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Spleen Patterns — Teaching Deck (11 patterns)

Spleen-Qi deficiency

Spleen PatternEmpty (Deficiency) Pattern

Clinical Presentation

Poor appetite, slight abdominal distension after eating, tiredness, lassitude, desire to lie down, pale complexion, weakness of the limbs, loose stools.

Tongue: Pale. Pulse: Empty.
Important symptoms: poor appetite, tiredness, loose stools.
Arises from: There are not many patterns that are a precursor of this pattern, as Spleen-Qi deficiency itself is a ‘first-line’ pattern, i.e. one that arises first and that itself is the precursor to other patterns. However, Lung-Qi deficiency may be the precursor of Spleen-Qi deficiency.
Typically develops into: As mentioned above, Spleen-Qi deficiency is a precursor to many other patterns. First of all, a chronic Spleen-Qi deficiency may lead to the formation of Dampness and/or Phlegm. A Spleen-Qi deficiency may often lead to Blood deficiency as the deficient Food-Qi (Gu Qi) fails to produce enough Blood: this situation is much more common in women, in whom a Spleen-Qi deficiency frequently leads to Blood deficiency (the pattern of 'Spleen-Blood deficiency'). A Spleen-Qi deficiency is the precursor of Spleen-Yang deficiency, Spleen-Qi sinking, Spleen not holding Blood and Spleen-Blood deficiency. A Spleen-Qi deficiency may also affect the Heart, leading to Heart-Qi (and often Heart-Blood) deficiency, and the Lungs, leading to Lung-Qi deficiency. A chronic Spleen-Qi deficiency may also lead to Kidney-Yang deficiency, especially if there is Dampness.
Easy clinical tip: Tiredness and loose stools would be enough to diagnose Spleen-Qi deficiency.

Treatment

Principle: tonify Spleen-Qi

Ren-12 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi.
ST-36 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi (Stomach and Spleen closely related; Stomach-channel points often used to tonify the Spleen).
SP-3 ↑Source point of the Spleen — tonifies Spleen-Qi.
SP-6 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi. With ST-36 bilaterally + moxa: fast, noticeable energy boost.
BL-20 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi. With BL-21, especially important for chronic Spleen + Stomach deficiency.
BL-21 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi. With BL-20, especially important for chronic Spleen + Stomach deficiency.

Combination Points (and notes)

  • ST-36 + SP-6 bilaterally with moxa is the single fastest-acting combination here for boosting energy — worth leading with if time is short.
  • Together these six points span Front-Mu (Ren-12), Source (SP-3) and both relevant Back-Shu (BL-20/BL-21) categories — a genuinely comprehensive tonification strategy, not just a symptom-matched list.
Spleen Patterns — Study Deck

Spleen-Yang deficiency

Spleen PatternEmpty (Deficiency) Pattern

Clinical Presentation

Poor appetite, slight abdominal distension after eating, tiredness, lassitude, desire to lie down curled up, pale complexion, weakness of the limbs, loose stools, feeling cold, cold limbs, oedema.

Tongue: Pale and wet. Pulse: Deep-Weak.
Important symptoms: loose stools, feeling cold, cold limbs and tiredness.
Arises from: Spleen-Yang deficiency generally always derives from Spleen-Qi deficiency.
Typically develops into: The pathological developments of this pattern are the same as those for Spleen-Qi deficiency. Spleen-Yang deficiency is even more likely than Spleen-Qi deficiency to lead to the formation of Dampness and/or Phlegm.
Easy clinical tip: Loose stools, feeling cold and tiredness are enough to diagnose Spleen-Yang deficiency.

Treatment

Principle: tonify and warm Spleen-Yang

Ren-12 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi (as in Spleen-Qi deficiency, the base of this pattern).
ST-36 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi.
SP-3 ↑Source point of the Spleen — tonifies Spleen-Qi.
SP-6 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi.
BL-20 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi.
BL-21 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi.
SP-9 ↓Reduced to resolve Dampness in the Lower Burner — oedema is part of this pattern's own presentation, so Dampness is already present, not just a possible complication.
Ren-9 ↓Reduced to stimulate the Spleen to transform and transport fluids and resolve oedema.
ST-28 ↓Reduced to stimulate fluid transformation and transport and resolve oedema.
BL-22 ↓Reduced to stimulate fluid transformation and transport and resolve oedema.

