Spleen Energy Deficiency (Spleen Qi Xu) TCM Explained

Spleen Qi Xu - Spleen energy deficiency is a very common TCM diagnosis, In this video I will help explain what it is from both a classical Chinese medicine perspective of a weakness of the earth element and the TCM concepts.
This video covers aspects of healthy and unhealthy Spleen qi / function and spleen dampness. what happens when he Earth gets overwhelmed with water? Dampness or water logged earth energy.
Common symptoms of Spleen energy deficiency (Spleen Qi Xu) can be bloating, diarrhea, gas, tiredness, low appetite and food intolerance. Also some people find feeling anxiety and worried are common mental health symptoms that happen when the spleen /earth element is weak, it can't regulate the normal functions of thought.
I welcome your questions and comments. let me know what areas of Chinese medicine you would like to be explained in an upcoming video.
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Marie's practice details:
MARIE HOPKINSON, Registered Chinese Herbalist and Acupuncturist in Australia (AHPRA)
Consultations for treatment (individual) please call my clinic office to book in: 08 93289233 (Perth Natural Medical Clinic) or go to : www.bespokemedicine.net/ Email [e-mail]
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IMPORTANT: This video, as with all videos on the The Chinese Medicine Podcast are NOT a replacement for a health professional diagnosis. While Marie may answer your questions, all answers are not of a professional consultation level - it is impossible to check your pulse through the internet, hence Chinese medicine cannot be practiced properly through the internet. If you have any undiagnosed symptoms, or changes in your health condition The Chinese Medicine Podcast urges you to see your own doctor, GP, Chinese medicine practitioner, acupuncturist or other health professional as appropriate. If it is an emergency call 000 in Australia. If you are unsure if this advice is appropriate for your individual situation ask your own practitioner before applying any diet or lifestyle techniques /concepts discussed in this video.
Marie Hopkinson and The Chinese Medicine Podcast wishes you the best of health and improvement in your own health journey.

[@julieconstantine1491]

Love it Marie! well done pengoui

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

Thanks

[@TLoveInfinity]

Thank you 🙏 This is very helpful ✨

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

awesome. so glad its helped you and welcome to my channel :)

[@snakemont]

Thank you, such a great Video! Very Important!

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

Thanks Dario for watching and I'm glad you liked it. Plenty more coming, welcome to my channel

[@HairGlitter]

Love the analogy!

[@Timetravel1111]

What analogy?

[@doragam5681]

You’re awesome!

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

Thanks. 😀

[@jaredkyle8377]

whats really interesting to me is just how much sitting behind my computer seems to seriously effect my spleen. wireless and screens and such in general just seem to create alot of dampness for me.

[@violinplayer3518]

Chi is negative ions, static made by electronics is positive ions. Electronics neutralize life !

[@Timetravel1111]

The pertinent information starts about 2:49

[@blueskies650]

Hi any tips on how I can heal and cure my eczematous chelitis?

[@MrsDivamel]

Amazing explications

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

Welcome to my channel Radhila, and thanks so much for your kind words. I'm glad you have found this video useful.

[@MrsDivamel]

@@chinesemedicinepodcast you re welcome

[@MrsDivamel]

@@chinesemedicinepodcast im just searching for herbs for my mom who has cataract, it seems that she have deficiency spleen qi

[@adriennmagyar8746]

Varicose veins also belongs to spleen qi deficiency, is that right? Thank you

[@darioscomicschule1111]

11:13 Soft Sausages! Talking about HEALTH! Thank you so much! TCM IS SOOOO GOOOD!

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

hahah. yes . I'm so glad my channel has connected with you

[@chantina9091]

Is this connected to low iron what is good for anemia low iron and fatigue

[@bobbymcpherson3475]

I enjoyed that thank you. And very timely too. I have all of the digestive problems you mentioned and more for as long as I can remember Im 60 so at least 40 years. So it all makes sense to me. I have a number of autoimmune conditions and I have a Hiatus Hernia - is this related to the spleen? If so can you point me in the direction of healing possibilities. I've recently began Qigong exercises for the spleen. Thank you so much.

