1. Spleen
The spleen along with the stomach prepares our food
to be received by the body in a form that is useable by the body. Anyone who has
experienced Stress and
worry can attest this state directly impairs stomach and spleen function
producing a very tangible tension in the stomach that can extend to ulcers,
boating, bowel problems and so on.
In Traditional Herbal Theory the spleen is the body's furnace. It produces your heat and the electricity
the body uses for its many functions. If this fundamental function is impaired
or if the spleen should be overworked one of the first manifestations you will feel coldness
(especially in the hands) and tiredness in general with muscle fatigue in
particular.
The electricity is the energy that gives us the energy to function. We feel "electrified."
This energy is distributed by the blood to every organ and every organ needs
this energy. Should it be lacking every organ's functions will be affected and
weakened in some way.
Should the spleen "cool down" due to being overworked the stomach is
immediately affected. Instead of a good and normal digestive process taking
place in the stomach a process more resembling fermentation occurs. The vapors and residues from this
process rise to the area of the head to produce headaches. Should some of these specific
courser vapors rise and condense in the nasal cavity the
sinuses will feel stuffy.
The heat from the spleen helps the stomach to better extract the finer
"juices" out of the foods. If there is less heat there will consequently be less
of these specific "moistures" extracted. One of the first
essential bodily fluids manufactured from these "moistures" produced from
digestion is blood. Therefore
blood volume and blood "quality" can be affected, essential raw materials to produce essential substances
like hormones are less abundant,
and a very fine substance to maintain the nerves called nerve spirit by
Herbalists are less abundant.
Heat is known to radiate from its source. Since stress disproportionately
consumes the heat produced by the spleen. With less force this otherwise radiating heat diminishes the circulation to the extremities. Therefore
you will feel cold in the extremities and have pallor. Less heat produces
subtle constriction of vessels, producing tension. This lessening "radial" force,
sometimes called centrifugal in nature permits wastes to stay in the blood this
directly affects the pH of the blood. This residual alkalinity is very
detrimental to the organism as a whole and produces a number of problems.
Every muscle uses energy in normal motor functions. The Spleen, as the center
of power therefore affects all the muscles and their tone. This also includes
the uterus and its very fine functions. Therefore the spleen affects female
functions very closely.
2. Heart
The blood and the energy it carries produced by
the spleen goes directly to the heart after it is extracted by the Stomach and
Spleen. It is a well-known axiom among the
ancients that the "spirit of the brain goes to the heart and back to the
brain."
This means that the faculties we have come to associate exclusively with the
brain have more to do with the heart. This point will be disputed by many but
not by those whose "heart is still awake."
When the heart is affected by a general lesser quality of blood which in
addition is also lacking in
energy you will find yourself unable to think clearly. Any toxin in the blood
will, depending on the nature of the toxin, excite, stupefy or otherwise
inebriate the faculties. Some toxins thin the blood while others may thicken it.
The effect this has on the heart affects the faculties. The brain following the
heart's lead.
There are also certain emotional patterns that within the framework of this
knowledge deal directly with the heart, the most common being certain types of
obsessions like anorexia and bulimia.
Remember also that the nerves are nourished by what was once called "nerve
spirit" extracted by the stomach and spleen from proper foods. The blood flow
and the quality of blood itself are directly affected by the stomach and spleen.
The blood carries what can best be described as a balanced electromagnetic fluid
through which all organs are maintained. Should this composition be off
in someone having a particular disposition this can produce palpitations
(tachycardia).
In addition to all this, should there be food fermenting in the stomach it
will produce vapors that may condense and accumulate within the pericardium. Its
slight increase in size is enough to crowd the lungs resulting in the volume of
breathing feeling restricted yet not impaired, possibly producing mild to severe
pains in the chest and between the shoulder blades. This further draws a
connection between the digestion and the heart.
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3. Kidney
The kidneys are the final recipients of the extracted energy from food and
breathing. They accumulate this energy and store it like a battery. For this reason the area of
the solar plexus, which is in front of the kidneys is considered a vital area of
the body. Should this accumulating capacity be impaired we can also feel tired or
possibly exceedingly cold, especially in the feet.
Being the final organ in the digestive cycle the kidneys also are the
recipients of any toxic chemicals that might have been ingested, which they are
weakened by. There are three main filters in the body, the liver, the kidneys
and the lungs. Whatever bypasses the liver, enters the kidneys, whatever
bypasses the kidneys enters the lungs.
The kidneys are also the center of fear. Anxiety and related panic disorders
are in reality nothing more than a fear. This
will therefore further affect the kidneys and through them also the heart. It
should be remembered that the kidneys and the heart work very closely in a
mutual regulatory manner. whatever affects the kidneys also will affect the
heart.
Fear triggers the adrenal glands which are just above the kidneys and must
therefore affect the kidneys. Adrenal function becomes strained by this fear
component of stress producing a constant "fight or flight" condition. In time
this exhausts the adrenals producing an even "deeper" tiredness. At
this point many take stimulants for their tiredness believing that the
stimulants will produce more energy. In realty stimulants do not contain any
energy therefore they cannot produce it. What they can do is make the body use
up its own energy, which is stored in the kidneys, even faster. When a stimulant
wears off an even greater fatigue is experienced. At some point the body reaches
a point of "burn out" which is very dangerous.
It is wiser to support the organ that produces the energy (Spleen) rather
than deplete the organ that stores the energy (Kidney).
The kidneys
also maintain and manage the moisture of the entire body and may have too much
or too little due to the spleens over or underproduction.
The kidneys also serve in an essential role in maintaining the nerves and
brain itself and with it the brain and spinal fluid. Clearly by maintaining the
brain and spinal fluid balanced will affect brain function. This too directly impacts
the mental faculty. When this function is impaired serious problems may arise.
4. Lungs
It is said that the kidneys being the final recipient and "storage depot" of
the combined energy taken from the food and the air, that it holds this "energy
down." Should the kidneys find themselves in a weakened state they may not
perform this "holding down" function with the life force
energy that they accumulate, it can go upwards into the lungs. When this happens it is common to become short of breath
or become aware of shallow breathing. Also, the sinuses may feel stuffy, asthma,
or coughing may occur.
5. Thyroid
The thyroid is often blamed for symptoms
actually brought about by a spleen deficiency. Even though in tests thyroid
hormones appear to be out of proportion.
The thyroid functions using the
energy that the spleen produces. Its purpose is very much like a capacitor in an
electrical circuit. It absorbs electricity and at a certain point predetermined
by the capacity of the capacitor - releases it. This is normally done at a very
regular interval and establishes the metabolism of the body. If there is too
little energy to work with the thyroid actually has to work much harder to keep
the metabolism constant. This overworking of the thyroid creates a depletion of
the thyroid - which appears by conventional wisdom as a thyroid problem. If the
available energy is increased to normal functioning levels the thyroid can relax
at its normal working pace and thyroid hormone levels balance out. (This does
not apply with goiter.)
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