The Spleen is a vital force in how we process food, thoughts, and emotions. It transforms and transports nutrients, generates Qi and Blood, and keeps everything—physically and mentally—in place. When the Spleen is out of balance, our digestion may suffer, but so can our clarity, focus, and emotional stability.

One of the key emotions associated with the Spleen is worrying. Emotional and mental faculties associated with the Spleen is deep intellectual engagement. In Giovanni Maciocia’s foundational texts, he distinguishes between various emotional states: worry, overthinking, and anxiety. While all may feel similar, they involve different organ systems. Worry and overthinking are directly connected to the Spleen, while anxiety, with its more intense emotional and physical manifestations like restlessness, panic, and fear, is more often rooted in Heart and Kidney disharmony.

The Spleen-Stomach Connection

In TCM, the Spleen and Stomach are the central pair in the Earth element. The Stomach "rots and ripens" food and begins the breakdown process, while the Spleen "transforms and transports" the essence of food and fluids throughout the body. Together, they form the foundation of Postnatal Qi—the energy we derive from food and drink after birth. If this system is weak, it doesn't just impact digestion. It clouds the mind, making us prone to overthinking, worry, mental fatigue, and even low self-esteem.

When the Spleen fails to ascend clear Qi or distribute nutrients properly, Dampness and Phlegm can accumulate. These can cloud the mind, causing repetitive thought patterns, lack of focus, and emotional stagnation.

Symptoms of Spleen Qi Deficiency

Wondering if your Spleen might need support? Here are some common signs in both body and mind:

Bloating, especially after meals
Loose stools or fatigue after eating
Lack of appetite
Brain fog, trouble concentrating
Heaviness in the limbs or body
Pale, swollen tongue with teeth marks
Mental fatigue or excessive over planning

The Spleen and Its Zang Organ Connections

The Spleen nourishes the Heart, providing the Blood that houses the Shen (mind/spirit). It relies on the Lungs to distribute Qi, and on the Kidneys for the foundational essence (Jing).

Seasonal Insight: The Earth Element and Late Summer

Each Zang organ is connected to a season, and the Spleen corresponds to late summer, a time of harvest, nourishment, and transition. Read my recent blog post about ‘Late Summer in Traditional Chinese Medicine: What to Eat and How to Stay Balanced.’ The Earth element’s energy is centering, grounding, and supportive. During this time, we benefit from slowing down, eating cooked seasonal foods like squashes and root vegetables, and creating stable routines. Late summer is also a time to “digest” the year so far—physically and emotionally—before moving into the inward energy of autumn.

When the Spleen is strong, our minds are grounded, clear, and capable of focused, meaningful thought. We retain what we study, reflect with purpose, and apply knowledge with ease.

The Spleen and the Intellect: Deep Thinking and Study in TCM

In the foundational texts of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Spleen is said to house the Yi (意), often translated as “intent” or “intellect.” This spirit governs our capacity for thinking, studying, concentration, and the ability to assimilate ideas—just as the Spleen physically transforms and assimilates nutrients. When the Spleen is strong, our minds are grounded, clear, and capable of focused, meaningful thought. We retain what we study, reflect with purpose, and apply knowledge with ease.

However, when the Spleen is weak—due to poor diet, overwork, excessive worry, or lack of routine—our ability to concentrate diminishes. Thoughts become scattered, studying feels laborious, and we may experience what TCM refers to as “mental fatigue.” Unlike the quick flashes of insight associated with the Heart’s Shen, or the long-term memory of the Kidneys, the Yi provides the steady cognitive energy required for learning, writing, reflecting, and integrating new knowledge.

In today’s overstimulated world, the Spleen often becomes overburdened—not just by food, but by mental input. Endless screens, multitasking, and the pressure to constantly perform intellectually can lead to Spleen Qi deficiency. The result is not just digestive sluggishness, but also foggy thinking, difficulty focusing, and a lack of intellectual stamina. Supporting the Spleen through nourishing foods, routine, rest, and intentional learning rhythms helps preserve not only physical health, but also the quality and depth of our mental life.

