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Spleen Detox
To the
Western mind, the
lymphatic
system, which includes the spleen, is a complex network
of lymphoid organs, lymph nodes, lymph ducts, lymphatic
tissues, lymph capillaries and lymph vessels that
produce and transport lymph fluid from tissues to the
circulatory system and it is a major component of the
immune system. Thus based on this view, the lymphatic
system has 4 interrelated functions:
-
removal of
excess fluids from body tissues,
-
absorption
of fatty acids and subsequent transport of fat, as
chyle, to the circulatory system and,
-
defense
through the production of immune cells such as
lymphocytes (e.g. antibody producing plasma cells) and
monocytes
-
phagocytosis of
bacteria and worn-out red blood cells and platelets,
salvaging iron and globulin content and returning them
to the blood
Hence the primary
function of the lymphatic system is to drain from the
tissue spaces protein-containing fluid which escapes
from blood capillaries, transport fats from the
digestive tract to the blood to produce lymphocytes and
develop immunities, and for the lymph organs to filter
lymph and add white blood cells and antibodies.
But to the TCM mind, the spleen has an additional
function. It
includes the digestive processes and functions which
occur on a cellular level throughout the body. The
Western mind thinks the spleen does not play a role in
the digestive process and views digestion in terms of
stomach and intestines relationship.
To the Western mind,
spleen diseases include: mononucleosis, leukemia,
splenomegaly, Hodgkin's disease, AIDS and all the
various types of anemia.
But to TCM, many diseases
can manifest if the spleen is not working properly. To
TCM, the spleen has the following functions:
-
rules the
transformation and transportation of food and fluids
in the body.
The spleen transforms food to extract the energy from it
and then transports the resulting food "energy" to
various organs and parts of the body where the body's
energy and blood are produced. Thus, the spleen is seen
as the basis for the production of energy and blood in
the entire body. The spleen also controls
transformation, separation and movement of fluids. It
separates the usable and the unusable from the fluids
ingested and these are then transported to their
appropriate places. Thus it plays a central role in
nourishing the body and promoting development.
-
governs the blood.
The spleen keeps the blood circulating in the vessels.
It also provides the extracted energy from food and
sends it to the heart to be mixed with Kidney energy to
form blood. In TCM the spleen is a source of vital
energy and blood and a controller of blood circulation.
When spleen qi is weak it's blood controlling function
is disturbed and bleeding results. Further, the
production of blood and qi are decreased. In the blood
routine examinations of patients with diarrhea
attributive to the deficiency of spleen energy, there
was revealed a decreased hemoglobin level. Other
patients who had pale lips, sallow complexion and
bleeding had fewer mitochondria in the parietal cells of
the stomach and these had obviously damaged cristal
membranes.
-
rules the muscles,
flesh and the four limbs. It does this by transporting
the body's energy and blood to the muscles, flesh,
arms and legs. The spleen produces a lifting effect
along the midline of the body and keeps the internal
organs in place so they do not sag or prolapse.
-
raises the vital energy
-
opens into the mouth
and its brilliance is manifested in the tongue (a
person who has a jagged tongue suffers from a
dysfunction spleen)
-
rules thought
Therefore from TCM’s
view point, the
spleen is probably the most important strategy for
healing because it affects the body's immunity and
capacity to maintain and heal itself. The spleen
together with the liver governs the blood circulatory
system and together with the kidneys, it governs the
lymphatic system. One of the purposes of the lymphatic
system is to cleanse and purify the body. In order to
ensure a healthy lymphatic system, once in awhile it has
to be drained of impurities.
To do so it has to begin with the spleen. In
order to maintain a healthy spleen, herbs must be used
to nourish and strengthen it. The formula must also
contain ingredients to detox it.
Key to Spleen Detox:
The key is to improve
function of the spleen, warm it up and dispel dampness.
Herbs like Semen Amoni can be
used for warming the spleen, Semen Coix
Lachrimajobi for improving the function of the spleen,
Agastachis Herba and Poria Cocos Wolf for transforming
dampness and stimulate the spleen.
When the
person is spitting out phlegm while on herbal products
for spleen restoration, it is a sign that the spleen is
being detoxed.
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