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Spleen Meridian, Affected by Cancer Full Moons

Together with the Stomach meridian, the Spleen meridian (also working on the Pancreas) is associated with the Earth Element in Chinese medicine.

Every full moon in Cancer will affect this meridian, opening up a window of opportunity to more deeply balance this meridian, but also opening up a time where we might feel its imbalances most. These windows last from approximately a week before to 4-5 days after – some people will be more sensitive to it and experience a longer period of being affected.

As you can see in the below images, the Spleen meridian runs very close to the Stomach meridian.
  
The Spleen has quite a wide range of functions in the body, ranging from digestion to the immune system, preserving muscle tone and taking care of our sensuality. The Spleen basically manufactures Qi energy (prana) from the food we eat: it plays a central role in the production of blood and the extraction of prana (Qi energy, life force). Its role is to transform and move foods, liquids and thoughts (!) in the body (all that we consider ‘digesting’). This is why the Spleen is also called ‘the source of postnatal (i.e. acquired, or ‘not born with’) Qi/Prana’. It sends the pranic essence to the lungs and heart plus distributes nutrients through the blood to every cell.
The spleen houses the body’s thoughts and intentions (Yi) – hence why one of the imbalances comes out as overthinking or worrying – and is responsible for sharp analytical thinking, memory, cognition, intelligence and ideas.
The spleen also plays a primary role in the lymphatic system (it is the largest organ of the lymphatic system) and immune system as it helps the body recognise foreign invaders. It keeps our tissues, muscles, and thoughts moist, supple, adaptable. The spleen is responsible for the removal of old red blood cells and the production and storage of white blood cells, which cleanse pathogenic bacteria from our blood. Functionally, the spleen is equivalent to a large lymph node, with a focus on cleansing our blood and thus aiding immunity.
The Spleen is in charge of us being centred and feeling well with who we are and where we are on this planet, providing a stable ‘home environment’ for ourselves. If we have that stability, we are able to focus our minds keenly and sharply.
The Spleen is known as the Mother Organ of the physical body (as it nourishes the other organs) and relates to the earth element. It governs our sense of taste and ‘true nourishment’.
It also regulates our different bio-rhythms, including women’s menstrual cycles.
The sweetness of life is needed to feel nourished, grounded and balanced in life. The spleen is associated with the Earth element, and with the energy of a Mother – and to take good care of it, think of what you could associate with this:
  • warm food (broths, soups)
  • lightly cooked vegetables, especially nourishing root vegetables (see below)
  • a stable home environment
  • calm eating habits
  • regular mealtimes
  • a comfortable daily routine
  • chewing your food well
  • doing one thing at a time instead of multi-tasking (or eating while doing something else)
  • mindful living
  • taking a break, doing nothing
Worry and overthinking are the Spleen’s greatest enemies and cause spleen depletion.
Follow the suggestions below to increase the experience of a sweet life (without needing sugar or artificial sweeteners!).
Symptoms of an Interrupted Flow, Imbalance of, or Blockage in the Spleen Meridian: 
  • general muscle tightness
  • muscle weakness
  • digestion problems & stomach pain
  • abdominal bloating
  • worry
  • (mental) stress
  • depression
  • craving for news and reading
  • overeating
  • irregular meals
  • not being able to relax at mealtimes
  • thinking all the time, overthinking
  • compulsive behaviour
  • cold hands
  • being distracted, not finishing things
  • chronic fatigue
  • exhaustion (physical and/or mental)
  • mental sluggishness
  • Alzheimer’s
  • dementia
  • diabetes
  • obesity
  • avoiding protein in your meals
  • nightmares
  • oedema
  • cold hands & feet
  • too much standing
  • craving cold or raw food (detrimental to the spleen)
  • easy bruising
  • dizziness
  • pale complexion
  • sleepwalking
  • vaginal discharge
Things to Eat:
All yellow/orange fruits and vegetables (squash, pumpkin, parsnip, carrots, papaya, banana, oranges, persimmons, …).
To promote the feeling of nurturing oneself, eat naturally sweet foods. Ripe bananas would be an excellent food for balancing this meridian.
Another great food for the spleen is a dish of millet with Chinese dates and some pumpkin or squash cooked to a soup.
Sweet flavours are known as the flavours of harmony and are associated with Mother Earth. If the spleen is in distress, sweet flavours can harmonise and benefit the central Qi. If, however, one uses sweet foods excessively, they will start producing phlegm, obstruct transformation and harm the flesh of the body, which in turn will lead to swelling, bloating, obesity, and diabetes.
Things to Avoid/Reduce:
  • Living in the past
  • Worrying
  • Overthinking
  • Too much work/stress
  • Multi-tasking
  • Standing while you work
  • Irregular mealtimes
  • Chaotic schedule
  • Raw foods, fruit juices, milk products
  • Cold foods and drinks, iced drinks
  • Overeating
  • Caffeine (caffeine acts as ‘False Qi’, which can lead to high blood pressure, agitation, depression and heart palpitations)
  • Honey
  • Chocolate
  • Sugars, sweets
  • Glycemic foods
  • Processed foods
Tips:
  • Hold and massage the little finger of each hand for 2 minutes. This can be done many times throughout the day.
  • Ishnaan (cold shower), with special emphasis on the stomach area (read more about cold ishnaan on our blog)
Yoga for the Spleen:
  • Horse stand: Stand with feet firmly on the ground, knees slightly bent, hands loosely on the thighs, body relaxed. Close the eyes, visualize and feel the energy flowing from deep within the earth upwards through the soles of your feet and continuing up.
  • All pranayama (breathing exercises), but especially Sitali Pranayam, which takes poison away from the spleen, liver and digestive system.
  • Camel Pose
  • Back Platform
  • Locust Pose: Lie on your stomach with your chin on the ground. Make fists and place them underneath your groin and lift your legs up. Hold with long deep breathing. Relax in the posture and visualize the colour YELLOW in your body, up to 10 minutes.
 
Meditation Malas / Crystals that will support the Spleen:
Expanded from information on www.breathislife.com & www.fiveseasonsmedicine.com .