Spleen (Sp)
Foot Taiyin
The spleen meridian runs up from the big toe, along the inside of the right leg up over the crotch and then along the stomach but not quite all the way to the side of the body. It goes across just the outside of the right breast, then up to just above the armpit, and then back down to just below the armpit.
It begins where the Liver meridian leaves off, and at its end, the Heart meridian begins.
The Spleen Meridian (Sp):
* The main meridian starts on the medial aspect of the big toe Sp 1.
-> Ascends along the medial aspect of the foot (on the border of the red and white skin) through Sp 2 and Sp 4.
-> Traverses to the anterior of the medial malleolus through Sp 5.
-> Crosses over the Liver channel between Sp 8 and Sp 9.
-> Ascends over the medial aspect of the knee and thigh to the inguinal area at Sp 12.
-> In the lower abdomen at Sp 13, the channel goes medially and internally to meet the Ren channel at Ren 3 and 4 (Meets the intestines in this region).
-> The meridian then ascends laterally to Sp 14 and Sp 15.
-> At Sp 15 the meridian moves medially to meet the Ren channel at Ren 10.
3 Branches:
- A Branch from Ren 10 moves internally to the Spleen organ and then to the Stomach (paired organ).
-> Ascends laterally through the diaphragm toward the ribs at Sp 16.
-> Continues to ascend and then intersects with the Gall Bladder meridian at GB 24 and the Liver Meridian at Liv 14.
-> Ascends along the lateral aspect of the chest and intersects at the Lung Meridian at Lu 1.
-> Parallels the esophagus and ascends to the lower surface of the root of the tongue.
- Branch from the Stomach goes through the diaphragm and joins with the Heart.
- Branch from Lu 1 descends and ends at Sp 21 (Great Luo Point).
- The Spleeen channel meets the Lung organ at some time but where exactly on the pathway has not been explained.
Spleen Organ and Pathway Pathology:
- Spleen organ:
- Abdominal distension, epigastric pain, vomiting, belching, loose stools, fatigue, jaundice, stiffness and pain at the root of the tongue.
- Spleen pathway:
- Swelling and a feeling of cold in the area medial to the knee.
Circadian Clock:
9-11am
Twelve Officials of the Court:
- Official
- In Charge of Grainery, transform and transport
Accumulation Point:
Sp 8
Zang Fu Organ Functions
- Governs transportation and transformation
- Food into qi and blood
- Water transformation
- Raising of the pure
- Controls the blood (Qi holds the blood in the vessels)
- Dominates the muscle and four limbs
- Opens into the mouth
Spleen Mental and Spiritual Aspects
- Western: Spleen
- Pinyin: Yi
- Western Interpretation: Intellect
- Description
- Responsible for memorizing
- Heart and Kidney are involved with memory as well
- Spiritual Aspects
- Thinking
- Remembering
- Memorizing data when studying or working
This person might be brilliant in their field yet forget things in daily life
- Emotions:
Excessive worry or pensiveness causes Qi to stagnate or knot, which injures the spleen
Spleen Organ Etiology
- Opens into the mouth
Pale mouth and lips, poor apetite
- Qi ascends
Shortness of breath, chronic diarrhea, prolapse of anus and uterus, ptosis of internal organs
- Transportation and transformation
- Nutrients
Yellow complexion (sallow) pale lips, abdominal distension, loose stool, cold limbs, lack of strength
- Fluids
Feeling of something bundling the head, pressing sensation in the chest, fluid accumulation, transforming into phlegm, fluid accumulation in the chest, ascites, edema, nausea, heavy limbs and body
- Stomach internally and externally related
Decrease in food intake, retention of food, gastric distension, nausea, vomiting
- Controls Blood
Subcutaneous hemorrhage, bloody stool, meorrhagia, dripping menstrual flow (continuous flow)
- Dominates Muscles
Thin muscles, sallow complexion, general weakness, soft body (fleshy)