In the
Traditional Chinese MedicineTraditional Chinese Medicine, also known as TCM , includes a range of traditional medical practices originating in China. Although well accepted in the mainstream of medical care throughout East Asia, it is considered an alternative medical system in much of the western world.TCM practices include...
(TCM), a
spleen or
Pi ' onMouseout='HidePop("19744")' href="http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Pinyin">pinyin
Pinyin , or more formally Hanyu Pinyin , is currently the most commonly used romanization system for Standard Mandarin. Hanyu means the Chinese language, and pinyin means "phonetics", or more literally, "spelling sound" or "spelled sound"...
: pí) is distinct from the concept of western or modern
medicineMedicine is the art and science of healing. It encompasses a range of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
.
In the
Traditional Chinese MedicineTraditional Chinese Medicine, also known as TCM , includes a range of traditional medical practices originating in China. Although well accepted in the mainstream of medical care throughout East Asia, it is considered an alternative medical system in much of the western world.TCM practices include...
(TCM), a
spleen or
Pi ' onMouseout='HidePop("19744")' href="http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Pinyin">pinyin
Pinyin , or more formally Hanyu Pinyin , is currently the most commonly used romanization system for Standard Mandarin. Hanyu means the Chinese language, and pinyin means "phonetics", or more literally, "spelling sound" or "spelled sound"...
: pí) is distinct from the concept of western or modern
medicineMedicine is the art and science of healing. It encompasses a range of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
. It is more a way to describing a set of interrelated parts than an
anatomical organIn biology and anatomy, an organ is a collection of tissues joined in structural unit to serve a common function ....
, each organ cannot be explained fully unless its relationship and homeostasis with the other organs is understood. TCM also looks at the functions of the organs rather than fixed areas and, therefore, describes different organs that are not actually physical.
In the Zang-fu concept
As a "Zang" of the Zang-fu viscera, spleen is one of the
YinYin may refer to:*Yin , the last capital of the Yin Dynasty.*Yin , a rare Chinese surname of descendents from the dynasty above.*Yin, The fictional character from the Disney/Jetix show Yin Yang Yo!....
organs. It is the origin of blood, rules transformation and transportation. The spleen extracts essences from food and which later becomes Qi and blood (
Xie). It directs the ascending movement, prevents
extravasationExtravasation is the accidental administration of intravenously infused medicinal drugs into the surrounding tissue, either by leakage , or direct exposure...
s of blood, and dominates muscles. The spleen assists with water
metabolismMetabolism is the set of chemical reactions that occur in living organisms to maintain life. These processes allow organisms to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments. Metabolism is usually divided into two categories. Catabolism breaks down organic matter,...
, opens into the mouth and is manifest on the lips. It also houses the Yi (胰, pancreas). The peak energy time for the Spleen is 9-11am. The fluid secretion is
salivaSaliva is the watery and usually frothy substance produced in the mouths of humans and most other animals. Saliva is produced in and secreted from the salivary glands...
.