Spleen meridian pathway
The Spleen meridian, foot Taiyin, begins at the point Yinbai , that is, 0.1 cun from the inner nail corner of the big toe.
It then runs along the whole inner edge of the foot, classically on the border between the pink and white skin.
It then passes in front of the medial malleolus. It rises along the inner side of the leg, on its front part, behind the Liver meridian. At mid-leg, 8 cun above the medial malleolus, it passes in front of it.
From there, the meridian continues to rise along the inner side of the knee, front part, then the inner side of the thigh, front part.
At the groin crease, it enters the pelvis internally to connect with the Spleen and couple with the Stomach.
It continues to rise and ends/disperses under the tongue (link with the saliva of the Spleen).
Internally, a branch leaves the main pathway at the level of the Stomach and rises to connect with the Heart.
From the groin crease, a branch runs externally and rises along the abdomen 4 cun from the navel, then rises on the chest 6 cun from the midline up to the 2nd intercostal space.
It cannot rise any further because of Zhongfu and then descends laterally to end on the chest at the point Dabao , which is in the 6th intercostal space, from which the great Luo collateral of the Spleen starts.
Spleen meridian acupuncture points
The Spleen meridian has 21 acupuncture points; here are the main ones
Spleen meridian description
The Spleen corresponds to Earth. Together with the Stomach, it is the official in charge of supplies and granaries.
Its season is late summer, from mid-July to mid-September, its emotion is reflection, its direction is the center, its color is yellow and its flavor is sweet.
The Spleen is located in the center, in the Middle Burner. It occupies a central place between the Heart and the Lung above, and the Kidney and the Liver below. It is the pivot of the movements of the Qi; it irrigates in the 4 directions and is essential to movement.
The Fire of the Heart must descend to warm the Water of the Kidney. The Spleen can help either to bring the Fire down or to bring the Water up.
Liver Yang rises from the left, Lung Yin descends from the right. The Spleen can facilitate these rising and descending movements.
The Spleen belongs to Earth and dislikes Dampness. The Stomach, for its part, dislikes Dryness. If these conditions are no longer respected, disorders can occur.
The Spleen has 3 main functions:
- Transportation and transformation;
- Producing and holding the Blood;
- Raising the pure.