What about my Spleen?

What and where?

So what about your spleen? Your spleen is a vital organ found under the ribcage on the left side of your abdomen. It is said to be the largest organ in the lymphatic system, partner to your tonsils, adenoids, and thymus. It measures one inch wide, by three inches tall, by five inches long. Your Spleen is super important for digestion and immune system health.

Function?

As a filter for blood, and a hunter of harmful bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms, the spleen is vital to your health and immune system. Its functions include creating new, and destroying old red and white blood cells, creating plasma proteins, and storing iron.  The spleen is not part of the digestive system, but it does participate in process through connection to the blood vessels of the stomach, pancreas, and large intestine. However, if the spleen is not functioning properly, it can hinder the digestion process.

Strengthening your Spleen

The spleen is a vital partner to digestion and assists with the following:

• Digesting information and environmental stimulus
• Converting food to energy
• Controlling the blood
• Controlling the muscles and the four limbs
• Influencing transformation and transportation
• Connecting with the lips and mouth
• Connecting to feelings of enthusiasm, sadness, and worry
• Providing warmth and vitality

So just think about this for a moment… In this world overloaded with messages and stimuli, our spleens can suffer immensely. Through righting our actions, we can nurture our spleens into abundant health.

The spleen is akin to the Earth element and loves Summer through early Fall. Its Ayurvedic dosha is Kapha, which tends to be slow, conscious, thoughtful, careful, and grounded. When we allow ourselves to adopt some of these Kapha attributes during the Summer and Fall, we feed, heal, and nurture our spleens. To increase enthusiasm and positivity, consider researching Pitta Aggravated diets. 

Sadly, given how overworked our minds, bodies, and lives are, most spleens are not in balance. In TCM, the condition is known as, “Spleen Qi Deficiency,” and is characterized by sadness, loose stools, fatigue, confusion, feelings of being overwhelmed, decreased vitality, weakened immunity, poor digestion, and feelings of defeat.  Does this sound familiar? 

You can protect your spleen’s health with just a few simple changes in diet and behavior:

1. Avoid cold, icy beverages
2. Chew your food slowly and thoroughly
3. Eat warm, veggie-abundant soups and broths
4. Concentrate on whole foods, foods that grow
5. Avoid fatty meats, fast, processed, and fried foods

Foods that Support your Spleen

Eating several small meals each day is healthier than eating 1-3 three large meals. We need to feed for energy.  Adding spleen-friendly foods to your diet can turn your spleen into a heroic warrior.

Spleen aficionados suggest these foods for improving your spleen’s health:

1. Winter squash, carrot, rutabaga, parsnip, turnip, sweet potato, yam, pumpkin
2. Legumes like garbanzo beans, kidney beans, adzuki beans, lentils, black beans, and peas
3. Sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds, walnuts, chestnuts, pine nuts, pistachios
4. Seaweed and kelp
5. Green tea, jasmine tea, raspberry leaf tea, chai tea
6. Aloe vera gel and juice
7. Grapes, Pomegranates
8. Ginger, pepper, cardamom, onions, garlic, cinnamon, clove, fennel, rosemary, sage, turmeric, thyme, horseradish, cayenne, and nutmeg
9. Instead of heavy sweets, try less aggressive sweeteners like cooked fruits, rice syrup, barley malt, molasses, stewed cherries, dates.
10. Add a little protein each day.

Foods to Avoid

While many of these removal suggestions are helpful to your overall health, it is particularly beneficial for your spleen to limit:

• refined sugar
• refined grains
• fried or salty foods
• iced or refrigerated foods or drinks
• dairy products
• citrus fruits
• pork (for sure!), and other high fat content meats
• yeasty foods, such as beer or dough (yep… that means limiting your intake of bread)

Supportive Herbs and Supplements

I’m not going to talk a whole lot about supplements and herbs here. I’m not a Nutritionist, but, I will say there are many supplements you can take to support a spleen deficiency.

Naturopathic doctors might encourage you to incorporate herbs such as Dandelion, New Jersey Tea, Barberry, and Iris.

Ayurvedic practitioners may introduce supplements for spleen support, including:

• Ashwagandha, Turmeric, Holy Basil, Gotu Kola, Shilajit, Brahmi, Trikatu, Triphala, Sandalwood, Cordyceps, Cloves Bud, Amla Fruit

Traditional Chinese Medicine uses the following herbs that can be helpful to your spleen:

• Astragalus, Ginseng, Codonopsis, Chinese Yam, White Atractylodes, Licorice

Note also: When the liver is overburdened, the spleen is under excess pressure to perform. You’ll find that liver supplements and trace minerals might also be beneficial to your spleen. Our favorite liver enhancer is our daily Black Vacuum Enzyme Tablets. Considering a routine of home cleanses for GI and Liver health are also very good options for improving spleen health.

Read more about these here https://www.vitalifeclinic.com/liver-and-upper-gi-cleanses/

Remember, we are all different – no two are alike! We respond differently when exposed to environmental influences, and other experiences that penetrate our spiritual and physical bodies. When seeking better health, do your research. Seek the counsel of various medical, healing, and spiritual professionals.  You have to find the right combination of treatments and therapists that work for you.

In all things related to your health, seek forward-thinking doctors, and naturopathic practitioners that support you in your health journey to advance your overall well-being.