What symptoms may occur with Spleen deficiency?
Aug 24, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. He Haochen
Introduction
Symptoms of Spleen deficiency include a thick, yellow tongue coating; cold hands and feet; loose or unformed stools; excessive salivation; and under-eye bags. Therefore, if you notice any of these signs regularly, they may be attributable to Spleen deficiency. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), practitioners commonly assess a person’s health status by examining the tongue. In cases of Spleen- and Stomach-Qi deficiency, the tongue often exhibits noticeable changes—such as becoming thicker and developing a yellowish coating.
The spleen serves as the foundation of acquired constitution and is the source of qi and blood production. It assists the body in transforming ingested food and fluids into essential nutrients, thereby nourishing the body and sustaining daily metabolism. Consequently, dysfunction of the spleen may adversely affect health throughout the body. So, what symptoms manifest with spleen deficiency?
What Symptoms Arise from Spleen Deficiency?
Symptoms of spleen deficiency include a thick, yellow tongue coating; cold hands and feet; loose or unformed stools; excessive salivation; and under-eye bags. Thus, if you notice any of these signs regularly, they may stem from spleen deficiency. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), practitioners commonly assess an individual’s health status by observing the tongue. With spleen-stomach deficiency, the tongue often exhibits noticeable changes—such as thickening and yellowing of the coating. Normally, the tongue appears pinkish; a yellowish hue may indicate spleen-stomach deficiency. Therefore, heightened vigilance is warranted in daily life: a thick, yellow tongue coating strongly suggests spleen deficiency.
Irregular bowel movements are common in daily life—for instance, diarrhea may occur after consuming expired food. However, frequent episodes of urgent or loose stools may serve as a warning sign indicating the need to regulate spleen and stomach function. Ordinarily, saliva secretion increases noticeably when encountering delicious food. Yet, excessive salivation during sleep may point to spleen deficiency. When spleen qi is weak, saliva fails to perform its normal digestive functions effectively; consequently, excess saliva may involuntarily leak from the mouth during sleep.
Patients are advised to minimize intake of cold or raw foods, avoid spicy, fried, or grilled foods, refrain from overeating or binge eating, and manage emotional excitement. Instead, emphasize consumption of foods that strengthen the spleen and fortify qi. We hope this information proves helpful to you.
