The Spleen’s Role In Western Medicine And TCM

TCM or Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western medicine have long been considered as two divergent and dissimilar medicinal systems. Their paths to healing and physiology seem a bit different in viewpoints. Chinese medicine sees the body and the whole person, as an organic unified whole. Physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects are viewed as interdependent and interrelated. On the other hand, Western medicine segregates the organs and different systems of the body and dives deeper and deeper into the particles that make up matter.

In the Western mode of treatment, illness is resolved by isolating the problematic area and using drugs to counteract and change the specific problem. In TCM, illness is treated by determining what components of the whole are off balance and knowing the ensuing patterns of energy they generate. They are then addressed with herbal formulas and energetic therapies to bring the whole to stasis and to rectify the imbalance. Western medicine bases its treatments and theory from chemical derivations, microscopic analysis, and dissection. On the other hand, Chinese medicine evolved mainly through millennia of observation, not only of the human body, but its connection to the universe and nature.

Even though both medicinal systems have their own strategy, historical development and remedy based on a uniquely different viewpoint, it is interesting to see actual comparability between the two that can enable their differences to take on more complementary roles. It is Western medicine, to its merit, that’s aiding to close this gap, as its more refined technology is now able to substantiate what five millennia of TCM has known ever since. From this, we can come up with a common understanding of the two medicinal systems and not only understand natural alternative therapies to Western medications, but also to know how Chinese people resolve energy imbalances and Western “incurable” conditions that poorly respond to Western drugs.

The spleen, from a TCM perspective is where energy originates. This energy comes from fluid and food. The spleen is a very important organ system and it makes a good study to realize the differences and similarities between the two healing systems. Initially, it may seem that no correspondences exist at all, but upon closer look, we learn that it’s only perspective and terminology that mask their underlying similarities. However, when comparing them, we need to look beyond Western medicine’s function of spleen and also consider its various physiological functions in the body, since the body, in Chinese medicine, is viewed seen as an interrelated whole where processes of an organ actually happen on a cellular level all over the body. When you compare this with the Western concept of an organ, we should consider the spleen itself and its cellular constituents and several processes as well.

To study these similarities, we first need to understand the Western concept of the spleen and then compare with the Chinese concept. We will next discuss the TCM approaches to treatment for imbalances affecting the spleen. We probably can finally come to a more integrated method to healing and health founded on modern and traditional principles by thoroughly inspecting these apparent differences between contemporary Western medicines and traditional Chinese medicines.

The Spleen According to Western Medicine

The spleen, from Western medicine viewpoint, is a part of the body’s lymphatic system, which is made up of nodes, lymph, lymph vessels, spleen, thymus gland, and tonsils. The main responsibility of the lymphatic system is to drain protein-filled fluid from the tissue spaces through blood capillaries. The fluid carries fats from the digestive tract to the blood to create lymphocytes and build up immunities. The lymph organs also are responsible for creating antibodies and white blood cells and for filtering lymph.

In Western medicine, the spleen provides various functions:

a. In the fetus, it is responsible for the production of red blood cells.

b. Houses and releases blood in case of hemorrhage or through spleen contraction.

c. Produces plasma cells, monocytes, and lymphocytes that, in turn create antibodies

d. Phagocytosis or destruction of old platelets, red blood cells, and bacteria and salvages remaining globulin and iron content and returns them to the blood

e. For defense

II. The Digestive Process

Since traditional Chinese medicine’s functions of the spleen include digestive functions and processes that happen throughout the body on a cellular level, we need to discuss these two aspects also in Western medicine. From the Western viewpoint of digestion, food is ingested in the abdomen and moved forward to the small intestines where food nutrients are absorbed and allocated via the circulatory system to all cells and tissues of the body. This then creates energy via biological oxidation of foods mainly in the cell mitochondria.