Combination Points (and notes)

  • Builds directly on the Spleen-Qi deficiency point set, adding four points (SP-9, Ren-9, ST-28, BL-22) specifically for the oedema and fluid-transformation problems that mark the progression from Qi to Yang deficiency — unlike the six base points, these four are reduced, not tonified, since oedema in this pattern means Dampness is already present.
  • Moxa is not just applicable here but required — this is the point-set difference between warming Yang and merely tonifying Qi.
Spleen Patterns — Study Deck

Spleen-Qi sinking

Spleen PatternEmpty (Deficiency) Pattern

Clinical Presentation

Poor appetite, slight abdominal distension after eating, tiredness, lassitude, pale complexion, weakness of the limbs, loose stools, depression, tendency to obesity, a bearing-down sensation in the abdomen, prolapse of stomach, uterus, anus or bladder, frequency and urgency of urination, menorrhagia.

Tongue: Pale. Pulse: Weak. When the stomach is prolapsed, this can be felt on the middle right position on the pulse.
Important symptoms: bearing-down sensation, Weak pulse.
Arises from: These are the same as for Spleen-Qi deficiency. In addition, sinking of Kidney-Qi may lead to this pattern.
Typically develops into: These are the same as for Spleen-Qi deficiency. In addition, sinking of Spleen-Qi may lead to sinking of Kidney-Qi.
Easy clinical tip: A bearing-down sensation and a Weak pulse are enough to diagnose sinking of Spleen-Qi. Spleen-Qi sinking is the main cause of organ prolapse.

Treatment

Principle: tonify Spleen-Qi, raise Qi

Ren-12 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi (base Spleen-Qi deficiency point set).
ST-36 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi.
SP-3 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi.
SP-6 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi.
BL-20 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi.
BL-21 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi.
Du-20 ↑Raises Qi (use moxa cones) — particularly useful for uterine prolapse.
Ren-6 ↑Tonifies and raises Qi — used for all types of prolapse.
ST-21 ↑Tonifies the Stomach — used for prolapse of the stomach.
Du-1 ↑Used for prolapse of the anus.

Combination Points (and notes)

  • The three core points to lift Spleen-Qi are Du-20, Ren-12 and Ren-6 — the rest of the set targets which specific organ has prolapsed.
Spleen Patterns — Study Deck

Spleen not controlling Blood

Spleen PatternEmpty (Deficiency) Pattern

Clinical Presentation

Poor appetite, slight abdominal distension after eating, tiredness, lassitude, pale sallow complexion, weakness of the limbs, loose stools, depression, blood spots under the skin, blood in the urine or stools, excessive uterine bleeding.

Tongue: Pale. Pulse: Weak or Fine.
Important symptoms: Fine pulse, Pale tongue and bleeding.
Arises from: The precursors of this pattern are the same as those for Spleen-Qi deficiency.
Typically develops into: The pathological developments from this pattern are the same as for Spleen-Qi deficiency. In addition, if bleeding persists for some years, it may lead to Blood deficiency and/or Qi deficiency (as Blood is the mother of Qi).
Easy clinical tip: A Fine pulse, Pale tongue and bleeding are enough to diagnose Spleen not controlling Blood.

Treatment

Principle: tonify Spleen-Qi, stop bleeding

Ren-12 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi (base Spleen-Qi deficiency point set).
ST-36 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi.
SP-3 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi.
SP-6 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi.
BL-20 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi.
BL-21 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi.
SP-10 ↑Strengthens the Spleen's function of holding Blood, returns Blood to the vessels.
BL-17 ↑Tonifies Blood and stops bleeding, if needled.
SP-1 ↑With moxa cones, strengthens the Spleen's Blood-holding function and stops uterine bleeding — moxa here only when bleeding derives from Spleen-Qi deficiency.
SP-4 ↑Stops bleeding related to the Spleen.

Combination Points (and notes)

  • Main points to stop bleeding from deficient Spleen-Qi not holding Blood: Du-20, Ren-12, Ren-6 and SP-10.
Spleen Patterns — Study Deck

Spleen-Blood deficiency

Spleen PatternEmpty (Deficiency) Pattern

Clinical Presentation

Poor appetite, slight abdominal distension after eating, tiredness, lassitude, dull-pale complexion, weakness of the limbs, loose stools, depression, thin body, scanty periods or amenorrhoea, insomnia.

