Fall brings with it a sense of buttoning everything up and preparing to nestle in for the winter. The changing, down and in energy of the metal element invites us to slow down, rest and reflect. Of course, there are upcoming holiday gatherings and outings, but generally people start to spend more time at home, getting quiet.
You can’t practice Qigong without eventually developing at least some understanding of Chinese medicine concepts, as Qigong is one highly effective arrow in the quiver that is Chinese medicine. When we understand some of those key concepts, we support our own health and enhance our Qigong practice as well. So, with the upcoming launch of my new course, Qigong for Healthy Metabolism, I dedicate this blog post to understanding just why Spleen and Stomach Qi are so important, what to look for to determine if they are out of balance, and how we can build them back up, particularly in the winter to come.
The spleen and the stomach are deeply intertwined in Chinese medicine, and it’s important to note that this system views the function of the spleen much differently than Western medicine, so just bear with me here. As we see it, the stomach ‘ripens and rots’ the food and drink we take in, and the spleen ‘separates the clear from the turbid’, sending the latter down and out of the body in the form of waste, and taking the purer part of it to make Qi and blood. When both of these systems function properly, we are healthy and thriving. This is a bit of an over-simplification, but it serves the purpose of this discussion.
Note here that the same Qi the spleen makes is a lot of what we’re working with in our Qigong practice, so basically the spleen and stomach are huge workhorses in our bodies.
When our Spleen and Stomach Qi are weak, we can experience such digestive symptoms as bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and food allergies, to name a few. Other non-digestive symptoms include weak limbs, bruising, and even bleeding. Because these systems are weak, they’re not making enough Qi and blood, so there can also be fatigue and/or difficulty thinking or concentrating- both signs that the Qi isn’t sufficiently rising to the head.
Fortunately, the comprehensive nature of Chinese medicine gives us a wealth of strategies we can use to harmonize these two systems. While acupuncture and herbs can play a huge part, so too can Qigong and diet-particularly a diet aligned to the season.
It is said in Chinese medicine that the flavor the spleen likes best is sweet. Mind you, this is not the high-fructose corn syrup sweet of the West, but actually blander foods with a sweetish tinge, like sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, barley, and beans. If you’ve ever eaten at a Chinese banquet, you’ll note there is always a dessert soup served at the end, often with sweet red beans and tapioca. Sweet, but much more subtle than we are used to here. Indeed, excess sweet injures the spleen, which we see much more today with the rise of type two diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and weight gain- all signs of insulin resistance. In Chinese culture, rice congee is a common meal served to the convalescing patient- be it from surgery or other illness. A nice warm and bland soup with warm herbs helps the spleen and its' Qi recover.
Which brings me to the next aspect of nurturing Spleen Qi: Warmth. “The spleen likes warmth, and dislikes cold.” As students of Chinese medicine, this is practically hammered into our brains. Cold and raw foods also injure the spleen. Salads, ice water, smoothies, ice cream, cold cereal for breakfast? All bad for the spleen. Suffice it to say my patients don’t really like hearing that. If your spleen and stomach are generally healthy, you have a little wiggle room in the hot, fire element dominant summer months. But especially now, as we move into the winter, our Spleen Qi is naturally a little weaker. Support it with warm beverages, room temperature water, warm foods, soups, and cooked vegetables- I often just toss mine into my soup when I’m too lazy to steam them.
Greasy, fried foods? Also not doing your spleen any favors.
With Cosmos Qigong, there are exercises that help different systems in the body, as well as ones that just promote whole body Qi flow. This is part of why I distill so much Chinese medicine theory into my classes, so students are able to better select which patterns are more appropriate for their individual needs. Qigong for Healthy Metabolism is a four-module course of some of the best patterns for supporting Spleen and Stomach Qi. When you have more Qi to circulate throughout your body, it does more good work for you.
I’m running a special pre-sale price for the course at half off its regular price. Opt in before 11.1.24 to take advantage of the sale and have the course delivered to your account on launch day, 11.10.24.
Of course, none of us are perfect. We all know how the end of the year goes. It begins with handfuls of miniature candy bars and just keeps going until we ring in the new year. Why not meet it this year with something to support your digestive health while you enjoy your holiday snacking?
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