"Why Your Digestive Health Depends on More Than Just the Gut – The TCM Perspective"

caulocare
May 22
3 min read

**"How Ancient Chinese Wisdom Explains Your Modern Gut Problems"**

🌿 The Digestive System in Traditional Chinese Medicine:

The Role of the Spleen, Stomach, and Intestines in the Transformation of Life Energy

By Dr. Phumlarp Caulo | Caulo Care Acupuncture

✨ Introduction

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), digestion is not merely about the stomach's ability to break down food or the intestines' capacity for absorption. It is a sophisticated energetic process—one that is deeply influenced by the Spleen and its dynamic interaction with the Stomach and Intestines. These organs are viewed not only as physical structures but as energetic centers responsible for transforming food into vital substances like Qi (life energy), blood, and bodily fluids that nourish the entire body.

🌀 The Spleen and Stomach: The Core of Transformation

In TCM, the Spleen is not the anatomical spleen known in Western medicine. Instead, it represents the functional power of “movement and transformation” of nutrients. The Stomach, meanwhile, is in charge of “rotting and ripening” food and “downbearing” it to the intestines.

Together, these organs:

Break down food and liquids.
Transform and transport nutrients into usable energy (Qi).
Distribute nourishment to the organs, muscles, and tissues.

When the Spleen is weak, this process becomes disrupted, often resulting in:

Bloating
Fatigue
Loose stools
Poor nutrient absorption
Accumulation of phlegm and dampness (such as water retention or mucous conditions)

🌉 The Small and Large Intestines: The Gatekeepers of Purity and Waste

In TCM:

The Small Intestine is responsible for “separating the clear from the turbid”, i.e., filtering out usable nutrients from waste.
The Large Intestine handles the transformation and elimination of waste from the body.

These organs are energetically linked:

The Small Intestine connects with the Heart, reflecting emotional and perceptual clarity.
The Large Intestine connects with the Lungs, signifying the release of both physical and emotional burdens. This illustrates the TCM concept of interior–exterior relationships between paired organs.

📜 Ancient Texts and TCM Philosophy

According to the ancient medical classic, Huangdi Neijing – Lingshu (六节藏论):

“The Spleen, Stomach, Small Intestine, and Large Intestine are vessels that transform the five flavors and discharge the turbid.”

This quote underscores the energetic view of digestion in TCM. Food is not just metabolized—it is transformed into life essence.

🏥 Clinical Applications and Healing Principles

Digestive disorders such as:

Abdominal distention
Dampness in the intestines (e.g., excessive fluid)
Accumulation of phlegm and mucus

…are often linked to Spleen deficiency rather than localized intestinal issues alone.

In clinical TCM, treatment strategies emphasize:

Tonifying the Spleen and Stomach
Promoting Qi movement and fluid transformation
Resolving dampness and phlegm

Common herbs used for these purposes include:

Fu Ling (Poria) – to drain dampness and strengthen the Spleen
Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger) – to warm the middle and expel cold
Dang Shen (Codonopsis) – to tonify Qi and promote digestion

🔍 A Note on Diagnosis in TCM

Unlike modern biomedicine, TCM does not diagnose solely based on anatomical location. A person with chronic diarrhea may not be treated for a “bowel disease” per se. Instead, the practitioner may diagnose Spleen Qi Deficiency and direct treatment accordingly. This holistic approach reflects the TCM philosophy that the root of disease often lies in energetic imbalance, not just in isolated tissue dysfunction.

🧭 Conclusion

Digestive health in Traditional Chinese Medicine is not merely about the organs—it is about the flow of energy, the transformation of essence, and the balance of Yin and Yang.

At Caulo Care Acupuncture, we integrate ancient wisdom with modern understanding to restore harmony to your digestive system, starting at the root—by strengthening the Spleen, regulating the Stomach, and harmonizing the intestines.

📍 Dr. Phumlarp Caulo

Founder, Caulo Care Acupuncture

Dedicated to Integrative Healing in Body, Mind, and Spirit

This information is only educational and should not be construed as medical advice.

Everything must be balanced, and the suggestions may not apply to you.

A specialist doctor should be consulted for any medical advice or diagnosis.

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT NOW!

Acupuncture near me at Forest Hill, NY

🔶🔷🔶🔷🔶🔷🔶🔷🔶🔷🔶🔷

Dr. Phumlarp Caulo LA,c, MAc. OM, DAHM

Doctor of Acupuncture/Chinese Medicine

Caulo Care Acupuncture