SpleeN (Pi)
Relationships of the Spleen
Spleen-Large Intestine: | The Large Intestine can be functionally assigned to the Spleen because it depends on a well working transformation of food in the Spleen. If this Spleen function is weak, patterns of the Large Intestine can manifest.
Spleen-Heart: | The Spleen produces Food Qi, which is the basis of Qi and Blood production. The Heart governs the Blood and requires Qi for this function. A weak production of Food Qi can weaken the Blood and the Qi of the Heart.
Spleen-Liver: | The Spleen produces Food Qi, which is the basis of Blood production. The Liver stores Blood. A weak Spleen and insufficient Blood production affect the Liver Blood. The Liver governs the harmonic flow of Qi. If energy and emotions flow freely, harmonious digestion can happen. The Spleen is able to fulfill its functions of transformation and transportation. If the Liver's free coursing action is impaired, the resulting depression of Liver Qi affects the digestive function ("the Liver attacks the Spleen"). Dampness of the Spleen affects the Liver function and hinders the free and harmonious flow of Qi.
Spleen-Lungs: | The Spleen produces Food Qi from the food that we ingest. The Spleen sends the Food Qi to the Lungs. In the Lungs, the Gathering Qi and the True Qi are produced using the oxygen of the air, which can be viewed as the Cosmic Energy. The Lungs depends on high-quality Food Qi. If the Spleen is too weak to produce enough Food Qi, the Lungs is not able to produce enough True Qi. If the Spleen produces Dampness, Dampness is sent to the Lungs and accumulates. The Spleen requires the Qi of the Lung in order to carry out its functions of the transformation and transportation.
Spleen-Stomach: | The Spleen and Stomach stand in interior-exterior relationship. Physiologically the Spleen governs transportation and transformation and the Stomach governs intake. The Stomach and Spleen complement and counterbalance each other. Although Stomach disorders have to be differentiated from Spleen disorders diagnostically, it is often seen in the daily practice that the disorder of either Spleen or Stomach affect the partner organ as well.
Spleen-Kidney: | The Kidney is the source of the Prenatal Qi, the Spleen the source of the Postnatal Qi. The Postnatal Qi of the Spleen is required and used by body and spirit. The surplus of Postnatal Qi is sent to the Kidneys in order to replenish the Prenatal Qi. If the Spleen is weakened, the Prenatal Qi of the Kidneys will be affected. Kidney Yang is the motor force in the digestive process. Insufficiency of Kidney Yang leads to impairment of the digestive function and the Spleen is unable to fulfill its function of transformation and transportation.

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