What are the symptoms of a weak spleen?
Disease description:
I have recently been experiencing frequent loss of appetite, fatigue, and bleeding gums. In traditional Chinese medicine, are these symptoms related to issues with the spleen?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. He Haochen
When spleen function is impaired, it is typically manifested in the following aspects:
1. Digestive system problems: Poor spleen function can interfere with food digestion and absorption, leading to symptoms such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, and diarrhea. In severe cases, difficulty with passing gas or stool may occur.
2. Edema and impaired water metabolism: The spleen governs the transportation and transformation of bodily fluids. Spleen deficiency may cause abnormal metabolism of body fluids, leading to facial, eyelid, or lower limb edema, and decreased urine output.
3. Bleeding tendencies: The spleen is responsible for controlling the blood. Spleen deficiency may cause blood to escape from the vessels, resulting in epistaxis, gum bleeding, or subcutaneous bruising. In female patients, spleen dysfunction may lead to excessive menstrual bleeding or metrorrhagia, among other gynecological conditions.
4. Abnormal tongue appearance: Damp-heat in the spleen and stomach is a common manifestation of spleen dysfunction. Patients often present with a pale, swollen tongue with tooth marks along the edges, thick white tongue coating, and an enlarged tongue body.
5. Specific symptoms: Due to impaired spleen function, the body cannot properly absorb nutrients, leading to malnutrition and a pale or sallow complexion. Some patients may experience heaviness in the limbs and mental depression.
If the above symptoms are present, timely medical consultation is recommended.
