Spleen, Stomach, and digestive disorders

Bloating after meals, slow digestion, irregular bowel movements, and a recurring feeling of heaviness: digestive issues are among the most common concerns encountered during sessions. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), they are never treated as a simple, isolated “stomach problem,” but rather as a sign of a broader imbalance, often linked to the way the body processes what it receives—whether it be food or, more broadly, the demands of daily life.

Summary

• The Spleen and the stomach: pillars of digestion in TCM
• The most common causes observed
• How acupuncture treats digestive disorders
• A few simple steps to support your digestion every day

The Spleen and the stomach: pillars of digestion in traditional chinese medicine

In Chinese medicine, two organs govern digestion: the Spleen and the Stomach.

The Stomach receives food and begins to process it—it is sometimes compared to the body’s “great granary.” Its Qi must naturally descend to allow food to continue its digestive journey. When this descent is disrupted, it manifests as bloating, nausea, acid reflux, or a feeling of fullness after meals.

The Spleen it transforms food into Qi and Blood and distributes them throughout the body. It is a particularly sensitive organ: it is affected by Dampness, Cold, an overly rich or irregular diet, as well as by worry and repeated mental stress. When the Spleen becomes weakened, its transformative function slows down: this manifests as fatigue after meals, irregular bowel movements, or loose stools.

The most common causes observed

Several factors contribute to these imbalances, often in combination:

• Food that is too cold or too raw (raw vegetables, iced drinks, excessive consumption of raw fruit), which depletes the Spleen’s energy over time
• Irregular meals or meals eaten too quickly, which don't give the stomach enough time to properly digest food
• A constitutional weakness of the Spleen, a trait that certain people have always had, which makes them more prone to digestive problems
• Stress and mental load, which can disrupt the flow of Qi and indirectly affect digestion—one factor among others, not always the case

How acupuncture treats digestive disorders

The treatment aims to support the spleen's transformative function and restore the proper downward flow of stomach Qi. Points such as Zhongwan (stomach Mu point, located on the abdomen) or Zusanli (a key point for strengthening digestion, located on the leg) are frequently used to bring these two organs into balance.

This treatment is often supplemented with tuina, a form Of chinese massage, particularly on the abdomen, to stimulate digestion and relieve tension that builds up there.

A few simple steps to support your digestion every day

• Choose cooked and warm foods rather than raw and cold, especially outside of the summer.
• Eat at regular times, without rushing: the spleen functions best at a steady pace.
• Chew thoroughly : the first stage of digestion begins in the mouth, which lightens the stomach’s workload.
• Take a walk for a few minutes after a meal rather than sitting down right away: this helps the stomach Qi descend.
• Don't overindulge in dairy products : in TCM, they are considered to generate dampness and can weigh down The spleen if consumed in excess.

In summary

In traditional Chinese medicine, digestive disorders almost always reflect an imbalance between the Spleen and the Stomach—whether it stems from diet, lifestyle, a constitutional weakness, or mental stress. Identifying these imbalances allows us to address the root cause rather than simply managing symptoms on a case-by-case basis. Acupuncture, combined with Tuina Chinese massage, offers a targeted approach to restoring smoother and more comfortable digestion in daily life.

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