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Spleen qì vacuity
脾气虚 〔脾氣虛〕pí qì xū
A disease pattern chiefly characterized by reduced eating; distension and fullness in the stomach duct and abdomen, possibly with dull pain; sloppy stool; qì vacuity signs.
Description: Poor appetite and reduced eating; distension and fullness or dull pain in the stomach duct and abdomen that likes pressure and that is more pronounced after eating; sloppy stool; fatigue of the limbs; lassitude of spirit and lack of strength; scantness of breath; laziness to speak; emaciation or obesity; pale-yellow or withered-yellow facial complexion; pale tongue with white fur; a pulse that is moderate or weak.
Diseases: Diarrhea; abdominal pain; vacuity taxation; gān accumulation.
Pathogenesis: Insufficiency of spleen qì, resulting in splenic movement and transformation failure. This results from:
- dietary irregularities;
- taxation fatigue (excesses of activity or inactivity);
- excessive thought and preoccupation;
- enduring vomiting or diarrhea;
- disease in other bowels or viscera.
Analysis of signs
- Impaired movement and transformation: Poor appetite and reduced eating, distension and fullness in the stomach duct and abdomen that is more pronounced after eating, and sloppy stool. Fullness is more pronounced after eating, since food requiring digestion places the spleen under stress. Sloppy stool stems from reduced warming and transforming action.
- Reduced qì and blood production: Lack of strength in the limbs, shortness of breath, laziness to speak, emaciation, and a pale-white or withered-yellow complexion.
- Water-damp: Obesity and puffy swelling.
- Tongue: Pale tender-soft tongue with white fur.
- Pulse: Moderate or weak, reflecting qì’s lack of strength.
Treatment
Medicinal therapy: Fortify the spleen and boost qì using xiāng shā liù jūn zǐ tāng (
Acumoxatherapy: Supplement/moxa
Combined patterns
- Dual vacuity of the heart and spleen: This is heart blood vacuity with spleen qì vacuity, marked by heart palpitation, insomnia, reduced eating, sloppy stool, chronic bleeding, with signs of qì and blood vacuity. It arises when disease of the spleen affects the heart.
Spleen-lung qì vacuity : Reduced eating, abdominal distension, sloppy stool, cough, panting or shortness of breath, with qì vacuity signs. Spleen qì vacuity and lung qì vacuity are mutually conducive.
Further developments: Spleen qì vacuity can develop into other spleen patterns. See spleen pattern identification.
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