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

HI Bobby, just finished the video on Hiatus hernia - kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHKti4OhdpWYr6c

[@amirasolbach8292]

​@@chinesemedicinepodcast7:24

[@loganathankrishnamoorthi4159]

Mam my lips often gets flmed condition especially winter season ..is this beacuse of spleen mam.is it curable

[@SI-ln6tc]

I severe qi defiency. Tongue swollen with large ridges on the sides. With odema/venous insuffiencyof legs. They are full of fluids. Wounds difficult to heal etc. I have been eating ren shen/ condonopsis and Chinese red dates. Is that ok? I don't know if ginseng is too heaty.

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

sorry for some reason I only just saw this comment now, sorry for not replying earlier. its not about Ginseing being too" heaty" ginseing is a herb that replenishes fluids /nourishes fluids after they have been lost. just because someone has oedema, doesn't mean they have too much fluids sometimes its just that the fluids are not being properly metabolized and then the areas that need them can sometimes be dry. this is really a case for your own herbalist /acupuncturist to address. I'm assuming things have changed since this comment since its been a year now. but I hope you are doing better in general.

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

red dates no- probably not what you would need if there are to much fluids. maybe later on after that issue is sorted out.

[@RealZayComo]

Hi if I eat the actual spleen organ itself in supplement form like our ancestors used to do with other organs, would this benefit a spleen deficiency the same way eating tcm spleen herbs would ? Please help 🙏

[@fessybear]

Very interesting thought, kinda makes sense I'll have to look into this further myself.

[@rextsixz7902]

Hi! I was told i have 'An energetically cold stomach'. What is that and how can i Reverse it

[@dagaloni]

Stop eating cold foods and drinks (cold as in temperature cold and energetically cold like dairy). Start eating warming foods and herbs (kurkuma, cinnamon) and start eating boiled grains (brown rice for example).

[@kriswalker3275]

Do you find the western way of dealing with the symptoms of that deficency is drinking more and more water thinking it would get rid of the bloating, etc. Thinking it'll help. Looking at that it looks counter productive and explains either people stay really damp or bloated from it not helping.

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

water drinking is ok as long as there is yang (function) to transform it. Water is the ultimate yin. Damp is also a yin type but pathogenic. think of a glass of pure lovley fresh rain water vs stagnant swamp water that has algae and sludge etc . In general in TCM, we don't think excessive water drinking for the sake of it is good, it will only result in more urination and hence depleting ultimately Qi / yang

[@lynzlynsbrand956]

Nice video.What if you dont chew food properly to almost liquid form? Could this be a reason for spleen enlargement?

[@lynzlynsbrand956]

Sorry i sent a message while not watching the full vid.I have my answer.cheers.Really great info.

[@jaymac6028]

What happens if U have lost Ur top teeth & are supposed to wear dentures but don't. How can you repair Ur spleen in this scenario?

[@JessPaolaMarquez]

would you say that anterior placenta previa is connected to low spleen qi?

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

Yes, could be. any time you want to draw these correlations a practitioner would always confirm the CM diagnosis by looking for other signs of Spleen Qi weakness. There is a TCM pattern called “Spleen Qi Sinking” - which is really actually yang deficiency (of the energy that holds the organs in place)...spleen qi is said to hold things upright - thats why as we age, or qi gets weaker (or our Earth Element looses its fortitude) and things sink downwards (breasts droop, scrotum drops, things generally sag downwards) ...this is kind of natural in aging. But in pregnancy a TCM pract might look at it like the pregnancy itself is drawing more qi and blood causing the deficiency of spleen qi --> spleen qi sinking pattern. Varicose veins are also part of this same mechanism in a TCM sense - not enough spleen raising qi - or yang to hold the blood vessles (seen as an organ) in Chinese medicine. - hope this is helpful and not too much info! :)

[@Timetravel1111]

9:44 it’s the loose stool or spleen is not from too my go water, also I get plenty of sun 🌞 it’s not raining ☔️ and it’s been dry here. I went to acupuncture and she wouldn’t give me herbs 🌿 Iv tried 5 element balance... seams like Shiatsu helps me most. 11 min in you video, I going for home tips. I don’t have chrons or anything like that! What I like most of us are looking for is WHAT you’ve seen help people stop the loose stools. I’m a wood element more, so... less water or not too much, not too much sugar, not too much cool foods/not cold drinks.

