08 Longevity and the Spleen-Stomach Subsystem
Our great master Huang Yuanyu died young at the age of fifty-six. In his youth, he took medicine to treat an eye disease, which seriously damaged his spleen and stomach. Despite becoming a great medical scientist later in life, he was unable to heal this damage.
As a renowned doctor, Huang Yuanyu undoubtedly tried to treat his spleen and stomach and revitalize his body. However, the damage was irreversible, highlighting the significant challenge of spleen and stomach issues.
For practitioners of life cultivation, the first priority is to maintain the health of the spleen and stomach. These organs are unique among the five internal organs, often referred to as the “mother” of the internal organs. They transform nutrients into yuanqi and blood, which nourish all other organs.
According to traditional herbal medicine, as long as the spleen and stomach function well, a person can survive any disease. This perspective differs greatly from Western medicine, which often considers certain diseases incurable. Traditional herbal medicine has successfully treated conditions like high blood pressure, high blood lipids, diabetes, chronic liver disease, and even tumors.
09 Case Study: Diabetes
More than a hundred years ago, prominent figures like Mr. Lu Xun, Mr. Hu Shi, and Wang Jingwei were known for opposing traditional Chinese medicine.
In 1920, Mr. Hu Shi was diagnosed with diabetes and a severe complication, nephritis (kidney infection). Despite consulting top Western medical doctors, he could not be cured. In his diary, he wrote, “There is no escape from my fate,” as he awaited death.
At this critical time, a friend introduced Mr. Hu Shi to Dr. Lu Zhongan, a famous traditional herbal medicine doctor. After three months of treatment, Mr. Hu Shi recovered from his illness. Although he later died of a sudden heart attack in 1962, his diabetes and nephritis did not recur. Ironically, despite his lifelong advocacy for modern science and opposition to traditional Chinese medicine, it was the latter that cured him.
10 Curable and Incurable Illnesses
Diabetes, even when complicated by nephritis, was cured by a traditional herbal medicine master. There are many similar cases where hypertension, rheumatism, and other chronic diseases have been treated successfully.
However, not all diseases can be cured by traditional herbal medicine. For example, a young man in Huang Yuanyu’s hometown died to test Huang Yuanyu’s medical skills. Huang Yuanyu himself never fully recovered from his spleen and stomach damage.
Huang Yuanyu left behind valuable insights: “Those with yellow facial complexion will live, and those with green facial complexion will die.”
11 Short-cut for Revitalization
When the root of a disease lies in the spleen and stomach, and these organs are damaged to a certain extent, the disease cannot be cured, regardless of its apparent severity.
As the saying goes: “Man is iron and rice is steel.” Everyone needs to eat. The spleen and stomach transform nutrients into yuanqi and blood. People with poor spleen and stomach function have poor nutrient transformation ability. While others may need only one kilogram of rice, someone with poor spleen and stomach function might need two kilograms and still not be healthy.
When treating chronic diseases, the effectiveness of medication depends on the spleen and stomach’s ability to digest and transport it throughout the body. If these organs are healthy, the medicine will work well. If not, the medicine will be ineffective.
Qualified herbal medicine practitioners often include Chinese yam, Poria cocos, or ginseng in their prescriptions to revitalize the spleen and stomach. This emphasizes the special importance of these organs.
We will discuss in greater detail how traditional herbal medicine will do maintenance work to the spleen-stomach subsystem, and how it will revitalize the system when it is deteriorating.
12 What is Next
We have discussed the importance of the spleen-stomach subsystem for our health. Next we will discuss the equally important kidney subsystem.
For more on Huang Yuanyu’s herbal medical theories and his contributions to traditional herbal medicine, and how they help to rejuvenate our health, stay tuned for the next episode.
To receive notifications about new articles, kindly provide your email address below.