The Stomach and Spleen belong to Earth and are the center or the axis on which all bodily processes rely.

• They belong to the Middle Burner and from them depends the nutrition of all organs.
• They complement each other.
• They are the source of Qi and Blood

The Spleen is Yin

• Spleen-Qi ascends.
• When ascending, Spleen-Qi sends the pure essences to the Lungs and Heart where they are transformed into Qi and Blood.
• It transforms and transports the food essences.
• The activity of transforming and transporting that Spleen-Qi performs is a Yang function.

The Stomach is Yang

• Stomach-Qi descends.
• When descending, Stomach-Qi sends the impure products of food to the intestines.
• Its function is to mix the food and fluids.
• In this way it is the source of the organic fluids, this is a Yin activity.

Spleen Yang-Qi moves the pure products upward, Stomach Yin-Qi is quiet sending the impure downward.

The Stomach likes dampness and the Spleen likes dryness.

Back to: Theory of Qi Transformations