Revitalizing the Spleen-Stomach System

01 Introduction

In Huang Yuanyu’s theory, the pi-earth (spleen) and wei-earth (stomach) are the most crucial subsystems of the wuzang (five internal organs). Regardless of the disease being treated, the pi-earth and wei-earth must be revitalized. When diagnosing a disease, a patient’s eating habits are a significant indicator for the herbal practitioner. A good appetite suggests the absence of serious illness, whereas a poor appetite raises concerns about potential severe diseases.

Huang Yuanyu emphasized the importance of the pi-earth and wei-earth, but this does not mean other parts can be ignored. They also play vital roles in our body. Understanding the functions of all wuzang makes it easier to revitalize them. As practitioners of life cultivation, we spend time understanding how our wuzang works, especially the pi-wei subsystem.

02 Functions of the Pi-Earth Subsystem

The pi-wei subsystem produces yuanqi, which is critical for life. The foods we eat contain essential ingredients for our body. When consumed, the pi-wei subsystem extracts the essence of the food and distributes it throughout the body. Note that wuzang in herbal medicine differs from the anatomical five organs; it denotes five subsystems forming one complete system.

In modern medicine, the spleen is often seen as a degenerated organ with little use. However, in traditional herbal medicine, the pi-earth subsystem (spleen) cannot be removed because it is a system, not just an organ.

According to Huang Yuanyu, the pi-earth subsystem is responsible for digestion and nutrient absorption. Every function related to digestion and absorption is connected to the pi-earth subsystem, including many invisible functions.

The pi-earth subsystem’s functions include digestion, absorption, nutrient and energy transportation, and the circulation of yuanqi. The intestines, blood vessels, and nutrient absorption by every cell are all within the scope of the pi-earth subsystem in traditional herbal medicine. Thus, the pi-earth subsystem plays a crucial role in our health.

03 Case Study: Understanding the Pi-Wei Subsystem

To grasp the critical importance of the pi-wei subsystem, let’s examine a case from Dr. Guo Yaning’s patient files.

A young girl suffered from long-term stomach pain from age eight or nine to fifteen or sixteen. Despite visiting many hospitals and renowned doctors in China, her condition showed no significant improvement. A physical examination revealed that her right kidney was almost five centimeters lower than her left kidney.

Renal ptosis is controversial in medicine because pyelography results may differ from the actual situation, making surgery uncertain. The girl’s illness led her to drop out of school and seek medical treatment everywhere, but without significant progress. She became pale and thin, with frequent and severe pain attacks.

In Western medicine, kidney ptosis is attributed to a decline in body immunity and tissue function, with treatment options limited to sclerosant injection and surgery.
Huang Yuanyu believed that ptosis, whether gastric or kidney, results from a lack of the body’s ability to lift, consolidate, and control. The central qi sinks, and the yuanqi circulation cannot function normally, leading to pi-deficiency and insufficient strength to hold up the internal organ, causing it to slide down.

Huang Yuanyu argued that treatment should focus on stimulating the appetite and invigorating the pi-earth subsystem. Once the pi-wei subsystem functions well, resulting in abundant blood and yuanqi, the patient can take qi-replenishing herbs and engage in physical exercise, leading to natural recovery.

The girl eventually met Dr. Guo Yaning in Xian, China. Dr. Guo prescribed bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang, a prescription passed down by Li Dongyuan, one of the four renowned medical doctors of the Yuan Dynasty. Dr. Guo adjusted the prescription based on the girl’s condition. After fifteen days of treatment, the girl’s complexion, appetite, and spirits improved significantly, and her abdominal pain was greatly relieved.

Dr. Guo added qi-replenishing medicines such as astragalus, angelica, and wolfberry to the prescription, and the girl continued the treatment for thirty days. By the third follow-up visit, her symptoms had almost disappeared, her spirit and appetite had recovered, and she only felt slight discomfort after sitting for long periods. A hospital check-up showed her kidney had moved up about three centimeters, within the normal range.

Before the girl left, Dr. Guo prescribed wuxing-jianpi-san, a medicinal food passed down from the Song Dynasty, to revitalize the pi-wei subsystem. The girl took the prescription for half a year, and her parents reported that she was completely cured after eight months of treatment.

Wuxing-jianpi-san includes shanyao (huaishan), fuling, lianzi (lotus seed), qianshi, and yimi (barley). This medicinal food is suitable for people with weak spleen and stomach, poor appetite, abdominal distension, loose stools, poor digestion and absorption, malnutrition, thinness, weakness, and deficiency of yuanqi and blood, anemia. It is also useful as a basic prescription for regulating other diseases by first revitalizing the pi-wei subsystem.

Caution: When purchasing medicinal foods, ensure you buy genuine products from reputable sources.

(To be continued on the next article)

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