Spleen - The Zang Organ

The chanel of the spleen connects with the stomach, relating the spleen externally-internally to the stomach. It opens into the mouth. The main physiological functions of the spleen are governing transportation and transformation, controlling blood and dominating the muscles.

1. Governing transportation and transformation. Transportation implies transmission. Transformation implies digestion and absorption. The splee has the function of digesting food, absorbing its essential substances with a part of the fluid supplied, and transmitting them to the heart and the lung from where they are sent to nourish the whole body. Normal functioning of the spleen is required for good appetite, normal digestion and absorption, good nourishment and normal transmission of fluid.
2. Controlling blood. The spleen has the function of keeping the blood circulating inside the vessels and preventing it from extravasations.
3. Dominating the muscles. Normal functioning of the spleen in transportation and transformation enables the muscles to receive adequate nourishment from the food essentials and thus maintains muscle thickness and strength.
4. Opening into the mouth. The spleen and the mouth co-ordinate functionally in receiving, transporting and transforming food. When the function of the spleen in governing transportation and transformation is normal, the appetite will be good and the lips will be red and lustrous.
5. The qi of the spleen has the further function of holding and keeping the internal organs in their normal positions.