Let’s have a look at these organs’ functions from both a Western medical perspective and an Oriental medical perspective. In most cases, they are both very similar; the main difference being that Oriental medicine adds an energetic and psychological component to the organs.
The spleen in Oriental medicine actually refers to the overall spleen system, which includes the pancreas as well as the spleen.
Stomach function (Western Medicine)
- Receives food from the esophagus
- Stomach secretes acids and enzymes to aid digestion
- Muscles (rugae) line the stomach and contract periodically to churn the food
- A valve called the pyloric sphincter opens to release the churned up food into the small intestine for the next stage of digestion
Spleen Function (Western Medicine)
- Involved in supporting many other organs in the body
- Acts primarily as a filter of blood which supports the immune system
- Replaces blood cells, platelets and stores white blood cells
Pancreas Function (Western Medicine)
- Has two primary functions: a digestive gland and an endocrine gland.
- Produces and secretes important enzymes into the small intestine for digestion
- Produces and secretes hormones insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream to regulate blood glucose levels
Stomach Function (Oriental Medicine)
- Receiving and ripening of food
- Controls digestion of food and water
- Begins the separation of pure from impure—pure goes to storage; impure goes to waste
- Sends the energy downwards
- Keeps digestive system moist, damp and warm for optimal digestive function
Spleen (and Pancreas) Function (Oriental Medicine)
- Governs transportation and transformation of food into blood and QiQi and transports it around the body
- Controls the blood and keeps it circulating to the limbs and muscles to keep them healthy and strong
- Stores and excretes urine
- Keeps appetite strong, healthy and regular
- Allows and supports clear thinking and direction
- Keeps you grounded and feeling supported by earth
Physical, Emotional & Spiritual Signs and Symptoms
(Oriental medicine)
A Person with Stomach & Spleen In Balance
- Has good healthy digestion
- Good digestive fire (easy to digest foods)
- Feels energized after eating
- Eats without distractions (no phones, computers, TV or newspapers). Chews slowly and with awareness. Often offering a prayer of gratitude before and after meals
- Eats at the same time every day (great way to restore balance)
- Has good muscle tone and strong limbs
- Can think clearly, has the ability to stay focused for long periods
- Ability to feel sympathy and empathy towards others without giving out and losing energy
- Feels centered, grounded, confident, strong and able
- Has trust in the universe (does not worry about future)
- Feels supported and nourished by Mother Earth (bountiful)
- Enjoys community, connections and is generous
- Has a strong sense of identity yet understands that one is included in a greater picture therefore doesn’t exhibit self-centeredness, selfishness or self-absorption
- Enjoys moving and exercising the body because it increases their capacity to feel stable, strong, focused and centered
- Wakes up early, takes time to ground and integrate, getting ready for the day
- Peaks workflow at 9-11am
- Able to relax and sleep well at night
Stomach and Spleen Out Of Balance
With an imbalance in these organs you can either experience the extreme of having too much fire energy and not enough fluids (drying up) or on the other extreme, and more commonly, not enough fire energy and too many fluids, which allows the digestion to become too damp and heavy.
- Always worrying, especially about an uncertain future
- Over thinks, talks more than does
- Over plans things, needs to plan well in advance
- Ungrounded, unclear, very “flighty”, unstable, inability to focus for extended periods (commonly shows ADD and ADHD symptoms)
- Doesn’t eat enough protein and replaces the lack of proper nutrition with processed sugars to get energy bursts
- Poor appetite; often doesn’t eat breakfast and eats at irregular times
- Thin, colorless lips
- Eats while at working desk, watching TV or reading something
- Heartburn, nausea, vomiting and burps often after meals (energy flowing upward instead of downward)
- Lacks muscle tone, weak limbs
- Overweight (too much damp) or underweight (too hot and dry)
- Poor sluggish digestion (too much damp) or overactive digestion (too hot and dry) with an inability to put on weight
- Feelings of a heavy body
- Ongoing constipation or diarrhea
- Gets colds and flu easily
- Unable to sympathize or empathize with others
- Often self-absorbed and self-centered
- Unable to trust others or the universe; always worried!
- Often manifests as type 2 diabetes
- Lacks sense of community and dislikes sharing with others (self focused)
- Feels tired after meals
The main causes of imbalance are due to an over abundance of sweetened foods (processed sugars), a tendency towards excessive worry and not enough physical movement or training. This is very common in the Western world and is now becoming more common in the East as people are taking to sweetened foods and spending extended times on computers and sitting in chairs. Later, we will discuss how to bring this common imbalance back into balance. It’s not difficult to address this imbalance but it does take time and a change in priorities, but it can add years to your life and installs a strong sense of self responsibility, groundedness and stability in one’s life.