Although the spleen and stomach are independent organs, they share an intimate relationship. Food is ground and digested in the stomach, enters the spleen for further digestion, and then transports nutrients to various parts of the body. Once issues arise with the spleen and stomach, it can affect appetite, emotions, and sleep, gradually leading to organic diseases. The health of the spleen and stomach can be preliminarily assessed through self-symptom checking.
How to self-check the health of the spleen and stomach?
- Check Facial Complexion: Dull and yellowish facial color often indicates spleen deficiency, characterized by reduced or no appetite, loose stools or diarrhea, and post-meal bloating. Without timely adjustment, the cheeks gradually turn yellow, withering and thinning. This is due to insufficient spleen qi and fluids, unable to provide adequate nourishment to the body.
- Check Mental State: Abnormal digestion by the spleen and stomach can cause palpitations, memory decline, and decreased responsiveness. A well-functioning spleen and stomach nurture the brain, ensuring vibrant energy and good mental states with agile responsiveness.
- Check Sleep Quality: Poor spleen and stomach function can lower sleep quality, leading to difficulties falling asleep, vivid dreams, and frequent waking at night.
- Check Bowel Movements: Water consumed generally undergoes spleen and stomach digestion, transforming into fluids for various organs. Reduced digestion by the spleen and stomach can cause functional constipation due to inadequate colon motility.
- Check for Drooling While Sleeping: Adequate spleen qi facilitates normal saliva transmission, aiding in swallowing and food digestion. Drooling during sleep is rare for those with sufficient spleen qi but may occur involuntarily in individuals with weakened spleen and stomach.
- Observe Lips: Healthy spleen and stomach result in red, moist, and glossy lips. In contrast, lips can be dry, peeling, and lack color when spleen and stomach function is compromised.
- Observe the Nasal Tip: A small pit at the nasal tip, when touched, reveals external manifestations of the spleen. This can provide a rough understanding of the physiological function of the spleen. If the nasal tip is red, it indicates heat in the spleen and stomach, resulting in increased appetite, a feeling of hunger, bitterness in the mouth, and mouth stickiness.
How to Cultivate a Healthy Spleen and Stomach?
- Dietary Adjustment: Consume foods with spleen-invigorating and dampness-dispelling effects, such as carp, duck meat, ridge gourd, lotus seeds, and green beans. Drinking a congee made from coix seed, yam, and glutinous rice can nourish the spleen. For those with weak spleen and stomach, the Four Gentlemen Decoction can be beneficial, consisting of licorice, poria, fried white atractylodes, and codonopsis.
- Acupressure: Massaging the Zusanli acupoint, a key point on the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming, for a few minutes daily can promote spleen and stomach health, unblock meridians, and regulate qi circulation. It also has a tonifying and regulating effect suitable for various spleen and stomach disorders.
Friendly Reminder: Maintain regular meals three times a day, avoid overeating, chew food thoroughly, and refrain from consuming raw, cold, spicy, or irritating foods. Engage in moderate exercise to enhance spleen and stomach function and promote food digestion. Regularly massage the navel area clockwise and counterclockwise for five minutes each, which has the effect of nourishing qi and blood, warming yang, and dispelling cold, while also promoting spleen and stomach health.