"Spleen-stomach deficiency-cold with poor gastrointestinal function causes diarrhea after consuming even slightly cold foods. In severe cases, eating a single bite of watermelon in summer can trigger abdominal pain lasting all day."
At just 25 years old, Xiao Li's spleen-stomach function deteriorated to that of a 52-year-old man due to consistently eating barbecue, hotpot, beer, and cold drinks.
Xiao Li's outcome is hardly surprising. Why?
Our stomach functions like a food processor, receiving all ingested food before initiating peristalsis and grinding.
The spleen, meanwhile, primarily distributes this ground food to the lungs and kidneys.
The stomach digests; the spleen transports. Together, they form the entire digestive process.
When people indulge in excessive eating and drinking, their spleen and stomach suffer, and their functions naturally decline.
Therefore, neglecting to nurture your spleen and stomach now will lead to suffering later in life.
Li Dongyuan once stated in his Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach: "All diseases arise from the decline of the spleen and stomach." If the spleen and stomach are not properly regulated, the entire body is affected.
Spleen-Stomach Deficiency-Cold is one of the most common spleen-stomach disorders today. These three common symptoms can help you self-assess:
1. Vomiting, acid reflux, poor appetite
Weak stomach yang leads to insufficient gastric motility, preventing proper "grinding" of food. This causes ingested food to linger in the stomach, resulting in acid reflux and bad breath.
2. Loose, sticky stools
When food isn't properly digested, the spleen can't transport nutrients to the next "station"—the small intestine—making nutrient absorption difficult. This manifests as loose, sticky stools.
3. Pale tongue coating and weak pulse
A preference for "heavy" flavors in eating habits is also linked to spleen-stomach deficiency-cold. This is because, in traditional understanding, "the spleen and stomach are the source of qi and blood." When spleen-stomach function is robust, taste perception is normal; when spleen function is impaired, symptoms like a bland taste in the mouth may arise.
Of course, as mentioned earlier, spleen-stomach deficiency-cold affects overall bodily function. Thus, when the spleen and stomach are impaired, individuals may exhibit general weakness, loss of appetite, and excessive sleepiness.
For spleen-stomach deficiency-cold, two types of Chinese patent medicines can be used:
First is Lizhong Pill (理中丸), whose origins can be traced back to the Shanghan Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage).In TCM, the pathogenesis of spleen-stomach deficiency-cold is insufficiency of yang qi in the middle jiao. The Shanghan Lun explicitly states: "Lizhong Pills regulate the middle jiao."
Within the formula, dried ginger warms and supports the yang qi of the middle jiao. Ginseng and fried licorice root nourish body fluids and fortify the qi of the middle jiao, while white atractylodes dispels cold.However, it is crucial to note that Lizhong Pill specifically addresses deficiency of yang qi in the middle jiao. If the underlying pathogenesis differs, it should not be used. Individuals with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold should follow the guidance of a professional pharmacist or physician when using Lizhong Pill and avoid excessive dosage.
Alternatively, those with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold may use Jianshen Pills.
Originating from Medical Formulas Explained, Jianshen Pills primarily treat spleen deficiency with food stagnation. Formulated with dried tangerine peel, hawthorn, barley malt, ginseng, and white atractylodes, they strengthen the spleen and aid digestion while regulating qi, resolving stagnation, and fortifying qi.
It is highly effective for individuals with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold, commonly used for those with indigestion or chronic gastroenteritis. It also shows some efficacy for infantile diarrhea.
However, Jianshen Pills should not be used for acute enteritis-induced diarrhea. Caution is advised for individuals presenting with dry mouth, scant tongue coating, or palmar-plantar heat, as well as pregnant or lactating women.
Individuals with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold should discontinue use and seek medical attention if symptoms persist or worsen after three days of taking Jianshen Pills.
Beyond medication, those with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold should also note three key points:
Foods are categorized by five tastes: sweet, pungent, sour, bitter, and salty, each exerting distinct effects on the body.Traditional Chinese medicine holds that sweet flavors enter the spleen, pungent flavors enter the lungs, sour flavors enter the liver, bitter flavors enter the heart, and salty flavors enter the kidneys. A prolonged deficiency of any particular flavor in daily diet can disrupt the balance among the internal organs. Similarly, consistently favoring one flavor over others can impair bodily functions. For instance, excessive consumption of sweet foods may damage the spleen, potentially leading to metabolic disorders like diabetes or obesity over time.
Therefore, individuals with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold must prioritize balanced and harmonious intake of the five flavors in their diet.
Secondly, those with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold should also pay attention to mealtime timing. Sun Simiao of the Tang Dynasty proposed in his Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold for Emergencies: "Eat when hungry, drink when thirsty. Eat frequently in small amounts rather than once in large quantities, for excessive food is hard to digest. Always maintain a state where hunger feels like fullness and fullness feels like hunger."
Individuals with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold already have weakened spleen function. Skipping meals can lead to excessive hunger, depriving the spleen-stomach of food to digest. Without proper digestion, it cannot transform food into vital energy and blood, further impairing spleen-stomach function.
Therefore, those with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold should cultivate the habit of eating three regular meals daily—breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Even if not hungry at mealtime, they should still consume some food. This is a crucial practice for protecting the spleen-stomach.
Finally, those with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold should also pay attention to eating speed. Eating too quickly can lead to overeating, increasing the risk of obesity. Moreover, insufficient chewing places additional digestive burden on the spleen and stomach. Undigested food can transform into phlegm-dampness, adversely affecting the body.
Traditional Chinese medicine holds that the spleen and stomach are the "foundation of acquired constitution" and the "source of qi and blood production." Their health is intrinsically linked to overall well-being, making their protection essential.