In traditional Chinese medicine, the spleen is an important organ that governs digestion and the transformation of food into qi (life force energy) and blood. However, the concept of the spleen in Chinese medicine is not limited to the physical organ, but also refers to a broader concept of spleen energy or spleen qi. This energy is responsible for various bodily functions, including digestion, fertility, menstrual health, immune system support, and emotional well-being.
Abundant spleen energy is associated with a deep inner sense of well-being and a wonderful sense of ease and comfort in the body. It enables us to enjoy the pleasures of life, feel content, have a deep relationship with our sensuality, and feel abundant in all aspects of our lives. Digestion is strong, the body feels supported and toned, the mind is clear, and we feel grounded and connected to the earth. In contrast, when the spleen is in disharmony, we experience foggy thinking, fatigue, weak digestion, and may crave the sweetness of life but be unable to receive it. Our muscles become weak and less toned, and our thoughts can become obsessive. We may constantly worry about feeling unsupported in life.
Nourishing the Spleen
There are many ways to nourish the spleen and restore its energy. Here are some ways to get started:
Touch
The spleen loves touch, which is as fundamental a need as food. We can nourish the spleen by receiving a massage, cuddling our friends and family, and touching ourselves lovingly.
Stretching
The spleen loves to stretch. It helps the spleen transport nutrients by way of qi and blood into the muscles and around the body. Another playful way to connect and develop trust that the earth is supporting you is to roll, crawl, and gently fall on the earth and feel her physically holding you. When we innately trust the earth to support us, we relax into our body, helping us feel more grounded and also allowing energy to move freely and give our body more vitality.
Feeling at home in our body
Being at home in the body is a beautiful expression of spleen energy. In our touch-deprived, over-sedentary, ungrounded lifestyle, it’s no surprise that the spleen is having a hard time and is the most common deficient organ. We can nourish the spleen by connecting with nature and the knowing that we are nature ourselves. Tending to an edible garden and supporting the soil to have a diverse and healthy microbiome will help heal the earth and also our spleen (earth element), creating the same diversity and health in us. When we tend to a garden, we also reconnect with the cycles of nature, noticing the seasons and how energy moves through a continuous cycle of birth, growth, harvest, and death.
Structure and routine
As well as finding groundedness in the body, we can create groundedness in our daily lives. The spleen loves structure. We can create a daily ritual, a daily meditation, drink a cup of tea, write a journal, or anything that nourishes us daily. It can also mean eating regular meals and having regular sleeping and waking times. This routine helps create a safe and supported space for the spleen.
Our sense of Home
We can even extend this idea of structure to our home and think of our home as an external mirror of the internal Spleen. Creating a comfortable, safe home is important for healthy Spleen functioning. I see many illnesses arising from homesickness, or a deep need for security and care that comes from living in our own homes. The sense of home is vital to Spleen health. Ideally, through the childhood experience of a secure and nourishing home life, we develop an internal sense of home that we may take anywhere, but this is not the case for everyone.
Feeling safe and Trusting Life
The Spleen’s emotional territory covers the relationship with needs, inner feelings of trust and safety. The Spleen asks us to honour our needs and attend to them, to enter a nourishing relationship with ourselves. Asking ourselves ~ what do I truly need to feel nourished, supported and safe in this world?
We can nourish the Spleen in daily life by cuddling (even the cat will do!), getting bodywork, having a daily ritual, being in touch physically with the earth, making a cozy corner in the home, tending to a garden, and most importantly, taking time to give to ourselves in whatever way we need.
The Spleen: Infertility & Fertility
In Chinese Medicine, the Spleen is responsible for transforming the food we eat into Blood & Qi. It then transports this Blood and Qi around the body to all the other organs, including the Heart, which is connected to the Uterus. Every month, Blood comes down from the Heart and settles in the Uterus. If the Spleen is strong, it will make good quality Blood, which will line the Uterus, creating a healthy and nourishing environment for a potential embryo to implant. The Spleen’s function of making Qi also plays a role in the health of the Uterus. The Qi moves Blood, which prevents stagnation and keeps nutrients moving smoothly to the Uterus.
The Spleen & Menstruation
When the Spleen’s function is compromised and there is a deficiency of Blood and Qi, it can affect our menstrual cycle in many ways. We may see Amenorrhea (missed periods or no period) where there isn’t enough Blood to fill the Uterus. Deficiency of Spleen Blood may contribute to long cycles, cycles that are over 35 days may indicate that there isn’t a sufficient amount of Blood to menstruate each month. A lack of Spleen Qi may contribute to Dysmenorrhea (painful periods) due to the lack of Qi moving the Blood smoothly through the vessels.
Nourishing the Spleen with Food
To nourish the Spleen with food, it’s important to focus on sweet and warm foods. This doesn’t mean sugary foods, but rather sweet root vegetables, soups, stews, and well-cooked foods. The Spleen also benefits from avoiding too much fluid with meals, as it can hinder digestion.
Chewing food thoroughly and sitting in a relaxed, open posture can also aid the Spleen in its function. Additionally, the Spleen has an affinity for yellow and orange-colored foods, such as pumpkin and carrots. Aromatic flavors like fennel, ginger, and cinnamon help to avoid stagnation and stimulate the digestive system.
It’s important to note that digestive and Spleen issues underpin many health conditions, including depression, skin rashes, auto-immune diseases, arthritis, and more. Therefore, taking care of your gut health can have a positive impact on overall health and well-being.
Foods that are beneficial for the Spleen include soaked and well-cooked whole grains, cooked starchy vegetables like sweet potatoes and beets, peas and legumes (soaked before cooking), pungent vegetables and spices like garlic and black pepper, and small amounts of sweet foods like cooked apples and brown rice syrup (in moderation). Animal products like beef, chicken, and butter/ghee can also be nourishing and warming for the system, but should be consumed in moderation.
Overall, focusing on nourishing, warm, and well-cooked foods and taking care of your gut health can help support the Spleen’s function and promote overall health and well-being.
