earth · yin
Spleen SP
足太阴脾经
Zu Taiyin Pi Jing
Starts at the big toe, runs along the inner foot and leg, enters the abdomen, and reaches the side of the chest. A great luo is described wrapping the ribs at SP21.
Yin earth channel. In this system the Spleen is a digestive idea, not only the anatomical organ.
- Transforming food into qi, as a teaching idea
- Holding blood
- Damp and heaviness
- The inner leg
- Organ system
- Spleen
- Teaching clock
- 9–11 a.m.
Paired with Stomach.
Points in this atlas
7 of 21 classical numbers. Add the missing ones in order beside their neighbors.
Supreme White
Inner-foot source point for spleen and damp teaching patterns.
Yellow Emperor
Arch point that opens the Chong vessel.
Three Yin Intersection
Inner-leg crossing of three yin channels. Not a pregnancy self-care point.
Traditionally avoided in pregnancy
Yin Mound Spring
Inner knee hollow taught for damp and heaviness.
Sea of Blood
Inner thigh point in the “blood” teaching set.
Great Horizontal
Well out from the navel, a spleen abdomen point.
Use caution
Great Wrapping
Side-of-chest great luo. Learn the idea; press only the muscle, lightly.
Use caution
Herbs that enter Spleen
White peony root
Softens the liver, nourishes blood, and eases cramping.
White atractylodes
Strengthens the spleen and dries damp.
Pinellia rhizome
The main phlegm herb. Raw pinellia is toxic. Only prepared herb belongs in a formula.
Aged tangerine peel
Moves qi in the middle and dries damp phlegm.
Jujube fruit
A food fruit that harmonizes formulas and mildly supports the spleen.
Chinese angelica root
Nourishes and gently moves blood. The women’s-health herb everyone has heard of.
Saposhnikovia root
A milder wind herb, used when the surface is not extremely closed.
Poria
A mild fungus that leaches damp and quiets the heart in textbooks.
Licorice root
Harmonizes formulas. Also the herb most likely to cause trouble if eaten daily in quantity.
Kudzu root
Releases the muscle layer, especially a stiff neck.
Magnolia bark
Moves qi and dries damp in a stuck, full abdomen.
Astragalus root
Tonifies qi and is said to firm the surface.
Aucklandia root
Aromatic, moves qi, and is aimed at intestinal pain and tenesmus in texts.
Ginseng root
Strongly tonifies source qi. Easy to misuse, and not a stimulant.
Cinnamon bark
Hot bark that returns fire to the source, in the classical phrase.
Fresh ginger
Warms the middle and is the kitchen herb for mild nausea.
Cimicifuga rhizome
Raises yang and vents a heat rash in textbook language.
Coix seed
A grain-like seed that drains damp and eases a heavy body.