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

Hi Jody, once you’ve tried all these methods and you are still here looking for help with Chinese medicine (which is great), I would say the classical herbal medicine methods use a lot more strong yang warming herbs to help the Earth / Spleen Qi rather than the TCM type formulas which are much less energetically warm. If you want a referral for a local classical practitioner you can email me your country /suburb/location area i can look if there is someone in my system that does it near you.

[@tanyao3064]

I eat fish about 2-3 times a week and sometimes I’ll have mussels too. Is this ok to eat if I’m trying to clear dampness?

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

I did make a video mentioning fish and dampness. ...it was also another subscribers question . Whether it does contribute to dampness , is ultimately relative not absolute . It’s all relative to what else you are eating . If you Change your diet and the damp symptoms go away , that’s a good sign .

[@openbox3794]

Can you do a video on juicing in relation to tcm. Thanks!

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

Great idea, will do

[@glenndewild]

I did created a video about slowjuicing, a long time ago. But, the truth is: the spleen doesn’t handle uncooked and raw veggies / fruits that well. I did find out that I’m not having trouble when I’m drinking carrot juice, so maybe you could try that! :)

[@laluna5548]

Would a celery juice with some ginger (to warm it up, as it is a cold drink) be useful in releaving dampness in the GI tract?

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

Yes adding warm herbs like ginger, cinnamon, and other warm/pungent herbs can take the edge of the rawness and then make it a bit less dampening by making it easier for the Spleen to digest.

[@laluna5548]

@@chinesemedicinepodcast Thank you so much for your answer! I am currently glutenfree and vegan. Would chicken and fish be okay a couple of times a week (I know beef and pork are usually to difficult to digest) ? Also-how long can chinese herbs be taken for? I am looking for a long-term supplement regiment.

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

@@laluna5548 Chinese herbs length really depends on which formula you are taking and should always be from the guidance of your practitioner. Some formulas can even depend on the way its dispensed - pill/powder/decoction. great question and I will make a video on this soon. If you are a vegan are you considering adding chicken and fish? perhaps try chicken or beef bone broth as the most supplementing meat product. I made a video how to make bone broth where I talk about its benefits esp if you cant fathom the idea of eating meat yet, but yes chicken and fish a few times a week are considered good in CM.

[@laluna5548]

Chinese Medicine Podcast Again-thank you! It is like you are reading my mind! I came to a decision of eating fish (low in mercury and high in omega 3s) 1-2 a week and doing a chicken bone broth fast (I fast without problem)on Sundays to strengthen my kidney essence ans help the GI tract re-set. Lookinh forward to your video! In my country, practitioners only do cupping/moxa and acupuncture. They also recommend saunas,but nobody sells herbs :( I am feel confused in that regars

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

I used to be a lacto-vegetarian for 9 years. It was hard all that time to even feel like eating meat, but then one day I felt like it. it took about 2 years before i could cook my own meat.

[@itsjennifer.d9249]

Can you have a spleen qi deficiency and constipation ? Food often doesn't breakdown well for me and I get frequent indigestion and bloating but have chronic constipation instead.

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

Might do a video on this one.

[@Lauren-ug2eh]

Is there a link between chronic loose stools, brain fog and amenorrhea?

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

Yes- could be Spleen (earth) and Liver (wood) related. Spleen related to the first two and the liver the last one via blood . This is only a guide. Your pulse and other symptoms would give the definitive diagnosis to your own CM practitioner

[@glenndewild]

Hi Lauren, did you recovered already in the meantime? Because I have the idea that I have a weak spleen for life 😅

[@trevorpeluso-weaver1499]

My dad had a very ulcerative colitis flare up and he's lost 70 pounds we now have his ulcers under control but he has no energy. His appetite is next to none we been getting most of his calories from coconut milk and protein eggs and coconut oil sweet potatoes and some meat's when he can handle it. He has a lot on indigestion and white phlegm. We've been giving him vitamins and minerals as well any advice?

