Spleen Qi Deficiency

TCM Diagnostic Pattern

Spleen Qi Deficiency TCM Pattern Connections

Below you will find various relationships to the concept of and potential approaches for spleen qi deficiency.

Spleen Qi Deficiency is one of many possible underlying factors from a TCM perspective for health issues such as abnormal posture, alcoholism, aldosteronism (primary), amenorrhea (absence of menstruation), anemia, anorexia nervosa, aortic stenosis, arrhythmia (palpitations), asthma, bedwetting, behcet's disease, bells palsy, bronchitis, crohn's disease, dementia, depression, diarrhea, dizziness (vertigo), dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain - cramps), dysuria (painful urination), emphysema, epigastric pain, forgetfulness, gastritis, gastroptosis, glomerulonephritis, goiter, hypersomnia, hypotension (low blood pressure), hypothyroidism, impotence (erectile dysfunction), incontinence, indigestion, infertility, insomnia, irregular menstruation, irritable bowel syndrome (ibs), jaundice, leukorrhea, liver cancer - hepatocellular carcinoma (hcc), lung cancer, meniere's disease, miscarriages, motion sickness, myasthenia gravis, nausea, neurasthenia, numbness, obesity (weight loss), osteoporosis, pancreatitis, pneumothorax, pyelonephritis, rhinitis, schizophrenia, sinusitis, stomach cancer, systemic lupus erythematosus (sle), tinnitus, tuberculosis, ulcerative colitis, uroschesis, and/or wheezing (dyspnea).

The above issues are common examples. In clinical situations, however, there are any number of other possibilities. Many times there will be a layered combination of issues intermixed from a variety of causal patterns in TCM terms. While initially complex, this is illustrative of the the web of relationships that Chinese Medicine is designed to approach.

General TCM Diagnostic Signs

Tongue: Pale, swollen w/teethmarks.
Pulse: Empty.

Treatment approaches are often akin to unravelling an onion, with the goal of resolving the root factor involved in the constellation of resulting issues. The current and historical array of issues and signs must be taken into consideration as well as the timing of the onset of each individual aspect.

Related Acupuncture Protocols

When developing an acupuncture protocol a practitioner is very often focusing on the causal diagnoses in Chinese Medicine terms, not on the condition itself. To guide you towards treatment potentials, spleen qi deficiency is referenced in the following acupuncture protocol sections:

Related Acupuncture Points

Some acupuncture points are considered "empirically" related to a specific diagnostic patter or condition. While this would rarely, if ever, dictate the entire composition of a treatment, the following points should be considered, possibly even more so within the context of acupressure:

  • View SI 6 (Nursing the Aged)

        Dorsal to the head of the ulna in the body cleft on the radial side of the styloid process, found with the palm facing …

        Acute and Severe Pain, in the neck, shoulder a/or arms. Useful point for treating elderly patients, deafness, tinnitus, failing vision, upper body/limb stiffness. Overwork a/or overstrain, fatigue in the extremities.  
  • View SP 3 (Supreme White)

        Proximal and inferior to the head of the 1st metatarsalphalangeal joint in a depression at the junction of the red and …

        SP Qi and Yang Deficiency, especially those with excess pathologies - abdominal a/or epigastric pain, digestive issues, heart pain. Muscle atrophy in the lower legs, heaviness in the body. Main treatment point of Lung Sho pattern (with L…
  • View SP 5 (Shang Hill)

        In a depression distal and inferior to the medial malleolus midway between the tuberosity of the navicular bone and the…

        Tonifies the spleen and resolves dampness - lethargy, desire to lie down, abdominal distention. Calms the spirit - manic depression, anxiety, excessive thinking. Speech disorders, stiffness at root of tongue.
  • View SP 6 (Three Yin Intersection)

        3 cun directly above the tip of the medial malleoulus on the posterior border of the tibia.

        Tonify Yin and Blood, all Spleen disorders. Digestive disorders, sinking/prolapse. Gynecological issues, male sexual issues, difficult labor (expel fetus). Menstrual issues (irregular, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea). Bleeding disorders, ute…
  • View ST 21 (Beam Gate)

        2 cun lateral to the AML level with CV 12.

        Tonifies Middle Warmer, assists CV 12. Epigastric pain, accumulations of food in the abdomen a/or palpable masses, vomiting. Diarrhea, poor appetite, anorexia.
  • View ST 31 (Thigh Joint)

        On 2 lines connecting the ASIS and the superiolateral corner of the patella and level with the lower border of symphysi…

        ST 31, ST 32 & ST 33 are all useful for Bi-Syndromes a/or Wei Syndromes (flaccidity or weakness) of the lower legs. Pain in the thigh, muscular atrophy/weakness, knee pain, low back pain.
  • View ST 32 (Crouching Rabbit)

        6 cun above the superior lateral border of the patella on the line connecting with the ASIS.

        ST 31, ST 32 & ST 33 are all useful for Bi-Syndromes a/or Wei Syndromes (flaccidity or weakness) of the lower legs. Muscular atrophy of the lower leg, thigh, knee pain, low back pain. Beriberi (thiamine, B1 deficiency).
  • View ST 33 (Yin Market)

        With knee flexed, 3 cun above the superior lateral border of the patella on line connecting with the ASIS.

        ST 31, ST 32 & ST 33 are all useful for Bi-Syndromes a/or Wei Syndromes (flaccidity or weakness) of the lower legs. Weakness, numbness, motor control issues of the leg and/or knee.
  • View ST 34 (Beam Hill)

        With knee flexed, 2 cun above the superior lateral border of the patella on the line connecting with the ASIS.

        Lateral knee issues, swelling, pain, difficult movement. Pain, motor control, circulation issues of the knee and/or lower leg. Excess & Acute issues of the Stomach and chest - acute Stomach pain, GERD, vomiting, acute breast pain.
  • View ST 36 (Leg Three Li)

        3 cun below ST 35, one finger width lateral from the anterior border of the tibia.

        Tonify deficient Qi a/or Blood. Tonify Wei Qi and Qi overall - low immunity, chronic illness, poor digestion, general weakness, particularly with moxibustion, very important acupuncture point for building and maintaining overall health. …
  • View UB 20 (Spleen Shu)

        1.5 cun lateral to GV 6, level with T11.

        Main point for all Spleen problems from a TCM perspective of both the physical organ functions and the energetic/psychological relationships. Physical spleen issues - distention, abdominal pain, bloating, poor appetite along with more inv…

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