Living with Oriental Medicine: Staying Energetic with Acupuncture and Moxibustion - Is the Key to Concentration the "Spleen"? The Relationship Between Concentration and Spleen Qi Deficiency
"I just can't seem to concentrate..." Regarding such concerns,
in a previous article titled ""I just can't seem to concentrate..." What is the cause?,"
we introduced several types of causes from the perspective of Oriental medicine.
This time, we will discuss the "Spleen Qi Deficiency type" in detail.
In this article, we will also introduce the characteristics of Spleen Qi Deficiency and examples of improvement through acupuncture and moxibustion.
Please read until the end.
1. What is the "Spleen" in Oriental medicine?
When you hear "Spleen," many people might think of the spleen in Western medicine.
The "Spleen" in Oriental medicine is slightly different from that in Western medicine; it refers to the entire digestive and absorptive system that digests food and generates the energy (Qi) that powers the whole body.
Properly absorbing nutrients obtained from meals to create "Qi" and "Blood."
The function of the Spleen is the key to that process.
If the Spleen is healthy, food is efficiently converted into energy, and both body and mind move lightly.
Conversely, if the Spleen weakens, energy production stalls, and you may fall into a state where you cannot recover from fatigue no matter how much you rest, cannot maintain concentration, or lack motivation.
2. What is Spleen Qi Deficiency? - A state of "unable to move due to lack of fuel"
Spleen Qi Deficiency refers to the state mentioned earlier where the function of the Spleen has declined.
When the Spleen's function weakens, the necessary energy is not produced, and both the body and mind become like they have run out of fuel.
As a result, ailments such as "easily fatigued," "cannot concentrate," and "lack of motivation" tend to appear.
◆ Common symptoms
● Easily fatigued and unable to get going in the morning
● Tendency to feel sleepy after meals
● Pale complexion and tendency to swell
● Lack of appetite, or stomach feels heavy after eating even a little
● Loose stools or tendency toward diarrhea
These symptoms may arise because the power of digestion and absorption has dropped, and "Qi" is not being sufficiently produced.
Rather than a mental problem, it is considered to be related to an energy deficiency occurring as a bodily mechanism.
To use an analogy, it is like a car continuing to run with little gasoline. It is hard to gain speed even when pressing the accelerator, and it is easy to stop along the way—in Oriental medicine, this is understood as a tendency toward "Spleen Qi Deficiency."
3. Why does Spleen Qi Deficiency occur?
The main causes that weaken the Spleen's function lie in lifestyle habits and stress.
Busy schedules and irregular eating habits cause the Spleen to become exhausted without you even realizing it.
① Disordered eating habits
The Spleen prefers a warm and calm environment.
Consuming too many cold drinks or sweets dulls the Spleen's function and makes it easy for "Dampness" to accumulate in the body.
This can be a cause of lethargy and decreased concentration.
② Overwork and lack of sleep
If there is little time to rest, there is no surplus capacity to create energy.
For those with Spleen Qi Deficiency, if overwork and lack of sleep continue, they get closer and closer to a state of running out of fuel.
③ Stress and overthinking
In Oriental medicine, "worrying (thought)" is considered to damage the Spleen.
Furthermore, when the Spleen weakens, the function of the Heart (which governs mental activity) also weakens, leading to constant, lingering worry.
A vicious cycle of "overthinking weakens the Spleen, and a weak Spleen leads to even more overthinking" is also commonly seen.
④ Constitution and aging
People who have had a weak stomach and intestines from the start, those with a frail constitution, and those whose metabolism has dropped with age also tend to be prone to Spleen Qi Deficiency.
In other words, the various physical ailments caused by Spleen Qi Deficiency are not problems of willpower or grit, but physical changes that occur due to daily accumulation.
