Spleen (Pi)

The Spleen influences the form of the body and the distribution of the flesh. Weight problems will often be diagnosed as being related to the Spleen.

It also controls the ability to relate harmoniously to the environment, and to regulate the body's energies according to the energies of the outside world. An extension of this is the ability to assimilate the energy of the Earth in the form of food, arid to distribute it evenly among the five Zang.

The Spleen, being at the centre, controls the central Qi. This energy is responsible for holding the abdominal organs in their correct place. Many cases of prolapse are regarded as being due to a weakness of the Spleen.

It also 'contains' the Blood, preventing leakage from the blood vesels. Different types of haemorrhage can therefore be linked to the Spleen.

The Spleen relates to Earth, the centre, the colour yellow, and Dampness; mentally it is seen in the free flow7 of ideas, liver-concentration, obsession and unproductive thought suggest a Spleen imbalance.

Symptoms of disharmony include: fatigue, wasting of flesh, obesity, digestive problems, diarrhoea with undigested food, bloated abdomen, prolapse, thoughts going round and round.

Some sources - particularly those from Korea and Japan - include the Pancreas in the Spleen function.

The Spleen is the transformer and transporter. With the Stomach it transforms food and drink into subtle, assimilable essences, so helping to produce both Blood and Qi.

It therefore effectively determines the efficient uptake of nourishment from food and sees that this is properly distributed to the Organs and body tissues. It is related to the mouth and its state can be assessed in the lips.