04 When to Revitalize the Spleen-Stomach Subsystem
As practitioners of life cultivation, we know that each season has its health revitalization focus. In spring, we focus on the liver; in summer, the heart; in autumn, the lungs; and in winter, the kidneys.
But when should we focus on the pi-wei (spleen-stomach) subsystem?
According to the Huangdi Neijing, the pi (spleen) is earth, governing the center. It grows the four organs in four seasons, each for eighteen days, and cannot rule alone in a season. Both the pi (spleen) and wei (stomach) are characterized as earth, growing everything and following the laws of heaven and earth. Earth is the root of all substances, and pi-wei are the root of the internal organs and every part from the head to the feet. They are everywhere, so they cannot rule only in one season. If a person has no stomach-qi, it is called reverse, and the reversed person will die. If the pulse has no stomach-qi, he will also die. This is why the four seasons and five internal organs cannot be without earth-qi for even a day.
All things depend on earth for growth, and human organs depend on pi-earth and wei-earth for survival. The spleen-earth and stomach-earth are the foundation of all organs, so no part can function well without earth-energy. Thus, nourishing earth-energy is a year-round task. Pi-wei subsystem revitalization should be a daily routine. We should pay attention to our diet daily and keep our stomachs well-conditioned at all times.
As stated in the Huangdi Neijing, the classic of internal herbal medicine: If a person has no stomach energy, it is called reverse, and if he is reversed, he will die. No matter which organ or season, the pi-wei are inseparable because they are the source of yuanqi. All yuanqi in the human body is transported and transformed by the pi-wei subsystem from the food we eat.
05 The Circulation of Vital Yuanqi
Where does the spleen-stomach subsystem send the yuanqi after creating it?
01 The Liver-Subsystem
According to the theory of yuanqi circulation, yuanqi is first transported to the liver-subsystem to be dispersed. If the liver-subsystem does not get enough yuanqi from the pi-wei subsystem, toxins in the body will not be discharged in time, leading to illness. For example, blocked blood vessels can cause cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, such as brain atrophy due to lack of cell nutrition.
Some may attribute clogged blood vessels to excessive meat and greasy food consumption. However, nomadic people who consume meat and milk from childhood have similar cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease rates as others.
Blood vessels are like a table, and the garbage in them is like dust on the table. To keep the table clean, one must avoid clutter and arrange for regular cleaning. Similarly, ensuring the liver’s excretion function is crucial.
In addition to cardiovascular diseases, dysmenorrhea in girls is related to the liver’s role in regulating yuanqi and blood flow. The liver also controls tendons, affecting conditions like arthritis and rickets. The liver’s health impacts the eyes, with issues like floaters, cataracts, and fundus lesions linked to liver problems. These organs connect to the liver meridian, and the yuanqi they use is provided by the liver.
02 The Heart-Subsystem
The yuanqi stream provides enough yuanqi to the liver-subsystem for proper function, then continues to the heart-subsystem. In herbal medicine, the heart-subsystem is the master of the mind. Yuanqi reaching the heart keeps a person awake and energetic. Excessive alcohol, shock, or aging can impair thinking and memory, leading to mindlessness. Insomnia is a mild form of mindlessness, caused by insufficient yuanqi reaching the heart. The heart consumes part of the yuanqi to nourish the heart meridian.
03 The Pi-Earth Subsystem
After the heart, yuanqi moves downwards, splitting into two streams: one to the lungs and the other back to the pi-earth. The pi-earth needs yuanqi to complete its work, so part of the yuanqi returns to ensure its normal operation.
04 The Lung-Subsystem
In traditional herbal medicine, the lungs are responsible for killing bacteria and viruses, which requires the consumption of yuanqi. After the liver, heart, and spleen have consumed part of the yuanqi, the remaining yuanqi reaches the lungs. The lungs use this yuanqi to perform their functions, and the remaining yuanqi then moves to the kidneys.
05 The Kidney-Subsystem
The kidney-subsystem governs the bones, and the growth and health of bones depend on the kidneys. The kidneys also govern intelligence, with sufficient kidney-qi being essential for smart individuals. Additionally, the kidney-subsystem controls urination and defecation, and issues like infertility in some young people can be related to kidney-qi deficiency. Common problems such as constipation and reproductive system issues are often caused by insufficient kidney-qi, leading to blockages due to a lack of energy to push substances along.
06 Brief Recap
As practitioners of life cultivation, we learn about the circulation of yuanqi and its impact on each major organ-subsystem. The pi-wei subsystem, as the mother of the five internal organs, must be protected daily throughout our lives. If the pi-wei subsystem is injured, recovery will be challenging. All yuanqi is derived from the foods we eat, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy pi-wei subsystem.
What is Next
For more on Huang Yuanyu’s herbal medical theories and his contributions to traditional herbal medicine, and how they help rejuvenate our pi-wei subsystem, stay tuned for the next episode.
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