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Spleen and Stomach are also important Zang-Fu organs in the human body. Spleen belongs to Zang (solid organs), Stomach belongs to Fu (hollow organs). Stomach is the exterior manifestation of Spleen, and Spleen is the exterior manifestation of Stomach; they have a mutually connected relationship. When disease occurs in the Stomach, the Spleen sometimes does not suffer from the same disease concurrently; however, if disease occurs in the Spleen, the Stomach invariably suffers from it concurrently. If Spleen excess-heat exists, Stomach must be hot. The manifestations include redness and dryness around the lips, or cracking and peeling; the gums inside must be swollen, red, and purplish; the stool must be dark yellow with black tinges, or dry and constipated. At this time, the body may have fever, loss of appetite, mental fatigue, or vomiting of bitter and sour taste, or extreme thirst with drinking leading to diarrhea of yellow fluid. All these symptoms indicate Stomach heat and Spleen excess without harmony. Most cases are due to food stagnation and retained fluids; as days pass, both Spleen and Stomach generate excess heat due to obstruction. This is internal accumulated heat, not the exterior heat caused by external warm pathogenic factors. This point must be noted. For exterior heat caused by external pathogens, using clearing and purgative medicines can eliminate it completely. Moreover, attacking purgatives are strictly contraindicated, lest the external pathogen sink inward, causing heat to attack internally, leading to nerve irritation and convulsions, or external pathogens lingering in the Middle Jiao forming chest binding (Jie Xiong). However, this internal excess heat cannot be removed without using clearing and purgative medicines. Therefore, to treat such internal excess heat conditions, Sheng Shi Gao (Raw Gypsum Fibrosum) can be used, and Jiu Chuan Jun (Wine-processed Rhubarb) can also be used. If Sheng Shi Gao is used, its main purpose is to clear Spleen and Stomach excess heat; if Jiu Chuan Jun is used, its main purpose is to cleanse the intestines and stomach and remove excess heat. If the heat has not reached a severe degree, both should not be used together. It suffices to use one of them, supplemented by medicines for resolving stagnation, clearing fire, and promoting Qi circulation, which can cure the condition.

Spleen function deficiency implies no inherent heat; the reason for heat appearing is that deficiency can generate heat, causing this state. Spleen deficiency leads to Stomach disharmony and weak digestive capacity. Manifestations include slight whole-body fever with occasional slight sweating; the palms, soles, forehead, and back of the head are necessarily hotter than other areas. Although there is thirst, the lips are pale white, and breath is weak. Touching the skin reveals no steaming heat. Or, undigested food remains, showing aversion to milk/food, with occasional vomiting or diarrhea; this is Spleen deficiency with Stomach heat, a deficiency-heat syndrome. The treatment method should focus on nourishing the Spleen. Once the Spleen can transport and transform grain Qi, the Stomach's deficiency heat will naturally subside. One must absolutely avoid using stagnation-resolving and heat-clearing medicines to seek rapid fever reduction and appetite recovery. These already injured Spleen and Stomach, if subjected to excessive attacking/clearing, will deteriorate further, forming Pi accumulation (abdominal mass), Gu distension (abdominal swelling), or developing into Gan labor (childhood malnutrition) with generalized limb edema. One should apply Qian Dongyang's Bu Pi Yi Huang San (Spleen-Nourishing Yellow-Supplementing Powder) or Tiao Qi Yi Huang San (Qi-Regulating Yellow-Supplementing Powder), chosen according to symptoms. If concerned about the blood-drying nature of insect ingredients in Tiao Qi Yi Huang San, Liu Jun Zi Tang (Six-Gentlemen Decoction) can be used, added with Huo Xiang (Patchouli Herb) and Hu Huang Lian (Coptis Rhizome or related herb for clearing deficiency heat), to tonify deficiency and remove heat. Adding a small amount of Huo Ling Yao (Active Spirit Medicine, likely referring to aromatic Qi-moving herbs like Mu Xiang) to prevent cloying stagnation is also a good method. If Spleen deficiency causes abdominal swelling, with empty borborygmus in the intestines, arising from food injury, tapping the abdomen produces a drum-like sound, and pressing feels soft like cotton; this indicates extreme Qi deficiency where the Spleen has lost its motility. Medicines with purgative properties must absolutely be avoided to prevent collapse. It is suitable to use Liu Jun Zi Tang (Six-Gentlemen Decoction), added with Hou Po (Magnolia Bark) and [missing character, likely Zhi Shi], to warm the Middle and consolidate Qi, assisting gradual self-transformation. If swelling occurs in the feet and legs, add Xuan Mu Gua (Chaenomeles Fruit), Da Fu Pi (Areca Peel), and Zi Wan Rong (Aster Flower Bud), etc., within the Qi-tonifying formula to promote circulation in the lower meridians to reduce swelling. Tonifying and Qi-supplementing medicines can also borrow their promoting power to harmonize stagnating properties.