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

Can you get your dad to a practitioner ? You are welcome to send me an email with your country and suburb/area - as specific as possible is good - I can ask within my colleagues who have the same training of herbs as me.

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

My email is [e-mail]

[@KiraTheUnleashed]

So can we also say that dampness is one of the root cause of spleen energy deficiency? Because may be the spleen is working hard to get rid of or transform that dampness and because of that it's exhausted ?

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

Yes, they are deeply related, if you have enough yang , manifest at spleen Qi (Spleen function) in this instance , then your body can overcome almost whatever food you put into it - hence why kids can eat rubbish foods without the same detriment of adults. (Still not good for kids long term , but you get the point right ?)

[@KiraTheUnleashed]

@@chinesemedicinepodcast Yup. now I can say that the objective of TCM is to work on the spleen's yang to correct the imbalances. If the spleen get's corrected everything else get's corrected.

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

Ah Ha. there is a reason TCM calls the Earth (sp/st) the Centre !

[@laluna5548]

@@chinesemedicinepodcast So is spleen qi a yang deficiency or yin excess related condition ?

[@rextsixz7902]

So I have a white covered tongue all over except the left side at the rear only is pink. What should I do

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

Best to see a practitioner - acupuncture or herbalist . Some systems of chinese medicine don’t use the tongue for many pathologies diagnosis. For instance in some styles we rely more on pulse than tongue. The tongue is only one piece of the puzzle ...your own practitioner would be able to tell you where this fits in the grand scheme of things, for your individual situation

[@openhonestminds8808]

Candida?

[@TheDrChristinaShow]

❤ ❤...

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

Glad you found my channel Christina

[@hindakkari5400]

What about avocados ? Are they good to consume ?

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

Everything in moderation. Yes they are a good yin tonic food. Too many will cause damp and phlegm for those prone to it though.

[@ExaminerCross]

You need to get your feed on Acast

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

I'll look into it , thanks ive not heard of it till now . thanks Brian

[@billc3114]

Can bleeding because of Spleen not controlling blood be blood entering the Spleen meridian? Makes sense to me.. I've heard different things from different TCM practitioners.

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

not sure what you mean by "blood entering the Spleen meridian" - is this a diagnosis you read somewhere? if so can you let me know any reference to it. I haven't heard of it before.

[@billc3114]

@@chinesemedicinepodcast I haven't read of it that I remember, as a Dx. This is Xue different than western thought. More of a xue before it becomes red, I talked to a couple of TCM practitioners that said it makes sense, and could be so. I think the Spleen has to do with holding blood in place. Transporting, transforming and holding in the vessels. I think it would be a weak Spleen function allowing xue to backup and move into the meridian because of the holding in place being weak. Ok I was wondering if you have heard of it. I will try to find something more concrete.

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

@@billc3114 its a common TCM Diagosis of "spleen not holding blood' but the symptom would usually involve bleeding of some sort - leaky bleeding usually - not profuse bleeding - because the blood cant be held in the vessel it "leaks out" - so that could be like abnormal uterine bleeding, abnormal periods (heavy, long or spotting /periods not ending) - some or all of that, a slow bleeding blood nose , even some blood disorders in WM Could have this tcm pattern. - eg skin that easily bruises and platelet disorders could be classified under "spleen not holding blood" as a possible mechanism of action. ... Of course i understand when you say blood you mean XUE.

[@billc3114]

@@chinesemedicinepodcast I guess I am saying is, before this possibly the "leaky" xue enters the Spleen meridian. Then leaks causing bruises and bleeding. Maybe not many TCM practitioners look at this. Oh if only Giovanni Maciocia were here.

[@solinspired4428]

I've had spleen qi deficiency since the first time I went to an Acupuncturist. It still is not under control.

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

Often it’s constitutional and lifestyle related. Moxa is often needed to warm the Earth, rather than acu alone. or a warmer approach of herbs that is the classical way rather than the TCM herbal approach. Maybe I will do a video about this

[@jasonreviews]

damn you hoard herbs like my mum. LOLs. I hoard the sans and wans. LOLs. I like the classical formula combos.