Tongue: Pale, Thin and slightly dry. Pulse: Choppy or Fine.
Important symptoms: tiredness, slight abdominal distension, scanty periods, Pale tongue.
Arises from: The pathological precursors of this pattern are the same as those for Spleen-Qi deficiency. In addition, a deficiency of Liver-Blood often facilitates the development of Spleen-Blood deficiency.
Typically develops into: The pathological developments from this pattern are the same as those for Spleen-Qi deficiency. In addition, Spleen-Blood deficiency can easily lead to Heart-Blood and Liver-Blood deficiency.
Easy clinical tip: Tiredness, slight abdominal distension and scanty periods are enough to diagnose Spleen-Blood deficiency.

Treatment

Principle: tonify Spleen-Qi, nourish Blood

Ren-12 ↑Tonifies the Spleen.
ST-36 ↑Tonifies the Spleen.
SP-3 ↑Tonifies the Spleen.
SP-6 ↑Tonifies the Spleen.
BL-20 ↑Tonifies the Spleen.
BL-21 ↑Tonifies the Spleen.
Ren-4 ↑Nourishes Blood, especially in relation to the Uterus.
BL-17 ↑With direct moxa cones, nourishes Blood.

Combination Points (and notes)

  • The logic here is additive: the same six-point Spleen-Qi tonification base, plus Ren-4 and BL-17 specifically to nourish Blood once Qi alone is being tonified isn't enough.
Spleen Patterns — Study Deck

Cold-Dampness invading the Spleen

Spleen PatternFull (Excess) Pattern

Clinical Presentation

Poor appetite, a feeling of fullness of the epigastrium and/or abdomen, a feeling of cold in the epigastrium which improves with the application of heat, a feeling of heaviness of the head and body, a sweetish taste or absence of taste, no thirst, loose stools, lassitude, tiredness, nausea, oedema, dull-white complexion, excessive white vaginal discharge.

Tongue: Pale with a sticky white coating. Pulse: Slippery-Slow.
Important symptoms: abdominal fullness, feeling of heaviness, sticky white tongue coating.
Arises from: In acute cases, there are no pathological precursors of this pattern as it is caused by an exterior invasion of Dampness. However, in reality, there is nearly always a pre-existing deficiency of Spleen-Qi, which predisposes the patient to an invasion of exterior Dampness.
Typically develops into: When Dampness obstructs the Spleen for some time, it inevitably leads to (or aggravates) a deficiency of the Spleen. Cold-Dampness may also lead to deficiency of Kidney-Yang if it persists for a long time. Finally, in some cases, Dampness in the Spleen may interfere with the free flow of Liver-Qi and lead to Liver-Qi stagnation. Spleen deficiency
Easy clinical tip: Abdominal fullness and a sticky white tongue coating would be enough to diagnose Cold-Dampness invading the Spleen.

Treatment

Principle: resolve Dampness, expel Cold

SP-9 ↓Resolves Dampness from the Lower Burner.
SP-6 ↓Resolves Dampness.
SP-3 ↓Resolves Dampness.
Ren-12 ↑Tonifies the Spleen to resolve Dampness.
ST-8 ↓Resolves Dampness from the head — good for heaviness of the head or headache from Dampness.
BL-22 ↓Resolves Dampness, particularly from the Lower Burner.
BL-20 ↑Tonifies the Spleen.
Ren-9 ↓Resolves Dampness by stimulating fluid transformation; with Ren-11 and ST-22, resolves Dampness from the Middle Burner.
Ren-11 ↓With Ren-9 and ST-22, resolves Dampness from the Middle Burner.
ST-22 ↓With Ren-9 and Ren-11, resolves Dampness from the Middle Burner.
ST-28 ↓Resolves Dampness from the Lower Burner and the Uterus.

