Spleen health series

Maintaining the health of internal organs in traditional Chinese medicine - Spleen chapter

The spleen is the basis of the acquired nature and the source of Qi and blood regeneration. The spleen controls the muscles, the spleen is in the mouth, the flower is in the lips, the will is in thought, and the liquid is there. The role and function of the spleen in Chinese medicine is that the spleen can preside over the yun, ascend the qing, and control the blood. The transport function of the spleen refers to the transport of food and water. Transport of food and water refers to the role of the spleen in digesting and absorbing food. The fact that the spleen transports water means that the spleen has the function of transporting and distributing water, and is an important step in water metabolism in the body. The spleen has the ability to ascend Qing, transport water valley to the heart and lungs and head, and generate Qi and blood through the heart and lungs to nourish the whole body. The spleen also controls blood flow into the blood vessels and prevents it from leaking out. This is the role and function of the spleen. The spleen and stomach are ``the basis of the acquired nature and the source of vitalization of qi and blood,'' and there is a saying in Chinese medicine that ``internal injury, spleen and stomach, and the birth of hundreds of diseases.'' If your spleen and stomach function is good, your qi and blood will be strong and your physique will be strong. When the spleen and stomach become weak, a variety of diseases occur. Zhang Jingyue, a medical scientist of the Ming Dynasty, proposed the idea that ``the spleen and stomach come first from the point of birth'' and positioned the spleen and stomach as the foundation and axis of the body. The spleen likes dryness and hates moisture. The stomach likes a regular life and hates stimulation. In Chinese medicine, the stomach is the "storehouse official." The spleen has the function of controlling human development and has the characteristics of earth. The easiest way to injure the spleen is when moisture enters the body, as soil easily absorbs water. The stressful, fast-paced lifestyle of big cities, sitting for long periods of time, drinking and socializing, eating and drinking irregularly, and eating and drinking cold, processed, and salty foods are unhealthy lifestyle habits for many people. This causes the problem of spleen dampness to exist. When emotional factors such as anxiety are added, the already fragile spleen and stomach cannot withstand the additional strain.
1. Symptoms of spleen poisoning

Pigmentation appears on the face. Women with pigmentation usually have poor digestive function.
There are many white belts. The spleen excretes moisture from the body, but if the moisture exceeds the spleen's capacity, there may be excess moisture in the body and an increase in white bands.
Fat is accumulated. Fat is called "phlegm dampness" in Chinese medicine and is produced when toxins cannot be excreted from the body due to insufficient digestive function of the spleen. An effective diet should focus on restoring normal metabolism and phlegm moisture in the spleen and stomach. Otherwise, it will be easy to rebound.
Bad breath is noticeable, and acne and ulcers form around the lips. The area around the lips belongs to the spleen, and if the toxins in the spleen are not flushed out of the body, the accumulated toxins can explode from these areas.
2. How to detoxify the spleen

Eating acidic foods helps detoxify the spleen. There are plums, vinegar, etc. These are the best foods to remove toxins in food, strengthen the digestive function and eliminate toxins in food from the body in the shortest possible time. Sour foods also strengthen the spleen and act as "anti-poison foods."
Press the detoxification point of the spleen. This refers to Shangqiu hole. This pressure point is located in the hollow of the lower front of the inner malleolus. Massage this pressure point with your fingers to maintain the acidic sensation. Alternate legs for about 3 minutes each time.
Take a walk after dinner. Exercise aids digestion and speeds up the elimination of toxins, but it must be continued over a long period of time for best results.
3. Optimal time for detoxification After meals is the time when toxins are most likely to be generated. If food is not digested or absorbed, toxins quickly accumulate. Eating a piece of fruit an hour after a meal can strengthen the spleen and aid detoxification.

Spleen care in daily life
a. Foods that remove splenic moisture: red beans, sweet potato, daikon radish, marlin tuna, etc.
b. Massage of hole positions: The best way to remove splenic moisture is to press the hole positions such as Yinlingquan, Sanli, Sanyinjiao, and Penglong hole. Yin Ling Quan is a confluence hole for the Spleen meridian, and the Spleen meridian Qi starts from the toes and flows deep from here. If you have spleen moisture in your body, pressing this area will cause pain, but if you continue to press gently for at least 10 minutes every day, the pain will gradually decrease and you will see that your spleen moisture is improving.
c. Focus on spleen and stomach care:

Adjust your diet: It is important to control your portion size and eat regular, balanced meals. In the ``Submon/Rumor'' it says, ``Eat and drink your own, intestines and stomach injuries.'' Meals should be taken at regular times, without over-satisfying the appetite, and at the right temperature. You need to be careful about how cold or hot the food is. When it comes to meals, it is necessary to ``balance the five tastes and not be picky.'' Grains are the staple food, with fruits, vegetables, and meats serving as supplements. The ``Five grains feed, the five fruits help, the five livestock benefit, the five vegetables provide for, and I submit to it with a sense of peace.Thus, I replenish my essence and benefit my qi.'' there is. This shows that grains (staple foods) are the basis of people's survival, while fruits, vegetables, meat, etc. act as supplements. Therefore, to feed the spleen and stomach, you should not only consume a lot of grains (staple food), but also pay attention to the balance and diversity of your diet.
Please note that the living environment warms the abdomen. After the beginning of autumn, the weather becomes cooler and the temperature difference between day and night increases. When sleeping, make sure to cover yourself with a blanket to prevent your abdomen from getting cold. Wear warm clothing to protect your spleen, cyst, and navel from cold air. Take care to keep the living environment dry. The spleen hates moisture. Keep rooms and offices well-ventilated and dry. Dry your futon frequently. Create a dry living and working environment.
Exercise moderately and don't sit for too long. In ``Sukin・痿ron'', it is said that ``the spleen is the main muscle.'' Physical exercise helps maintain the health of the spleen and stomach. The meridian system is distributed in the extremities of the human body, and physical exercise promotes the circulation of meridian qi, which affects the spleen and stomach and strengthens the spleen and stomach function. In particular, strengthening the exercise of the lower legs can provide good stimulation to the lower legs, where the Spleen meridian is located. Research shows that moving your toes can nourish your stomach and spleen. For middle-aged and elderly people, physical education exercises should choose gentle and low-intensity exercise methods. These include walking, jogging, hiking, tai chi, kemari, and dancing. After exercise, you should sweat a little, stretch your muscles and bones, and avoid feeling overly fatigued.
Self-massage Self-massage can help regulate the spleen and stomach by massaging the abdomen and strengthen luck. If you are constipated, massage your abdomen clockwise; if you have diarrhea, massage your abdomen counterclockwise. Human aging is caused by organ weakness such as spleen qi deficiency (acquired basis). Through the adjustment of Chinese medicine regimen, organ weakness can be slowed down, which has the effect of slowing down aging. People look more spiritual and youthful and age less easily with continued long-term regimen adjustments.