**Eat warm, cooked foods** – The Spleen loves warmth. Avoid raw and cold foods that burden digestion.

5 Lifestyle Changes to Support the Spleen and Quiet the Mind

Eat warm, cooked foods – The Spleen loves warmth. Avoid raw and cold foods that burden digestion.
Simplify your schedule – Multitasking depletes Spleen Qi. Do one thing at a time.
Establish routines – The Spleen thrives on rhythm and stability. Regular mealtimes and sleep help center your system.
Limit screen time and information overload – Excessive input leads to overthinking. Create mental spaciousness.
Practice mindful movement – Gentle activities like tai chi, yoga, or walking calm the mind and support digestion.

The Power of Now and Letting Go of Mental Overload

In The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle reminds us that most suffering comes not from what’s happening—but from the stories we tell ourselves about it. The Spleen struggles to digest what cannot be processed, especially when we live in the past or fear the future. Tolle’s message is simple but profound: this moment is enough.

Strategies for Letting Go of the Loop

For those stuck in the cycle of past regrets and future fears, consider these tools:

Body scan meditation – Bring awareness to each part of the body to anchor yourself in the now.
Journaling with limits – Give yourself 10 minutes to write all your worries down, then stop. This contains the spiral.
Mantras like “I am here now” or “This moment is enough.”
Seek joy in small things – Cook a comforting meal, light a candle, talk to a friend. These sensory acts ground you.
Acupuncture – Move stagnation and centre your mind.

The **Spleen struggles to digest what cannot be processed**, especially when we live in the past or fear the future.

Whose Expectations Are You Living?

Much of our worry stems from trying to live up to expectations that were never ours to begin with. As teenagers, we crave belonging—so we contort ourselves to fit in. Later, with job changes, moves, or new relationships, we may find ourselves again trying to conform, feeling "not enough" if we can't meet others' standards.

This emotional strain weighs heavily on the Spleen. It thrives on authenticity and internal harmony, not external pressure. Part of healing involves asking: Are these worries mine? Do I really believe this, or was it handed to me?

Learning to shed false expectations—cultural, familial, societal—frees Spleen Qi. You don't need to digest what doesn't belong to you.

5 Acupuncture Points to Support the Spleen

SP6 (Sanyinjiao) – A powerful point for tonifying the Spleen, harmonizing digestion, calming the mind, and regulating the cycle in women.
ST36 (Zusanli) – Strengthens Qi and Blood, boosts immunity, and supports digestion.
SP9 (Yinlingquan) – Drains Dampness and supports Spleen transformation and transport function.
REN12 (Zhongwan) – The influential point for the Fu organs, excellent for digestion and calming the abdomen.
HT7 (Shenmen) – While not a Spleen point, it calms the Shen and is helpful when overthinking leads to insomnia or anxiety.

5 Spleen-Supportive Foods and Dishes in Chinese Medicine

Congee (Rice Porridge)
A classic Spleen-nourishing dish, congee is made by simmering white or brown rice in plenty of water until it becomes a soft, soupy porridge. It’s warm, easy to digest, and can be customized with ingredients like ginger, chicken, or cooked vegetables. It gently strengthens Spleen Qi and is ideal for recovery, fatigue, or cold digestion.
Sweet Potatoes
Naturally sweet (a flavor that corresponds to the Earth element), sweet potatoes tonify the Spleen and support digestion. They can be roasted, steamed, or added to soups. Their grounding nature helps center the body and mind.
Ginger and Daikon Soup
Fresh ginger warms the middle burner and helps move stagnant Qi, while daikon radish helps digest phlegm and dampness. Together, they make a simple but powerful Spleen-friendly soup, especially during cold or damp weather.
Cooked Root Vegetables
Foods like carrots, parsnips, and squash are naturally sweet, grounding, and nourishing to the Earth element. Steamed or roasted, they support Spleen function and help generate Qi and Blood.
Millet or Oats
These grains are excellent for tonifying the Spleen and calming the mind. Millet, in particular, is considered cooling and nourishing for weak digestion. Cooked into a porridge, it makes a gentle, warming breakfast that sustains energy without burdening the digestive system.

Sources:

Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica by Dan Bensky

Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford

Chinese Nutrition Therapy by Joerg Kastner

The Practice of Chinese Medicine by Giovanni Maciocia

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

The Surprising Link Between Anxiety and the Spleen in Chinese Medicine