Acupressure: Spleen Meridian - Zu Tai Yin - (Pi)

Dear readers and friends,

Today I bring you another traditional Chinese medicine meridian that we are examining in this series of articles on acupressure. For a more informed use and to follow the topic more easily, I list past articles below.

Acupressure: Meridians, treatments and expedients
Acupressure: The Lung Meridian - Shou Tai yin - (Fei)
Acupressure: the Large Intestine Meridian - Shou Yang Ming

Acupressure: Stomach Meridian - Zu Yang Ming

Articolo in italiano 

Spleen Meridian - Zu Tai Yin - (Pi)

FUNCTIONS: In the Western view, the spleen organ is a secondary lymphoid organ that is not essential for survival. Its most important functions are mechanical filtering, which removes senescent red blood cells, and infection control. While in traditional Chinese medicine the spleen together with the stomach governs the energy centrality of the individual. its role is to complete the processing and diffusion of the food initially operated on by the stomach. By transforming the nutrients into Gu Qi and then bringing the more refined parts upwards and leaving the less refined elaborations at the lower levels. By spreading their nourishment to the various organs and viscera.

The characteristics of the spleen are 4 and they are:

1. Co-responsible for blood formation.
2. Holds the shape.
3. It is home to the Yi
4. It opens at the lips.

It is co-responsible for blood formation: Thanks to the contribution brought by Gu Qi (nutritive energy) the spleen transports the most refined food substances to the upper heater so that they can be transformed into blood by the heart.

Holds the shape: The role of the Spleen is one of centrality and balance. For this reason, one of its main characteristics is that it holds the shape from all points of view. For starters, it holds the shape inside the blood. The spleen Qi ensures that the blood remains channeled inside the blood vessels avoiding any leakage. Spleen Qi allows the organs to stay in place within the body. It can be deduced that all types of prolapses can be traced back to a responsibility of the spleen. Hernias and the various types of prolapses, edemas. Spleen Qi maintains optimal physical structure. Many forms of obesity are attributable to a dysfunction of the spleen organ.

E seat of the Yi: The Yi is the shen aspect that resides in the spleen. That is, the logical ability to structure a thought or a project. For example, if I know I have to face a demanding day's work, I will have to organize myself in advance so that all my work takes place following a constructive organization logic, optimizing the time and money at my disposal. This peculiarity of thought is entrusted to the Yi of the Spleen. However, if this ability to organize is dissociated from the conscious awareness of the Heart Shen (which unifies and organizes all the Shen related to the Organs), then my thinking will transform into behavioral mania of rationality if there is a deficit or an excess in the Spleen Meridian. Take for example people who have delusions of control of the surrounding world around them, such as seeing ornaments, books and household objects positioned in a given way according to their point of view, otherwise they experience a personal malaise. (By excess). Or people who have little relationship with the surrounding reality, perpetually living in the abstraction of their thoughts without ever realizing anything. (For deficit).

Opens to the lips: The lips give indications of the state of health of the spleen. A spleen in excellent condition will show rosy, full and moist lips. Any variation on these themes give indications can give indications on the deficit and the excess in the spleen organ.

Spleen In deficit will present the following characteristics:

Inability to live reality in the present having the head in the clouds, prolapses of various kinds, loose stools, weakness in the limbs reduced or non-existent menstruation.

Spleen In excess will present the following characteristics:

Excessive rationality in the logical structuring of thoughts, almost manic Presence of humidity in the meridian, sense of heaviness and fullness in the whole body, edema, swelling of the lower abdomen, dark urine.

There are 21 points on the Spleen meridian

 SP 1
Located on the inner nail corner of the big toe, refreshes Heat and nourishes IQ and Blood by healing blood loss. Helps the Spleen and regulates Blood functions, cures depression, Anxiety, seizures. It's a recovery point.

SP 2
Located on the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe, it tones the spleen, treats diarrhea and dyspepsia, abdominal swelling. It harmonizes the gastric functions, cures dyspepsia and hiccups, calms the spirit and tones the heater.

SP 3
Placed on the phalangeal joint of the big toe, it tones the spleen, regulates energy functions and disperses humidity, treating gastralgia, bloating, constipation, diarrhea and abdominal pain.

SP 4
At the tarsus metatarsal joint of the big toe
– Key point of CHONG MAI
– Promotes the increase of the IQ
– Disperses Humidity
– Cures edema
– Calms the Stomach and invigorates the Spleen
– Treats gastralgia, dyspepsia, vomiting, meteorism, dysmenorrhea, diarrhea, insomnia, hemorrhoids.

SP 5
Placed on a depression of the malleolus, it tones the Spleen and disperses Dampness, expands the pulmonary IQ. Resolves digestive pathologies such as meteorism, gastralgia, abdominal swelling, constipation and diarrhea. Diuretic. Calm the spirit

SP 6
Located on the posterior border of the tibia and 3 cun from the tibial malleolus.
  – Tones the YIN
– Treats all blood disorders
– Reactivates blood circulation
– Removes Blood Stasis
– Consolidates the Spleen and disperses Humidity
– Promotes the descent of Blood and reopens the channels
– Harmonizes the circulation of IQ and Blood
– Check the pelvic area and regulate the Liver IQ
– Tonifies the kidney and treats all diseases of the spleen
– Treats gynecological diseases, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, sterility
female, urinary incontinence
– Treats psoriasis, eczema and hives.