Combination Points (and notes)

  • A genuinely mixed-technique pattern: the instruction is reduce (or even) throughout, except the two points that tonify the Spleen (Ren-12, BL-20), which are reinforced — resolving the Excess pathogen without further weakening the Spleen that let it in.
Spleen Patterns — Study Deck

Damp-Heat invading the Spleen

Spleen PatternFull (Excess) Pattern

Clinical Presentation

A feeling of fullness of the epigastrium and/or lower abdomen, epigastric and/or abdominal pain, poor appetite, a feeling of heaviness, thirst without desire to drink, nausea, vomiting, loose stools with offensive odour, burning sensation in the anus, a feeling of heat, scanty dark urine, low-grade fever, dull headache with feeling of heaviness of the head, dull-yellow complexion like tangerine peel, yellow sclera of the eyes, oily sweat, bitter taste, itchy skin or skin eruptions, sweating which does not relieve the fever and does not lead to the clearing of Heat.

Tongue: Red with sticky yellow coating. Pulse: Slippery-Rapid.
Important symptoms: abdominal fullness, feeling of heaviness, sticky yellow coating.
Arises from: In acute cases, there are no pathological precursors of this pattern as it is caused by an exterior invasion of Damp-Heat. The Heat part of Damp-Heat can further aggravate the Dampness by condensing fluids or it may also, in time, lead to the formation of Phlegm.
Easy clinical tip: Abdominal fullness and a sticky yellow tongue coating would be enough to diagnose Damp-Heat invading the Spleen.

Treatment

Principle: resolve Dampness, clear Heat

SP-9 ↓Resolves Dampness and Damp-Heat from the Lower Burner.
SP-6 ↓Resolves Dampness and Damp-Heat from the Lower Burner.
Du-9 ↓Resolves Damp-Heat.
L.I.-11 ↓Clears Heat and resolves Dampness.
BL-20 ↑Tonifies the Spleen.
G.B.-34 ↓Resolves Damp-Heat.
Ren-9 ↓Resolves Dampness by stimulating fluid transformation; with Ren-11 and ST-22, resolves Dampness from the Middle Burner.
Ren-11 ↓With Ren-9 and ST-22, resolves Dampness from the Middle Burner.
ST-22 ↓With Ren-9 and Ren-11, resolves Dampness from the Middle Burner.
ST-28 ↓With BL-22, resolves Dampness from the Lower Burner.
BL-22 ↓With ST-28, resolves Dampness from the Lower Burner.

Combination Points (and notes)

  • Same reduce-throughout-except-BL-20 logic as Cold-Dampness invading the Spleen, but no moxa at all here — moxa would feed the Heat component of this pattern.
Spleen Patterns — Study Deck

Spleen- and Heart-Blood deficiency

Spleen PatternCombined Pattern

Clinical Presentation

Palpitations, dizziness, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, poor memory, anxiety, propensity to be startled, dull-pale complexion, pale lips, tiredness, weak muscles, loose stools, poor appetite, scanty periods.

Tongue: Pale and Thin. Pulse: Choppy or Fine.
Important symptoms: palpitations, insomnia, tiredness, loose stools, scanty periods.
Arises from: Both Spleen- and Lung-Qi deficiency are usually ‘firstline’ patterns and therefore do not often have pathological precursors as they themselves are usually precursor patterns.
Typically develops into: Long-term Spleen-Qi deficiency often leads to the formation of Dampness and/or Phlegm. Lung-Qi
Easy clinical tip: Palpitations, insomnia, loose stools and scanty periods would be enough to diagnose Spleen- and Heart-Blood deficiency.

Treatment

Principle: tonify Spleen-Qi and Heart-Blood, calm the Mind

HE-7 ↑Nourishes Heart-Blood and calms the Mind.
P-6 ↑Tonifies Heart-Qi and calms the Mind.
Ren-14 ↑Tonifies Heart-Blood and calms the Mind — particularly useful with pronounced anxiety.
Ren-15 ↑Tonifies Heart-Blood and calms the Mind — particularly useful with pronounced anxiety.
Ren-4 ↑Tonifies Blood.
BL-17 ↑Tonifies Blood (with moxa) — the Gathering (Hui) point for Blood.
BL-20 ↑Tonifies Blood — the Back-Shu point for the Spleen, tonifies Spleen-Qi to produce more Blood; also tonifies Spleen-Qi and Spleen-Blood directly.
Ren-12 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi and Spleen-Blood.
ST-36 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi and Spleen-Blood.
SP-6 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi and Spleen-Blood.

