Library

Diagram of the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian

Diagram of the Spleen Organ

The lost chapter "Ci Fa Lun" (Treatise on Acupuncture Methods) states: The Spleen is the official of admonition and discussion, from which wisdom and comprehensive knowledge arise. Hua Shou (Shi Shi) stated: It covers the Tai Cang (Stomach). Hua Tuo (Hua Yuanhua) stated: The Spleen governs the digestion of the five grains and nourishes the four sides of the body. Zhong Zi stated: The Spleen and Stomach belong to Earth; both characters contain the radical 'field' (Tian). The Stomach is situated in the center, just as the character 'field' is centered; the Spleen is located on the right, just as the stroke in the character 'field' leans to the right.

The Nan Jing (Classic of Difficult Issues) states: The Spleen weighs two jin and three liang, is broad and flat with a width of three cun and a length of five cun, and includes a half-jin of loose pancreas (San Gao). Its main function is to envelop blood and warm the five Zang organs.

Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian - Spleen: The Spleen is the official of granaries, from which the five flavors emerge. It is the residence of Ying (Nutritive) Qi. It stores Yi (Intellect/Thought) and Zhi (Wisdom), governs the muscles of the entire body, and serves as the root of the five Zang organs. Heart Fire is its Mother, Lung Metal is its Child. It controls Kidney Water, and Liver Wood attacks it. Its brilliance manifests in the four white areas around the lips, and its tissue fillment is in the muscles. Its position is Central, corresponding to the season of Late Summer, pulse is Huan (Slow/Relaxed), color is Yellow, musical note is Gong, number is Five, odor is Fragrant, sound is Song (Singing), taste is Gan (Sweet), and it dislikes Dampness. Its fluid is Xian (Saliva). In the Five Elements, it belongs to Earth. Its external orifice connects to the mouth. Its shape is three cun wide and five cun long, covering and observing the Tai Cang (Stomach), attached to the eleventh thoracic vertebra of the spine, forming an interior-exterior relationship with the Stomach. This meridian has abundant Qi and little Blood; Qi and Blood flow into it during the Si hour (9-11 AM). Deficiency leads to shortness of breath; excess leads to distension and fullness. A healthy pulse is Huan; a pathological pulse is Xian (Wiry). Disease of the Spleen may lead to death on Jia-Yi days. Its associated animal is the Ox, grain is Ji (Millet), and celestial body is Zhen Xing (Saturn).

Manifestations of Spleen meridian disorders include: five types of diarrhea, constipation of stool and urine, yellow complexion, stiffness of the tongue root, sweet taste in the mouth, vomiting after eating, epigastric pain, abdominal distension with borborygmus, frequent belching and hunger; relief felt after passing residual gas, fatigue and lassitude of the body and limbs, difficulty swallowing, vexation, acute pain below the heart, cold malaria, loose stools with undigested food or masses (Tan Jia), urinary obstruction, jaundice, inability to lie down, weakness when standing forcibly, swelling inside the thighs and knees, and dysfunction of the big toe. Improper diet and overwork injure the Spleen. Excess patterns manifest as dreams of joyous singing and happiness; deficiency patterns manifest as dreams of disputes over food. Overthinking injures the Spleen; Anger can overcome Thinking. Dampness injures the muscles; Wind can overcome Dampness. Sweet taste injures the muscles; Sour taste can overcome Sweet. Sweet flavor travels to the muscles; if muscles are diseased, avoid excessive consumption of sweet foods. Excessive consumption of sour flavors leads to thickening of muscle skin (calluses) and peeling of the lips.

The meridian pathway originates at the end of the big toe at Yinbai (SP1), receiving intersection from the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. From there, it follows the medial side of the big toe along the border of white flesh at Dabu (SP2), passes behind the metatarsophalangeal joint (He Gu), and sequentially passes Taibai (SP3), Gongsun (SP4), and Shangqiu (SP5). It ascends to the anterior margin of the medial malleolus at Er Yinjiao (SP6), then ascends the medial aspect of the lower leg, following behind the tibia at Lougu (SP7), ascending two cun, emerging anterior to the Zhongdu (LR6) point of the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian, reaching Dijji (SP8) and Yinlingquan (SP9); from Yinlingquan (SP9), it ascends along the anterior margin of the medial knee bone, passing Xuehai (SP10) and Jimen (SP11), winding into the abdomen, passing Chongmen (SP12) and Fushhe (SP13), intersecting with Zhongji (CV3) and Guanyuan (CV4) of the Conception Vessel, then following Fujie (SP14) and Daheng (SP15), intersecting with Xiawan (CV10) of the Conception Vessel; passing Fu'ai (SP16), crossing the Riyue (GB24) of the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian and Qimen (LR14) of the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian, then following the interior of Fu'ai (SP16) of this meridian, descending to the area between Zhongwan (CV12) and Xiawan (CV10) of the Conception Vessel, connecting to the Spleen and linking to the Stomach. From Fu'ai (SP16), it ascends through the diaphragm, following Shidou (SP17), Tianxi (SP18), Xiongxiang (SP19), and Zhourong (SP20); from Zhourong (SP20), it curves outward and downward to Dabao (SP21), then from Dabao (SP21) curves outward and upward, intersecting with Zhongfu (LU1) of the Lung Meridian, ascending to the interior of Renying (ST9) of the Stomach Meridian, flanking the pharynx, connecting to the root of the tongue, scattering at the base of the tongue, and terminating; its branch follows Fu'ai (SP16) to the stomach region, intersects outside Zhongwan (CV12) of the Conception Vessel, ascends through the diaphragm, pours into the interior of Tanzhong (CV17) of the Conception Vessel, and intersects with the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian, continuing from the descent of the Ji Quan (HT1) point.