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

Thanks for the compliment ! Yes we need a lot of herbs to practice chinese medicine. In my practice I use a lot of sans and wans too.

[@SI-ln6tc]

Your mom is on the right track.

[@Timetravel1111]

I’d like to have half those healing herbs 🌿 know mostly how to USE them!!

[@Timetravel1111]

I was at the grocery market and found myself needed to run to go 2 ASAP?!!! 💩 what’s happening? I did notice my stomach was super cold last night. And I had a salad 🥗 today. Humm yet it’s been LOOSE for 3 months ... because of crazy world 🌎 shutdowns!!

[@jadequeen6714]

Warm your belly with exercises like sit ups or yoga boat pose!

[@Timetravel1111]

How ... how, what can I do to balance myself? Eat no sugar, or little as possible. Yet I want what I can do?!

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

Sugar is not terrible / bad for all people. I will do a video on the benefits of sugar and how you can use the sweet flavour as a medicinal - that is part of classical CHinese medicine.

[@Timetravel1111]

20:54 ohh spleen yang undigested food yep! So maybe I’m more that. Because I don’t crave sugar after a meal! Yeaa eat foods more slowly and chew more! I’ll do that!! 22:45 driving and eating bad 🕯 🍽 better

[@lynzlynsbrand956]

What about thin stools that dont come out easily.could this be a sign of IBS or colon problems? I have all the symptoms of spleen deficiency, shoulder pain etc that you mentioned.Could you pls help me?.this is all due to having a traumatic life and i used marijuana for 20 years to take the pain away.every time i get upset the spleen area hurts.i knw that the stress is hurting me but im more worried about the thin stools and have read it could be IBS or colon cancer?

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

Referred pain to the shoulder can also be a sign of gall bladder problem. If you. Haven’t been to western medicine yet you should go to your GP /medical doctor as well to check what’s wrong in a western medicine sense too

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

No one could give you a diagnosis of what these symptoms are without seeing you . If you were my patient I would advise you to go to a GP, since Chinese medicine practithers can’t diagnose western medical conditions so if you want to know about cancer you need to see your medical doctor as well . With Chinese medicine , for such serious issues like this you need to see someone who can check your pulse in person who can then help you with acupuncture / herbs according to what they find as the individual diagnosis . These videos are great for understanding conditions / Chinese medicine patterns and diagnoses but you tube is not a replacement for seeing your health care practitioners. Thanks for your questions and I hope you enjoy the channel .

[@lynzlynsbrand956]

@@chinesemedicinepodcast Thanks for the reply.Yes i do have gallbladder problems as well.definitely spleen problems as i have everything you mentioned.I have seen a TCM doctor and Im really interested im what you have to say.You nailed it.Really love your channel.colon cleansing could be an option.Im thinking IBS but I will go see my western dr.I live in New Zealand so im your lovable cuzn 😂😂Many thanks.Keep the great vids coming.👍

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

sounds like you are moving in the right direction and I wish you all the best with your health.

[@robinlillian9471]

Haven't you ever heard of damp cold in Chinese medicine?

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

Yes it’s a TCM pattern for sure, but In general damp- cold is going to be dampness in many cases. Because if the body gets deficient it will naturally get cold. Damp-cold In modern TCM books is usually /generally referred to as the direct environment cause not as a result of getting deficient over time. Can talk more about this on a video if that’s a topic your interested in

[@robinlillian9471]

@@chinesemedicinepodcast Thank you.

[@amirasolbach8292]

5:21

[@silviablaze6066]

Actually I didnt get what to eat to heal spleen..or which herbs are good for these problems,except ginger..

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

go onto this first video and start there - kzbin.info/www/bejne/nonTo3yNqJarm8k

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

This is more explaining it for people who are having acupuncture treatment or herbal treatment and want to know what the diagnosis is.

[@bobdylan9117]

pot plant? now you are speaking my language! :P

[@chinesemedicinepodcast]

haha