Combination Points (and notes)

  • Cleanly splits into two functional groups: HE-7/P-6/Ren-14/Ren-15 address the Heart and Mind directly, while BL-20/Ren-12/ST-36/SP-6 (with Ren-4/BL-17) rebuild the Blood supply at its Spleen source — treating the Deficiency from both ends at once.
Spleen Patterns — Study Deck

Spleen- and Lung-Qi deficiency

Spleen PatternCombined Pattern

Clinical Presentation

Poor appetite, slight abdominal distension after eating, tiredness, lassitude, pale complexion, weakness of the limbs, loose stools, tendency to obesity, slight shortness of breath, slight cough, weak voice, spontaneous daytime sweating, dislike of speaking, propensity to catch colds, dislike of cold.

Tongue: Pale. Pulse: Empty, especially on the right side.
Important symptoms: poor appetite, tiredness and breathlessness.
Arises from: Both Spleen- and Lung-Qi deficiency are usually ‘firstline’ patterns and therefore do not often have pathological precursors as they themselves are usually precursor patterns.
Typically develops into: Long-term Spleen-Qi deficiency often leads to the formation of Dampness and/or Phlegm.
Easy clinical tip: Poor appetite, tiredness and shortness of breath would be enough to diagnose Spleen- and Lung-Qi deficiency.

Treatment

Principle: tonify Lung- and Spleen-Qi

LU-9 ↑Tonifies Lung-Qi.
BL-13 ↑Tonifies Lung-Qi.
LU-7 ↑Tonifies Lung-Qi and restores its descending.
Du-12 ↑Tonifies Lung-Qi, particularly for chronic conditions.
Ren-6 ↑Tonifies Qi in general — the Lung channel flows down to this region.
ST-36 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi.
Ren-12 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi.
SP-3 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi.
SP-6 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi.
BL-20 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi.
BL-21 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi.

Combination Points (and notes)

  • A clean split: LU-9/BL-13/LU-7/Du-12/Ren-6 tonify the Lung side, the remaining six points are the familiar Spleen-Qi tonification base — this pattern is essentially two Empty patterns treated in the same session.
Spleen Patterns — Study Deck

Spleen- and Liver-Blood deficiency

Spleen PatternCombined Pattern

Clinical Presentation

Poor appetite, slight abdominal distension after eating, tiredness, lassitude, dull-pale complexion, weakness of the limbs, loose stools, thin body, scanty periods or amenorrhoea, insomnia, dizziness, numbness of limbs, blurred vision, 'floaters' in eyes, diminished night vision, pale lips, muscular weakness, cramps, withered and brittle nails, dry hair and skin, slight depression, a feeling of aimlessness.

Tongue: Pale body especially on the sides, which, in extreme cases, can assume an orange colour, and dry. Pulse: Choppy or Fine.
Important symptoms: loose stools, scanty periods, blurred vision and pale sides of the tongue.
Arises from: Spleen-Qi deficiency always precedes Spleen-Blood deficiency.
Typically develops into: Both Spleen-Blood and Liver-Blood deficiency may lead to Heart-Blood deficiency.
Easy clinical tip: Loose stools, scanty periods and blurred vision would be enough to diagnose Spleen- and Liver-Blood deficiency.

Treatment

Principle: tonify Spleen-Qi, nourish Liver-Blood

LIV-8 ↑Tonifies Liver-Blood.
SP-6 ↑Tonifies Liver-Blood.
Ren-4 ↑Nourishes Blood.
BL-18 ↑Nourishes Liver-Blood.
BL-23 ↑Nourishes Liver-Blood.
Ren-12 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi.
ST-36 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi.
SP-3 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi.
BL-20 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi.
BL-21 ↑Tonifies Spleen-Qi.
BL-17 ↑Nourishes Blood (with direct moxa).

Combination Points (and notes)

  • Same additive logic as the other Combined-Blood patterns: LIV-8/BL-18/BL-23 target the Liver-Blood side specifically, layered onto the familiar Spleen-Qi tonification base.
Spleen Patterns — Study Deck

Obstruction of Spleen by Dampness with stagnation of Liver-Qi

Spleen PatternCombined Pattern

Clinical Presentation

A feeling of oppression and fullness of the epigastrium, nausea, no appetite, loose stools, a feeling of heaviness, dry mouth without desire to drink, sallow complexion, hypochondrial pain, a sticky taste, epigastric and hypochondrial distension, irritability.

