly and may accumulate to form Dampness and edema TCM SPLEEN FUNCTION Governs transformation and transportation Implication here is that the Spleen must always be treated when there is Dampness, Phlegm or oedema. Moreover, the Spleen is also easily affected by external Dampness, which may impair its function of transformation and transportation TCM SPLEEN FUNCTION Governs transformation and transportation ‘The Spleen loathes Dampness’ Dampness easily obstructs the Spleen, causing a dysfunction of its activity of transformation and transportation. This can cause abdominal fullness, urinary problems or vaginal discharges. In the head, Dampness prevents the rising of Spleen-Qi, causing a dull headache and a feeling of heaviness. TCM SPLEEN FUNCTION Governs transformation and transportation ‘The Spleen likes dryness’ In connection with the transformation of food and digestion, it is said that the Spleen ‘likes dryness’: this means that the Spleen’s activity of transformation and transportation can be easily impaired by the excessive consumption of cold liquids or icy drinks (so common in many Western countries). In contrast, the Stomach ‘likes wetness’, i.e. foods that are moist and not drying. TCM SPLEEN FUNCTION Controls the ascending of Qi The Spleen separates the usable from the unusable part of food and directs Food-Qi upwards to the Lungs to combine with air to form Gathering Qi and to the Heart to form Blood TCM SPLEEN FUNCTION Controls the ascending of Qi The ascending of Spleen-Qi has another important function as it serves to ‘lift’ the internal organs to keep them in their proper place. The failing of this ascending movement may cause prolapse of an internal organ TCM SPLEEN FUNCTION Controls Blood ‘Control’ in this case has two separate meanings: Spleen Qi keeps or ‘holds’ the blood in the vessels; on the other hand, it means that the Spleen plays an important role in the making of Blood TCM SPLEEN FUNCTION Controls Blood Spleen Qi is healthy, Blood will circulate normally and stay in the vessels. If Spleen Qi is deficient and not ascending properly, Blood may spill out of the vessels, resulting in haemorrhage. The failure of the ascending of Spleen Qi and the failure in controlling Blood normally causes bleeding downwards, for example from the uterus, bladder, and bowels. TCM SPLEEN FUNCTION Controls Blood In fact, the Spleen extracts Food-Qi from food and this forms Blood in the Heart with the assistance of the Original Qi from the Kidneys. The Spleen is therefore the central, essential organ for the production of both Qi and Blood. This is another reason why it is called the ‘Root of Post-Heaven Qi’. In this context, ‘Qi’ in the expression ‘Post-Heaven Qi’ should be intended in a broad sense which includes Blood. If we wish to tonify the Blood, therefore, we must always tonify the Spleen. TCM SPLEEN FUNCTION Controls the muscles and four limbs Spleen extracts Food Qi from food to nourish all tissues in the body. This refined Qi is transported throughout the body by the Spleen. If the Spleen is strong, refined Qi is directed to the muscles, particularly those of the limbs. If Spleen Qi is weak, the refined Qi cannot be transported to the muscles and the person will feel weary, the muscles will be weak. TCM SPLEEN FUNCTION Controls the muscles and four limbs Spleen is the most important factors determining the amount of physical energy a person has. Tiredness is a common complaint and in these cases the Spleen must always be tonified. TCM SPLEEN FUNCTION Opens into the mouth The action of chewing prepares food for the Spleen to transform and transport its food essences. For this reason the mouth has a functional relationship with the Spleen. When Spleen-Qi is normal, the sense of taste is good and chewing is normal. If Spleen-Qi is abnormal, there may be impairment of the sense of taste, difficulty in chewing and lack of appetite TCM SPLEEN FUNCTION Manifests in the lips The Spleen influences the lips. Indeed, the lips are a reliable indicator of the state of the Spleen. When the Spleen is normal, the lips are rosy and moist Controls saliva As the Spleen controls the mouth, it naturally controls the secretion of saliva. The Chinese word ‘xian’, which is used to describe the fluid related to the Spleen. Saliva’s