The Spleen channel Flashcards
What are the functions of the Spleen?
Governs transformation and transportation. Controls the ascending of qi Controls blood Controls the muscles and four limbs Opens into the mouth Manifests in the lips Controls saliva Controls the raising of Qi Houses the intellect (Yi) It is affected by pensiveness.
What are the signs and symptoms of Spleen Qi deficiency?
o Low appetite o Abdominal distention o Loose stools o Fatigue o Weak limbs
How does the tongue present itself in Spleen qi deficiency?
Scalloped
What is the pulse in spleen qi deficiency?
Weak in the spleen position.
What are the signs and symptoms of Spleen Yang deficiency?
o Low appetite o Abdominal distention o Loose stools o Fatigue o Weak limbs
COLD o Feeling cold o Cold limbs o Oedema o Lying in foetal position
What is the tongue presentation in Spleen Yang deficiency?
Pale, wet and swollen
What is the pulse presentation in Spleen yang deficiency?
Deep, weak and slow
What are the signs and symptoms of Spleen qi sinking?
o Low appetite o Abdominal distention o Loose stools o Fatigue o Weak limbs PROLAPSE o Bearing down sensation o Tendency to obesity o Frequent urgent urination
What is the tongue presentation in Spleen qi sinking?
Pale
What is the pulse presentation in Spleen qi sinking?
Weak and deep
What are the signs and symptoms of Spleen not controlling blood?
o Low appetite o Abdominal distention o Loose stools o Fatigue o Weak limbs
BLEEDING o Often pale and continuous o Uterine o Stools o Urine
What is the tongue presentation in Spleen Yang deficiency?
Pale
What are the signs and symptoms of spleen blood deficiency?
o Low appetite o Abdominal distention o Loose stools o Fatigue o Weak limbs PALE o Scanty periods o Amenorrhoea o Depression o Insomnia
What is the tongue presentation in Spleen Blood deficiency?
Pale (possibly thin)
What is the pulse presentation in Spleen Blood deficiency?
Fine (possibly choppy)
What are the empty pathologies of the Spleen?
Spleen qi deficiency Spleen Yang deficiency Spleen Qi sinking Spleen not controlling blood Spleen blood deficiency
What is the pulse presentation in Spleen not controlling blood?
Weak and fine (possibly hollow)
What are the two spleen full patterns?
- Damp cold invading the Spleen
2. Damp heat invading the Spleen
What are the signs and symptoms of Damp cold invading the spleen?
Poor appetite, fullness and cold in epigastrium / abdomen, heavy head and body, nausea, no thirst, tiredness, dull white complexion.
What is the tongue and pulse presentation of Damp cold invading the spleen?
Tongue: Pale with sticky white coat
Pulse acute: Slippery and slow
Pulse Chronic: Weak and soggy
What are the signs and symptoms of Damp heatinvading the Spleen?
Poor appetite, fullness in epigastrium / abdomen, heavy head and body, nausea, vomiting, thirst without desire to drink, smelly loose stools, bitter taste, low grade fever, oily sweat, dull yellow complexion.
What is the tongue and pulse presentation of damp hear invading the spleen?
Tongue: Red with sticky yellow coat
Pulse: Slippery and rapid.
What are the combined patterns of the Spleen?
o Combined patterns: Spleen and heart blood deficiency
o Spleen and Liver blood deficiency
o Spleen and Lung qi deficiency
o Obstruction of Spleen by damp with Liver qi stasis: damp patterns
o Liver invading the spleen – spleen pathology that comes and goes
o Spleen and stomach qi deficiency – dominance of digestive symptoms
What are the symptoms of spleen channel disharmony?
o Heaviness, fatigue or muscle wasting o Cold along the inside of the thigh and knee o Oedema in the legs (damp) o Motor impairment of tongue o Bunions and fallen arches
What are spleen tongue signs?
Scalloping (represents deficiency of qi), swelling indicates damp accumulation. Central crack indicative of spleen qi deficiency.
What are spleen pulse signs?
Weak pulse, slippery pulse, empty pulse.
What could you inquire about to determine a spleen condition?
o Inquiry: tiredness, fatigue, heaviness, questions about the course of the channel. Thermal patterns (is there heat or cold happening), what is happening with the blood?
o Listening to the sounds: abdominal sounds, singing sound
What does a Spleen disharmony influence?
It will influence the digestive process, with symptoms such as abdominal distention, lack of appetite and loose stools.
How does the spleen influence the muscles?
The Spleen controls the muscles and is responsible for transporting Food-Qi (Gu Qi) to the muscles throughout the body, in particular the four limbs. A common disharmony is tiredness (Spleen deficiency)
How does the spleen influence the blood?
Spleen controls blood and a weakness of spleen-qi often causes bleeding.
What common signs would indicate Spleen pathology?
Tiredness, digestive disorders, dull-yellow complexion and abdominal distention (bloating).
How does pensiveness effect the Spleen?
Pensiveness makes Qi stagnate and it effects the Spleen (but also the Lungs). Pensiveness may lead to Spleen-Qi deficiency.
How does diet influence the Spleen?
An excessive consumption of cold foods will impair the Spleens function of transformation and transportation, which will cause interior dampness and digestive problems.
What are the key symptoms of Spleen-Qi deficiency?
Poor appetite, tiredness and loose stools.
What are the variations of Spleen-Qi deficiency?
Spleen Yang deficiency - further stage of spleen-qi deficiency
Spleen-Qi sinking - Spleen not raising Qi
Spleen not holding blood
Spleen-blood deficiency - Spleen’s food qi not making enough blood
What does the empty pulse reflect in Spleen qi deficiency?
The empty pulse reflects the deficiency of Qi.
What are the key symptoms of Spleen-Yang deficiency?
Loose stools, feeling cold, cold limbs and tiredness.
Why is the tongue pale and wet in spleen-yang deficiency?
The tongue is pale due to deficiency of Yang and wet because the impairment in the spleen function of fluid transportation leads to the accumulation of fluid on the tongue.
What are the key symptoms of Spleen-Qi sinking?
Bearing down sensation and weak pulse.
What are the key symptoms of Spleen not controlling blood?
Fine pulse, pale tongue and bleeding.
What are the key symptoms of Spleen not controlling blood?
Tiredness, slight abdominal distention, scanty periods and pale tongue
What are the key symptoms of Cold-dampness invading the Spleen?
Abdominal fullness, feeling of heaviness, sticky white tongue coating.
What are the key symptoms of Damp-Heat invading the Spleen?
Abdominal fullness, feeling of heaviness and sticky yellow coating.
What are the symptoms of the main spleen channel?
Vaginal discharge, cold feeling along the channel, weakness of the leg muscles.
