Here’s a topic that gets brought up by patients, and has a high place in the realm of TCM theory: the spleen. I got a question from a previous patient last week and I thought it would make a great topic post.
Q: “Why is the spleen such a big deal in Chinese medicine? It seems like most western doctors think people can live without one!”
A: In order to properly answer this question, I must first point out that “organs” in TCM and “organs” in western anatomy are not interchangeable. While there are decided similarities, the TCM “Spleen” refers to a set of functions that work in harmony with different sets of functions, and the western anatomical “spleen”refers to a physical thing. At the time of the development of TCM theory, practitioners and philosophers did not perform autopsies. They created the ideas of the “organs” based on their empirical knowledge of the body’s performance in different areas of health and illness.
The functions of the Spleen according to TCM involve controlling blood in the vessels, receiving food and beginning the process of extracting energy from it, as well as controlling muscles and housing the part of the spirit associated with thought. The spleen, according to western medicine, is involved in blood filtration and immunity. These functions are also served by other organs. That is why people can live without it.
As you can see, the Spleen in TCM and the spleen in western physical anatomy are just not the same thing.
So there you have it! If you have any further questions on this subject, or any other, feel free to message or e-mail me any time.
Comentários