function is to moisten the mouth and to aid digestion by mixing the food with fluids to ease digestion TCM SPLEEN FUNCTION Controls raising of Qi Spleen produces a ‘lifting’ effect on the organs: this ‘raising’ of Qi is also an expression of the ascending of Spleen Qi. It is this force that makes sure that the internal organs are in their proper place. If Spleen Qi is deficient and its ‘raising Qi’ function weak, there may be prolapse of various organs such as uterus, stomach, kidney, bladder or anus. TCM SPLEEN FUNCTION Houses the Intellect (Yi) The Spleen is said to be the ‘residence’ of the Intellect (Yi). The Intellect resides in the Spleen and is responsible for applied thinking, studying, memorizing, focusing, concentrating, and generating ideas TCM SPLEEN FUNCTION Affected by pensiveness Pensiveness is very similar to worry in its character and effect. Pensiveness consists in brooding, constantly thinking about certain events or people (even though not worrying), or nostalgic hankering after the past. In extreme cases, pensiveness leads to obsessive thoughts. In a different sense, pensiveness also includes excessive mental work in the process of one’s work or study. TCM SPLEEN FUNCTION Affected by pensiveness Pensiveness affects the Spleen and, like worry, it knots Qi; however, worry will tend to knot Qi in the Upper Burner, while pensiveness knots Qi in the Middle Burner. Stagnation of Qi in the Middle Burner will cause poor digestion and a feeling of distension of the epigastrium TCM STOMACH FUNCTION TCM STOMACH FUNCTION The Stomach controls 'receiving' Food and drink enter the mouth and then reach the stomach via the pharynx and oesophagus. Therefore the Stomach ‘receives’ food and drink and keeps them down. ‘Receiving’ here does not merely indicate the obvious fact that the Stomach receives ingested food and drink but it implies also that the Stomach holds these down too. TCM STOMACH FUNCTION The Stomach controls 'receiving' The Stomach function of receiving also has a relationship to the appetite: a good, healthy appetite indicates a strong Stomach ‘receiving’ Apoor appetite indicates a weak Stomach ‘receiving’; and the total absence of appetite denotes the complete collapse of the Stomach ‘receiving’. Belching, nausea and vomiting also indicate a weak Stomach ‘receiving’ and Stomach Qi ‘rebelling’ upwards TCM STOMACH FUNCTION The Stomach controls the 'rotting and ripening of food' Stomach transforms ingested food and drink by fermentation Prepares the ground for the Spleen to separate and extract the refined essence from food. After transformation in the Stomach, food is passed down to the Small Intestine for further separation and absorption. TCM STOMACH FUNCTION The Stomach controls the 'rotting and ripening of food' Strong Stomach Qi indicates good prognosis; weak Stomach Qi indicates poor prognosis No matter how serious the disease, if Stomach-Qi is still strong, the prognosis will be good. Hence the saying ‘If there is Stomach-Qi there is life, if there is no Stomach-Qi there is death.’ TCM STOMACH FUNCTION The Stomach controls the transportation of food essences The Stomach, together with the Spleen, is responsible for the transportation of food essences to the whole body and limbs TCM STOMACH FUNCTION The Stomach controls the descending of Qi The Stomach sends transformed food downwards to the Small Intestine: for this reason in health, Stomach Qi has a downward movement. If Stomach-Qi descends, digestion will be good and trouble-free. If Stomach Qi fails to descend, food will stagnate in the stomach, leading to a feeling of fullness and distension, sour regurgitation, belching, hiccup, nausea and vomiting. TCM STOMACH FUNCTION The Stomach is in the origin of fluids To rot and ripen food the Stomach needs an abundance of fluids, just as sufficient fluids are needed to extract the vital principles from a herbal decoction or a soup. If Stomach fluids are abundant, digestion will be good and the sense of taste normal. If Stomach fluids are deficient, a person will be thirsty, the tongue will be dry and cracked and digestion will be poor. One of the main reasons for deficiency of Stomach fluids is eating too late at night. REFERENCES Maciocia, G. (2015). Foundations of Chinese Medicine. Third Edition.