Digestive disorders, appetite irregularities, obesity, abdominal pain, bloating, allergies, Candida, constipation, diarrhoea and dysentery, Giardia, haemorrhoids and rectal prolapse, IBS, reflux and heartburn, nausea, vomiting, mouth ulcers, gingivitis and halitosis, toothache

In Western medicine, the gastrointestinal system is seen primarily as a conduit for the passage of food and its digestion, each part of the system focusing on one or more of the functions of ingestion, secretion, digestion, absorption, storage and elimination.

In Oriental medicine the gastrointestinal system is linked primarily to the function of the Spleen, which has a sphere of influence that encompasses many functions that extend beyond the organ itself. The Five-element theory (LINK at the left of this page), that forms one of the foundations of oriental medicine, includes a system of correspondences that links many different and apparently unrelated qualities under each element, particularly linking mankind and nature. Within this framework the Spleen and Stomach systems are ascribed to the element of Earth, which then also corresponds to the season of late summer and climatic damp (when the spleen energy is deficient then damp is produced within the body in the form of phlegm and mucous that collects in various locations such as in the skin (eczema) or the lungs (chronic bronchitis) etc), the colour yellow and the sweet flavour (the earth element is about nurturing and foods that nourish the earth element tend to be naturally sweet and yellow in colour such as millet, chickpeas, sweet potato, parsnips, corn, carrots and pumpkin while excessive sweets will damage the earth element), and the emotion of pensiveness (reflecting upon and then assimilating our life experiences is as important as assimilating the food we eat).

Oriental medicine understands the functions of the Spleen energy as:

Ruling transformation and transportation - Food is transformed into energy, blood and body fluids and transported around the body by the Spleen. This is the foundation of our day-to-day condition (and at a metaphysical level with our mental and emotional conditioning). When the Spleen is not functioning at an optimal level or if the food consumed does not suit your condition or is of poor quality then less energy is produced and we feel easily fatigued and heavy in body.

Governing blood - The spleen keeps the blood flowing within the vessels and deficiency often results in bruising that occurs too easily.

Ruling muscles and flesh - the health of the muscles and flesh is dependent upon an efficient digestive system to appropriately utilise the micronutrients within the food we eat.

Holding up the organs - Prolapse of the uterus, rectum and other organs may be due to weakness of the Spleen energy.

Housing the intellect - The Spleen is known as the 'Palace of Thought' and so influences clarity of thought, short-term memory and the ability to focus. Damp within the body clouds the thinking while too much thinking, as in obsession or worry, can damage the spleen.

Opening into the mouth - mouth ulcers and bleeding gums can be due to problems with the spleen and stomach.