Tongue: Thick sticky yellow coating. Pulse: Slippery-Wiry.
Important symptoms: fullness of epigastrium, hypochondrial distension and a thick sticky yellow tongue coating.
Arises from: Spleen-Qi deficiency may lead to the formation of Dampness: this obstructs the Middle Burner and may interfere with the free flow of Liver-Qi.
Typically develops into: Dampness in the Middle Burner may, in time, give rise to Phlegm. Stagnation of Liver-Qi may lead to Liver-Blood stasis or to Heat.
Easy clinical tip: Fullness of epigastrium, hypochondrial distension and a thick sticky yellow tongue coating are enough to diagnose this pattern.

Treatment

Principle: resolve Dampness, promote the smooth flow of Liver-Qi, clear Heat

Ren-12 ↑Tonifies the Spleen to resolve Dampness.
SP-6 ↓Resolves Dampness.
SP-3 ↓Resolves Dampness.
SP-9 ↑Resolves Dampness (grouped with SP-6/SP-3 in the Explanation, but reinforced per the pattern's own Method statement, alongside the other Spleen-tonifying points).
BL-20 ↑Tonifies the Spleen to resolve Dampness.
LIV-13 ↓Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi and resolves Dampness from the Middle Burner.
LIV-14 ↓Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi.
G.B.-24 ↓Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi and the secretion of bile.
G.B.-34 ↓Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi in the Middle Burner.
LIV-3 ↓Promotes the smooth flow of Liver-Qi.
ST-19 ↑Eliminates Dampness from the Middle Burner.

Combination Points (and notes)

  • The Method is explicit and worth teaching directly: reduce all Liver/Gall Bladder channel points plus SP-6 and SP-3 (to resolve Dampness and unblock Liver-Qi); reinforce the remaining points (to tonify the Spleen underneath the obstruction) — treating the Excess pathogen and the Deficiency that allowed it in with opposite techniques in the same session.
Spleen Patterns — Study Deck

Spleen Patterns — At a Glance

Diagnostic Tip, Pattern by Pattern

Spleen-Qi deficiencyTiredness and loose stools, with a Pale tongue and an Empty pulse.
Spleen-Yang deficiencyLoose stools, tiredness and feeling cold, with a Pale, wet tongue.
Spleen-Qi sinkingBearing-down sensation, Weak pulse and other symptoms of Spleen-Qi deficiency.
Spleen not controlling BloodFine pulse, Pale tongue and bleeding.
Spleen-Blood deficiencyTiredness, slight abdominal distension and scanty periods.
Cold-Dampness invading the SpleenAbdominal fullness and a sticky white tongue coating.
Damp-Heat invading the SpleenAbdominal fullness and a sticky yellow tongue coating.
Spleen- and Heart-Blood deficiencyPalpitations, insomnia, loose stools and scanty periods.
Spleen- and Lung-Qi deficiencyPoor appetite, tiredness and shortness of breath.
Spleen- and Liver-Blood deficiencyLoose stools, scanty periods and blurred vision.
Obstruction of Spleen by Dampness with stagnation of Liver-QiFullness of the epigastrium, hypochondrial distension and a thick sticky yellow tongue coating.

How to Think About It (reasoning framework)

  • Spleen-Qi deficiency is the nucleus of every other Spleen Deficiency pattern: start from the general signs of Qi deficiency (tiredness, Pale tongue, Empty pulse), add that digestive symptoms dominate for the Spleen specifically (poor appetite, loose stools) — then each further pattern adds just one distinguishing feature on top: Spleen-Yang deficiency adds cold limbs; Spleen-Qi sinking adds prolapse; Spleen not controlling Blood adds bleeding; Spleen-Blood deficiency adds scanty periods.
  • Dampness in the Spleen (Cold-Dampness / Damp-Heat) follows its own template: start from the general signs of Dampness (heaviness, abdominal fullness, sticky tongue coating, Slippery pulse), add that digestive symptoms again dominate (nausea, poor appetite, epigastric fullness) — Cold-Dampness adds cold limbs and feeling cold, Damp-Heat adds feeling of heat and thirst without desire to drink. Remember Dampness is a Full pattern, reflected in a thick sticky coating and a Slippery-Full pulse.
Spleen Patterns — Study Deck