4. Voices of improvement through acupuncture and moxibustion treatment
30s female: Decreased vitality, unable to concentrate on work, chronic fatigue that won't go away
[Chief Complaint]
"I feel no vitality, no motivation, and I am troubled by a constant feeling of lethargy and fatigue that I can't shake. I know I'm busy at work and have deadlines, but I can't organize my thoughts or concentrate, so I can't reach any conclusions. I've been busy with work lately and haven't been eating properly either," she complains.
[Associated Symptoms]
Pale complexion, cold hands and feet, sleepiness after meals, soft stools, sometimes prone to diarrhea, lightheadedness, and dizziness.
Mental distress is also observed, such as feeling anxious, unable to calm down, and thoughts that won't leave her head.
[Diagnosis]
Spleen Deficiency leading to Qi and Blood insufficiency.
A state where the production of Qi and Blood is insufficient due to a decline in the transport and transformation function of the Spleen and Stomach, impairing the nourishment of the whole body and mental stability.
[Treatment Principle]
Strengthen the Spleen and replenish Qi, supplement Qi and nourish Blood.
Regulate the function of the Spleen and Stomach, enrich Qi and Blood, and aim for mental and physical stability.
[Treatment]
As a point of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment, we selected one acupoint according to the body's condition that enhances the function of the Spleen and Stomach while stabilizing the mind, and performed regular treatment once a week.
【Progress】
After two months of continuous treatment, fatigue has decreased, and a brightness has returned to the patient's expression.
Anxiety and irritability have also eased, and the patient reports, "I am now able to concentrate on my work."
5. Lifestyle Habits to Care for the Spleen - Bad Habits and How to Improve Them
To make the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment last longer, it is important to care for your spleen in your daily life.
NG1: Regularly drinking cold beverages and iced coffee
→ This cools the spleen and weakens its function.
★ Improvement Tips
Choose room temperature or warm drinks. Barley tea and bancha (coarse green tea) are especially gentle on the body and are recommended. If you really must have something cold, the key is to mix in a little room-temperature water or drink it slowly.
NG2: Skipping meals or just eating a sweet bun
→ This leads to a lack of energy sources, making you more prone to strong drowsiness in the afternoon.
★ Improvement Tips
Be mindful of eating meals that are easy to digest, such as warm miso soup or rice porridge. Incorporating rice, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes, which support the spleen, is effective.
NG3: Reaching for sweets whenever you feel tired
→ Even if it gives you a temporary boost, it further weakens the spleen.
★ Improvement Tips
Try consuming natural sweetness in moderation, such as nuts or dried fruits. Relaxing with a warm cup of tea is also effective.
NG4: Lack of sleep and overthinking
→ The spleen cannot recover in time, leading to reduced concentration the next day.
★ Improvement Tips
Put your smartphone away in the evening.
Drinking a cup of warm water before bed will warm your body and lead to a good night's sleep.
Even changing small habits will ensure your body recovers.
If you start noticing changes like "I feel lighter lately" or "My head feels clear from the morning," it may be proof that your spleen is regaining its vitality.
When your body is in balance, your mind will naturally become more positive.
6. Summary
"I can't concentrate," "My head feels foggy," "I have no motivation"—.
These may be signs that your spleen is tired.
Before blaming yourself for "just being lazy," try taking care of your body first.
Once you balance your spleen and are able to produce energy properly, your concentration and vitality will return naturally.
While adjusting your daily diet and sleep, why not also incorporate acupuncture and moxibustion care as needed?
Once your Qi and blood begin to circulate, you can return to being the "you who can concentrate" once again.
Thank you for reading until the end.
Let's get healthy in both body and mind with acupuncture and moxibustion!
Acupuncture and Moxibustion Ayakazari
5 minutes from Chiba Station, by appointment only, acupuncture and moxibustion clinic specializing in women and children
Rapport Chiba Shinmachi 202, 1-6 Shinmachi, Chuo-ku, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture
TEL: 070-8525-6132
Image source: https://www.photo-ac.com/
Reference materials: Textbook of Oriental Medicine, MSD Manual (Home Edition) Web Version, Oriental Nutrition New Book, Encyclopedia of Food Efficacy