Library

The Spleen belongs to Earth in the Five Elements, is referred to as the "Official of Remonstrance," and governs intention (Yi) and wisdom. It is responsible for digesting the five grains, resides within the body, nourishes the four limbs, and prospers during the late summer season among the four seasons. The Spleen and Stomach are exterior-interior pairs, with the Foot-Taiyin Splein Meridian being its governing channel. Bian Que stated: "When the Spleen is diseased, the complexion becomes sallow; excess conditions manifest as a stiff tongue, aversion to food, vomiting and regurgitation, and flaccidity of the limbs; deficiency conditions lead to frequent illness, a desire to swallow acid fluids, and persistent dysentery. If the pulse comes rapidly like flowing water, it is termed 'Excessive,' indicating pathogenic factors outside; if it comes short and abrupt like a bird's spur, it is termed 'Deficient,' indicating pathogenic factors inside. Excess causes heaviness in the four limbs and slurred speech; deficiency causes abdominal fullness, anorexia, fatigue, flaccid weakness of hands and feet, drooling, swelling of the four limbs, intermittent loose stools, and dreams of eating. The normal pulse of the Spleen arrives slowly and softly, and departs lightly like a bird's foot touching the ground. A pulse that arrives solid and full, slightly rapid, resembling a chicken lifting its foot, indicates disease. Pulses resembling falling birds, bird spurs, or leaking roofs indicate death. In wind-stroke, there is slight fever, a state resembling drunkenness, abdominal irritability and fullness, lax skin and muscles, and shortness of breath. During the prosperous time of the Spleen, a soft and slow pulse is normal. If the pulse is wiry and urgent, Liver Wood overacts on Spleen Earth, akin to a true ghost meeting, which is a sign of great misfortune." Furthermore, if the pulse is slightly choppy and short, Lung Metal attacks Spleen Earth; although untreated, it may heal spontaneously. If the pulse is reversely soft and slippery, Kidney Water follows Spleen Earth, which is also harmless. If the pulse is reversely floating and surging, Heart Fire generates Spleen Earth, but this indicates Spleen deficiency leading to disease. If the complexion is yellow, body heavy, bowel and bladder functions abnormal, eyes staring straight, lips retracted, nails cyanotic, four extremities cold, vomiting food, inability to digest all grains and foods, abdominal distension, body heaviness, joint pain, hard stool, and difficult urination, a pulse that is slightly slow and long is treatable. Spleen Qi deficiency leads to loose stools, clear urine, continuous sweating, downward leakage of the five fluids, resulting in dysentery of five colors. Accumulation in the middle jiao, if prolonged, leads to inability to control the four limbs, jaundice, failure of food to transform into muscle and flesh, Qi fullness, asthma, and insufficiency. Spleen excess manifests as dreams of building walls and houses; when excessive, dreams of singing and music; when deficient, dreams of insufficient food. When Jue pathogens lodge in the Spleen, one dreams of large marshes, hills, and storms destroying houses. Spleen distension leads to frequent hiccups, limb stiffness, body heaviness, anorexia, and easy belching. Spleen disease causes mental dullness, worsening during the day, stability at noon, and calmness in the afternoon. An extremely urgent pulse causes convulsions; a slightly urgent pulse causes epigastric obstruction where food enters and returns; an extremely slow pulse causes flaccidity and cold limbs; a slightly slow pulse causes wind-flaccidity with inability to support the limbs; an extremely large pulse causes alternating chills and fever; a slightly large pulse causes Xiao Dao (wasting-thirst); a slippery pulse indicates hernia; a slightly slippery pulse indicates insect toxicity, borborygmus, and heat in the middle jiao; a choppy pulse indicates intestinal obstruction; a slightly choppy pulse indicates internal ulceration with pus and blood discharge. A Spleen pulse that is large and void with accumulation indicates pathology; if Spleen Qi is exhausted, death occurs in ten days. Umbilical eversion is also a death sign; dry, cracked lips without texture and turning cyanous-black indicate death, representing the Spleen dying first. Spleen disease with yellow complexion and red eyes is treatable; if cyanous-black color penetrates the joints, death occurs in half a year. A complexion like Zhi Shi (immature bitter orange) indicates death in one month. Auspiciousness and misfortune are all revealed by observing the complexion and its specific locations. Mouth lock, black lips, limbs heavy as mountains, inability to hold oneself, unceasing incontinence of urine and feces, and inability to take food indicate death in seven days. If the mouth is sallow but the voice is clear, it is treatable. Spleen malaria qi lingering for a long time causes abdominal borborygmus and pain, followed by slow sweating and fever. If a person who was originally relaxed becomes irritable, laughs through the nose while speaking, and cannot answer others, disaster will inevitably occur after more than one month. Cold or heat in the Spleen both cause abdominal pain and anorexia. Disease onset with a stiff tongue and slurred speech, retraction of the testicles pulling pain into the inner thighs, body heaviness, anorexia, and bloating transforming into watery diarrhea with inability to lie down indicates a fatal, untreatable condition. Spleen proper heat manifests as yellow complexion, red eyes, and hypochondriac pain and fullness. Cold manifests as vomiting saliva and phlegm, anorexia, limb pain, unceasing diarrhea, cold hands and feet, and severe tremors resembling malaria. In clinical practice, the key lies in clearly identifying the syndrome and meticulously examining the pulse before administering decoctions to achieve recovery.