III. Functions of the Cells

In Western medicine, the components of the cells need to be identified in order to obtain an overall view of the body. Spread across the cell’s plasma are organelles known as mitochondria which are considered “the batteries of the cells” since they are the source of most of the chemical energy the cells use. The mitochondria play an important role in the string of energy-generating processes in the catabolism of carbohydrates known as the Krebs cycle. This cycle is responsible for the formation of the energy-bearing molecule called adenosine triphosphate or ATP.

This is how the Krebs cycle works: the catabolism of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates transports energy to the ATP via an oxidation process and enzymes. This occurs in two locations, within the mitochondria and the cytoplasm. The former is way more important as it is responsible for ninety five percent of the ATP molecules due to breakdown of glucose and a hundred percent from breakdown of fatty acid. Hence, the energy derived from the catabolizing of food is captured and sent to the ATP molecule. The remainder of the energy is converted to heat that keeps our bodies warm. Energy is released for cellular purposes when ATP breaks down. All in all, the Krebs cycle generates heat and energy needed for the various body processes, and key to this process are the mitochondria.

III. Diseases of the Spleen in Western Medicine:

Western medicine has identified several diseases affecting the Spleen. They include all the different forms of anemia, AIDS, Hodgkin’s disease, splenomegaly, leukemia, and mononucleosis. Other forms of spleen-related diseases include impaired or weak immunity, lymph disorders, and insufficient production of red blood cells and/or an increase in white bloods cells.

The Spleen from the Viewpoint of TCM

In TCM, The spleen is viewed as a yin organ and a paired complex of the Earth element. Its complementary organ is the abdomen which is the yang organ. Both organs work together and complement each other’s functions. Since the spleen is where the energy of fluid and food is converted and is the deeper yin organ amongst the pair, it is the more vital and therefore, the one usually referred to.

The functions of the spleen according to TCM:

a. Governs the blood: The spleen is responsible for the circulation of blood in the vessels. Its secondary role is to provide and transport energy extracted from food to the heart to be combined with energy from the Kidney to create blood.

b. Controls the movements and transportation of fluids and food in the body: Food is converted into energy by the spleen and the extracted energy is then transported to various parts and organs of the body where blood and energy of the body are produced. The spleen, therefore, is considered as the nexus for the production of blood and energy in the entire body. It is also the organ that controls conversion, segregation, and transportation of fluids. It segregates the unusable and usable and from the ingested fluids which then are sent to their proper places. Therefore, it is greatly responsible for encouraging development and the nourishment of the body.

c. Opens into the mouth and its intelligence is gleaned in the lips: Chewing enables food to be properly digested. A healthy spleen would result in a keen sense of taste and can distinguish all of the five flavors. Moreover, a healthy spleen translates to lips that are rosy and moist.

d. Controls the four limbs, flesh, and muscles: The spleen conveys the blood and energy of the body to the legs, arms, flesh, and muscles. A healthy spleen generally results in enhanced muscular appearance, strength, and tone, particularly of the legs and arms.

e. Governs thought: The spleen controls our capacity for memorizing, concentration, focusing, studying, and thinking.

f. Elevates the qi: The spleen generates an elevating effect along the body’s midline and maintains the proper position of the internal organs preventing prolapse or sagging.

The TCM Signs of Spleen Dysfunction

The following are some indications of spleen dysfunction:

1. Flat taste in the mouth or poor appetite

2. Stomach pain, ache or distention eased by pressure or local warmth

3. Diarrhea or abnormal stool such as water

4. Post prandial stomach flatulence, exacerbated by stress

5. Pale lips and/or sallow complexion

6. Blood under the skin, mucus, vomit, or stool or chronic hemorrhage, not caused by trauma or blood heat evils

7. Weakness in the muscles or legs and arms

8. Puffy or emaciated appearance

9. Teeth marks on the margin of the tongue or swollen and pale tongue

These negative signs can be classified into energy patterns with each sign made up of specific symptoms and signs with each of them then resolved accordingly.

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