In the Five Elements, Spleen and Stomach belong to Earth, also known as “Central Earth,” which is said to be “the source of all life”
This means that the fertility of the land determines the degree of nourishment for the human body.
Thus, there is a saying that “the Spleen and Stomach are the foundation of postnatal life”.
With the changes in modern people’s dietary and lifestyle habits, such as staying up late, consuming cold foods, and frequently living or working in air-conditioned environments, the Yang energy is damaged. When Yang is deficient, it leads to coldness, resulting in an increasing number of people with Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency.
Check the following symptoms to see how many you have:
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Pale Yellow Complexion
When Spleen Yang is deficient, it cannot generate Qi and Blood, and when Stomach Yang is deficient, it cannot properly digest food. The source of Qi and Blood is compromised, leading to a lack of nourishment for the limbs and body, resulting in dull hair, a pale complexion, and a lack of luster, often referred to as (yellow-faced women).
2. Stomach Pain
With Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency, the Stomach channels are not nourished, leading to pain. There may be a dull ache in the epigastric area, which can be relieved by drinking warm water or massaging the area.
3. Fatigue in the Limbs, Sensitivity to Cold, Cold Extremities
The Spleen governs the limbs; if it is deficient, it cannot nourish them, leading to fatigue and heaviness in the limbs, accompanied by a lack of energy and a tendency to feel cold.
4. Abnormal Weight Gain
Normally, food enters the Stomach, undergoes initial digestion, and the refined nutrients are transported by the Spleen to the Lungs. The Lungs then distribute these nutrients through the blood to nourish the organs. If there is a problem with the Spleen and Stomach, it will lose its ability to transport and transform, leading to the accumulation of nutrients in the body, resulting in abnormal weight gain, as people often say, “even drinking water makes you gain weight.”
5. Loose Stools, Diarrhea
The Spleen governs the upward movement of clear Yang, while the Stomach governs the downward movement of turbid Yin. When the Spleen and Stomach are weak, they fail to transform and transport properly, leading to dampness accumulation and resulting in loose stools and a feeling of incomplete evacuation, often accompanied by undigested food residues in the stool.
6. Pale Tongue with White Coating and Teeth Marks
When the Spleen and Stomach function well, the sense of taste is normal; if they are deficient, there may be a lack of taste. A healthy tongue is red, moist, and has a thin, clean coating. If the tongue has clear teeth marks on the edges, a thick white coating, and appears slippery and moist, it indicates Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency.
7. Irregular Menstruation, Dysmenorrhea
When the Qi’s ability to hold is weakened, it can lead to bleeding. Therefore, women with Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency often experience irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, excessive menstrual flow, and thin, watery leukorrhea.
8. Abdominal Distension, Poor Appetite
Dysfunction of the Spleen and Stomach leads to disordered ascending and descending, causing Qi stagnation and poor appetite, resulting in abdominal distension and discomfort. The chest and epigastric area may feel full and uncomfortable, soft to the touch, and not painful; appetite may be poor, and there may be a feeling of fullness after eating.
If you have more than two symptoms, it indicates coldness in the Spleen and Stomach.
In daily diet, avoid excessive consumption of spicy, cold, and irritating foods. Choose warm, easily digestible foods, such as glutinous rice, pumpkin soup, and ginger tea.
1. Ensure adequate hydration and appropriate intake of nutrients and calories.
2. Increase physical exercise, such as walking, running, or yoga.
3. Now that the hottest days of summer are here, when Yang energy is at its peak, you can use moxibustion patches or umbilical patches on corresponding acupoints to dispel coldness.
That’s all for today’s sharing. If you have many questions or don’t know how to adjust, you can message the teacher for one-on-one targeted adjustments and improvements.