SP 7
3 cun above SP6, at the posterior edge of the tibia, strengthens the Spleen, relieves swelling, regulates the Triple Warmer, promotes urine output

SP 8
3 cun below point SP 9 on the posterior edge of the tibia, it presides over the kinetic functions of the legs. Disperses blood stasis and stagnant humidity, curing rheumatic pain in the lower limbs. Regulates menstruation and nourishes the kidney by treating low back pain.

SP 9
Located on the posterior edge of the tibia where it widens to form the tibial plateau and on the horizontal line passing through the GB 34 point. It has the following Actions/Indications:
– Consolidate the Spleen
– Disperses Humidity
– Tones the Bottom Heater and disperses its Moisture/Heat
– Nourishes the kidney
– Consolidate the Jing
– Promotes the ascent of YIN to the Brain
– Treats nephritis, low back pain, lower limb pain, incontinence,
leucorrhoea and dysmenorrhea.

SP 10
Located on the superior border of the sartorius 2 cun from the superior margin of the patella
– Treats blood disorders
– Regulates menstruation
– Treats blockage and blood void
– Reactivate the blood
– Treats anemia, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, metrorrhagia, eczema, urticaria and itching

SP 11
6 cun above SP10 on the rear edge of the Sartorius, promotes diuresis and cures urinary affections, Disperses Humidity, Refreshes Heat.

SP 12
Located on the horizontal line passing over the pubis 3.5 cun from the CV 2 point, it regulates the IQ circle, which treats hemorrhoids.

SP 13
3.5 cun from Ren Mai at CV 12 point level, treats Spleen and Stomach affections, Drains the Liver

SP 14
3.5 cun from Ren Mai to 1 cun below SP 15, removes abdominal IQ stasis, stops diarrhea and abdominal pain

SP 15
3.5 cun to the side of the navel, regulates the energy cycle, pain reliever, removes the IQ stasis in the abdominal viscera, eliminating meteorism, abdominal swelling and pain.

SP 16
3 cun above SP15 treats accumulations of food, frees the energy circulation in the abdominal viscera, refreshes heat and disperses humidity, curing diarrhea.

SP 17
Located in the fifth intercostal space at 6 cun from the Ren Mai, it presides over the transformation and transport of food energy, harmonizes the stomach, disperses accumulations of water such as ascites and hydrothorax.

SP 18
On the fourth intercostal space 6 cun from the Ren Mai, it regulates and expands the pulmonary IQ, curing asthma, cough, chest pain and intercostal neuralgia.

SP 19
In the third intercostal space 6 cun from the Ren Mai, it propagates pulmonary IQ and treats lung diseases characterized by dyspnea, Regulates IQ and drains the Liver.

SP 20
In the second intercostal space, 6 cun from the Ren Mai, it regulates the energy circulation of the chest.

SP 21
Fourth intercostal space, keeps blood inside vessels, Propagates thoracic IQ.

SPLEEN

Associated Organ: Stomach

Color: Yellow Orange

Maximum activity: 9 – 11

Correlation: Muscles, lips, mouth, lymphatic system

Function: Purifies the blood

Emotional aspects

The Spleen houses the body's thoughts and intentions and is responsible for analytical thinking, memory, cognition, intelligence, and ideas. The spleen is responsible for storing the short-term memory of the kidneys. The kidneys will then transfer these memories to the heart for storage as long-term memories. The positive emotions related to the Spleen are trust, honesty, openness, acceptance, equanimity, balance and impartiality; negative attributes are worry, thoughtfulness, obsession, remorse, regret, obsessions and doubts.

Powerful Points

SP4 – Treatment of imbalances associated with the digestive system.

SP6 – This point is located at the junction of three Yin meridians in the hip (spleen, kidney and liver). It is used in acupuncture for disorders related to all three meridians that meet here.

SP9 – Treatment of knee problems such as inflammation and pain.

SP10 – Important valid point to strengthen the immune system. It is used for a variety of ailments, such as blood infections, allergies, and skin allergies.

SP15 – Treatment of constipation, gas and diarrhea.

SPLEEN 6 TO LOSE WEIGHT

The Spleen 6 acupuncture point is commonly used for a wide variety of benefits; one of the most intense and long-lasting effects of Spleen 6 is to promote a substantial decrease in appetite.

Acupuncture point: Spleen 6 (SP 6)

Chinese name: San Yin Jiao

Meaning in English: Intersection of the three Yins

Element: Earth

Location: Spleen 6 is located on the inside of the leg, about four fingers above the ankle bone at the posterior edge of the tibia.

In addition to appetite control, Spleen 6 also promotes healthy digestive function. According to Chinese medicine, in addition to strengthening the kidneys, Spleen 6 regulates the spleen, stomach, liver and lower digestive organs. Spleen 6 is the point where the spleen, kidney and liver meridians intersect, so it encourages energy balance in all three meridians and has healthful effects on all three organs.

The spleen is an organ that creates lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) that break down and recycle old red blood cells. The spleen is a blood supply and supplies the body with blood when it is needed most. As such, it plays an important role in the body's immune response.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional with any questions you may have about a medical condition or health goals.