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In
TCM, the definitions of Spleen functions include the digestive
processes and function and therefore it is seen to work
closely with the stomach system.
TCM Spleen functions, among other things, are:
1) It
rules the transformation and transportation of food and fluids
in the body. Therefore it plays a central role in nourishing
the body and promoting physical development.
2) It
governs the blood because it provides the extracted energy
from the food and sends it to the heart where nutrients are
distributed throughout the body through the blood.
3) Therefore
it rules the muscles, flesh and our limbs.
The transformation of food into food essence depends upon the
function of the Spleen. Once transformed, food essence is then
transported and dispersed to the zangfu, four extremities,
bones and other parts of the body. If the Spleen’s
transportation function is deficient, the food remains in the
Stomach and cannot be digested causing abdominal distention
and indigestion. If the Spleen is deficient and unable to
transport and disperse food essence, yuan qi will be
insufficient and the whole body will be lethargic.
If
the main complaint is food retention with indigestion,
abdominal distention and an aversion to excessive eating, but
have normal appetite with no nausea after eating, then the
Stomach function is normal and the Spleen is abnormal. Herbs
can be used to strengthen the Spleen and assist the
transformation and transportation function of food.
When children suffer from indigestion, lack of hearty
appetite, sometimes suffer from fullness and abdominal
distension then herbs must be to stimulate the spleen and
harmonize the stomach so that young children can be strengthened and their
body properly nourished and do not fall sick often.
In TCM, stomach disorder
can affect the spleen and any spleen disorder would
affect the stomach. The
physician Wang Jie Zhai during the Ming dynasty stated
that “the Stomach receives and digests food whilst the
Spleen governs transportation and transformation,
transforming the food into jing qi”. If digested
food is unable to transform, there is a Spleen disorder
and treatment should tonify the Spleen. However, if a
patient is reluctant to eat but feels comfortable after
eating, it is a Stomach disorder”.
No matter how much researches have been done, in the final
analysis, the proof of a good product is not what scientists say but
it is what doctors who sell to their clients and the consumers say.
Our list of clients range from MLM companies to wholesale
distributors to retailers and internet retailers and
practitioners.
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1.
Poria Cocos Wolf
Function of the herb:
1)
Clinical research by western scientists have shown that
Poria cocos improves kidney
functions. "The antinephritic (having the
effect of reducing or counteracting disease,
inflammation, etc in the kidneys) effect of pachyman on
original-type anti-GBM nephritis in rats was
investigated. Pachyman was given to original-type anti-GBM
nephritic rats for 10 days from the day of anti-GBM
serum injection. Pachyman prevented urinary protein
excretion and the elevation of serum cholesterol
content. Histopathological observations of the glomeruli
indicated that although the number of nuclei and
adhesion to capillary walls of Bowman's capsule in
nephritic control rats were significantly increased,
pachyman reduced the degree of histopathological changes
such as hypercellularity and adhesion as compared to the
control group. Although the serum complement CH50 ratio
in control group was significantly lower than that in
the normal group, the decrease in serum complement CH50
was inhibited by pachyman, and rat C3 deposition in the
glomeruli in the pachyman-treated group was
significantly reduced. These results suggest that
pachyman was effective against original-type anti-GBM
nephritis in rats and that the antinephritic mechanisms
of pachyman may be partly due to the inhibitory action
of this agent on C3 deposition in the glomeruli."
"Studies on antinephritic effects of plant components
(3): Effect of pachyman, a main component of Poria cocos
Wolf on original-type anti-GBM nephritis in rats and its
mechanisms." Hattori T,
Hayashi K,
Nagao T,
Furuta K,
Ito M,
Suzuki Y. Department of
Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Meijo University,
Nagoya, Japan.
Jpn J Pharmacol.
1992 May;59(1):89-96 PMID: 1507662
2)
Clinical studies by western scientists have shown that
Poria Cocos Wolf has
anti-tumor and
immune-enhancing
activity. "Because of the reported
immune-enhancing and anti-tumor activities of some
mushroom polysaccharides, their applications as
biological response modifiers have attracted significant
attention. We have purified a water-soluble beta-glucan
PCM3-II, comprising mainly 1right curved arrow 3 and
1right curved arrow 4 linkages, from the mycelia of
Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf (Fu-ling). In this study, the
growth-inhibitory effect of PCM3-II was further explored
on the human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells in vitro. The
dose effect of PCM3-II was studied by incubating the
breast cancer cells with 12.5-400 microg/ml of the
glucan for 72 h. The MTT study showed that PCM3-II
reduced proliferation and viability of the MCF-7 cells
dose-dependently, so that the cancer-cell growth was
decreased by 50% of the control level at 400 microg/ml
of the glucan. The time effect of PCM3-II was then
investigated by treating the breast cancer cells with
400 microg/ml of the glucan for 24, 48 and 72 h,
respectively. Results from the flow cytometry study
demonstrated that PCM3-II induced cell-cycle G1 arrest
time-dependently and about 90% of the cells in cell
cycle were accumulated at G1 phase after 72 h of
treatment. The G1 arrest was associated with
downregulations of the unscheduled cyclin D1 and cyclin
E expressions in the breast cancer cells. Apoptosis was
also induced by PCM3-II in the MCF-7 cells, so that the
subG1 cells in DNA histogram of the flow cytometry were
elevated by 5-fold of the control level at 48 h and by
24-fold at 72 h of treatment. The immunoblot study also
showed that the glucan induced depletion of the
antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein, but not the proapoptotic
Bax protein, so that the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was elevated in
the breast cancer cells at the time when the most
prominent apoptosis was also observed. In conclusion,
although the detailed mechanism for the anti-tumor
activity of the P. cocos beta-glucan still needs further
investigation, this study provides preliminary insights
into its mode of action and perspectives of its
development as a water-soluble anti-tumor agent."
Growth-inhibitory
effects of a beta-glucan from the mycelium of Poria
cocos on human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells: cell-cycle
arrest and apoptosis induction." Zhang M; Chiu LC;
Cheung PC; Ooi VE Department of Biology, The Chinese
University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P.R. China. Oncol
Rep. 2006; 15(3):637-43 (ISSN: 1021-335X) PreMedline
Identifier: 16465424
2.
Herba Agastachis Rugosus
Function of the herb:
-
Stimulate spleen
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Regulate and harmonize stomach function
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Improve appetite
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Warm middle region
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Relieve stomach stagnation
They are used internally to improve the appetite and
strengthen the digestive system[238].
Considered to be a "warming" herb, it is used in
situations where there is "dampness" within the
digestive system, resulting in poor digestion and
reduced vitality[254]. [238]
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31. [254]
Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal
Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996 ISBN
9-780751-303148
3. Rhizoma
Atractylodis Alba
Function of the herb:
-
Invigorates function of spleen and stomach
-
Strengthen spleen
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To tone up energy
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Protect liver
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Dry up dampness
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Benefit the lymphatic system
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For weakness and spiritlessness
4. Radix Pueraria
Lobata
Function of
the herb:
-
It produces body fluid
-
It benefits the stomach
-
Elevates energy
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