Of all the traditional Chinese Zang Fu (the organs), the Spleen is the least similar to its Western counterpart. The ancient Chinese physicians knew there was an organ in the upper left abdomen that had something to do with digestion, and they named it Pí (what we translate as “Spleen”). They probably included the pancreas as part of the Spleen.
The Spleen is considered more important than the other organ of digestion, the Stomach, because as with other yin/yang paired organs, the Stomach does what the Spleen tells it to do. This means that only when the Spleen function is strong can the Stomach do its job of ripening the food it receives and emptying it for the use of other organs. We should think of the Spleen more as a functional than an anatomical entity.
As a Yin organ, the Spleen is unique in not being susceptible to becoming Yin-deficient. Why is this? All other Yin organs (Lung, Kidney, Liver, and Heart) suffer greatly when their Yin energy is deficient. The Spleen, however, craves warmth and dryness and suffers more when it becomes damp or cold. The healthy Spleen is like a blazing sun in the sky, dispelling gloomy yin and vaporizing dampness upward.
The Stomach, on the other hand, prefers coolness and moisture and suffers when it becomes hot and dry.
The Yin organs are also supposed to “store” substances (the definition of “Zang” organ is “flesh which stores”), meaning they do not fill up and empty themselves as the “Fu” organs do. What does the Spleen store? Thought.
If the Spleen is weak, thinking will be cloudy and memory will be weak. Conversely, excessive thinking, concentration and mental work can damage the Spleen.
Julie Chambers L.Ac.