The spleen and stomach are among the most important organs in the human physiological processes. In his work On the Spleen and Stomach, Li Dongyuan from the Jin Dynasty proposed that “internal injury to the spleen and stomach leads to the onset of all diseases.” In the Five Elements theory, the spleen and stomach correspond to the Earth element, and just as plants grow when the Earth is strong and wither when the Earth is weak, the health of the spleen and stomach plays a crucial role in the functioning of the entire body.
In daily life, we often feel frustrated with the following problems: Why has my illness lasted so long without improvement? Why am I always prone to colds, feel fatigued, and have a low immune system? Why do I still feel unwell even after taking medication? Of course, the causes of diseases are complex and cannot be fully explained in just a few words. However, today I want to talk about how strengthening the spleen and stomach, step by step, can help identify the root cause of the problem and improve physical discomfort.
The diagnostic methods in traditional Chinese medicine include: observation, listening, inquiry, and palpation. By combining these four methods, we can accurately diagnose the balance and dysfunction of the body’s internal organs. Clinically, many patients with spleen and stomach issues exhibit symptoms of discomfort from the head to the soles of the feet, such as:
- Dizziness and a bloated head
- Tightness and discomfort in the neck
- Headaches
- Palpitations
- Stomach bloating, stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation
- A feeling of obstruction or difficulty breathing in the throat
- Occasional numbness or coldness in the limbs, or sweating in the limbs
- Discomfort in the T7-T10 area of the back, which corresponds to the spleen and stomach
- Emotional instability, irritability, and poor sleep quality
You can check for these symptoms; if you experience one or two of them, it indicates that spleen and stomach issues may have unknowingly begun to affect you.
There are many causes of spleen and stomach diseases: poor diet, irregular lifestyle, uncontrolled emotions, and other physical diseases leading to spleen and stomach discomfort, among others. The Chinese people consider food as the most important aspect of life, and the delicious food in Malaysia, such as sour, spicy, and fried dishes, certainly stimulates our taste buds. Overall, managing diet and emotions plays a very important role in maintaining the health of the spleen and stomach.
The Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine) is the earliest existing traditional Chinese medical text, and in the section Su Wen: On Reversal Adjustment, it says, “If the stomach is not harmonious, one will not sleep peacefully.” This indicates that when someone has a spleen and stomach disorder, it can affect their sleep.
Currently, during the ongoing pandemic, some people’s daily routines have been disrupted, and due to working from home, many people’s work hours are no longer from 9 AM to 5 PM but rather whenever they need to be in front of a computer. Life has become more challenging, and the change in lifestyle has led to anxiety and unease. It takes a long time to adjust to the new normal. Therefore, these lifestyle changes, if not paid attention to, can easily lead to physical issues, especially spleen and stomach problems.
