The spleen's main functions include transporting nutrients from food, distributing fluids throughout the body, and governing blood. Spleen deficiency disrupts these functions, leading to malnutrition and poor qi and blood circulation, which manifests as "deficiency." It also impairs the body's water metabolism, causing dampness to accumulate and leading to rashes. When dampness accumulates on the tongue, it can cause the tongue to appear "swollen" with tooth marks on its edges. Individuals with spleen deficiency should pay attention to dietary conditioning and avoid certain foods.
Foods to Avoid for Spleen Deficiency
1. River Snails
They are cold in nature and sweet and salty in flavor. Due to their strong cooling nature, the book "Sui Xi Ju Yin Shi Pu" explicitly warns: "Eating too much harms the middle jiao; it is contraindicated for those with spleen deficiency."
Clam meat is cold in nature and sweet and salty in flavor. It can nourish yin and clear heat, but it is not suitable for those with spleen deficiency to eat in large amounts, as it can easily damage the spleen and stomach's yang energy. Therefore, Wang Mengying, a dietary physician of the Qing Dynasty, warned in "Sui Xi Ju Yin Shi Pu": "Clams are sweet, salty, and cold. Eating too much harms the middle jiao; it is contraindicated for those with spleen deficiency and loose stools."
2. Goji Berries
They are neutral in nature and sweet in flavor. However, some ancient physicians also considered goji berries to be cold. For example, the "Bie Lu" describes them as "slightly cold." The "Shi Liao Ben Cao" states they are "cold and non-toxic." The "Ben Cao Qiu Zhen" also says: "Goji berries are sweet, cold, and moistening." For this reason, they should be avoided by those with a weak spleen and stomach, or those with spleen-cold and loose stools. As warned in the "Ben Jing Shu": "Do not use for those with a weak spleen and stomach who have frequent diarrhea."
3. Hawthorn
Also known as Tang Zhuu or Shan Li Hong. It can stimulate the appetite and aid digestion, but it has the drawback of damaging the spleen and stomach. For instance, the "Ben Gang Mu" says: "For those with a weak spleen who cannot digest food and experience acid, stabbing, bloating, and fullness in the chest and abdomen, chewing two or three pieces after each meal is excellent, but do not eat too much, for fear of it反而 harming the spleen's function." The "Ben Jing Shu" also points out: "For those with a deficient spleen and food stagnation, it should be used with tonifying herbs and should not be overused." Zhu Danxi of the Yuan Dynasty also believed: "If there is no food stagnation in the stomach and the spleen is deficient and unable to transport, leading to loss of appetite, taking large amounts will反而 harm the spleen and stomach's generative qi." Therefore, those with spleen deficiency should not eat it, let alone eat it frequently or in large amounts.
4. Pears
Raw pears are cooling in nature and should be strictly avoided by those with spleen deficiency. As stated in the "Yin Shi Xu Zhi": "Eating too many can cause cold in the middle jiao, damage the spleen, and eating them raw can often lead to cold dysentery." The "Ben Jing Shu" also says: "Spleen deficiency with diarrhea should be contraindicated." Wang Mengying of the Qing Dynasty also pointed out: "It is contraindicated for those with middle jiao deficiency, cold, and diarrhea." Therefore, anyone with spleen deficiency, especially those with spleen-cold, diarrhea, or loose stools, must not consume them.
5. Duck
It is a cooling food. The "Yin Shi Xu Zhi" says: "Duck meat is sweet in flavor and cold in nature, it can cause stagnation and generate cold qi." Wang Mengying of the Qing Dynasty also said: "Eating too much can cause qi stagnation and affect the middle jiao. It is contraindicated for those with yang deficiency and a weak spleen..." Therefore, those with spleen deficiency, especially those with insufficient spleen yang, should avoid eating duck.
6. Soft-Shelled Turtle
It has the effect of cooling the blood and nourishing yin, belonging to the category of "clearing and tonifying" foods. It is a rich and greasy substance, and eating it for a long time can hinder the spleen's transportation and transformation function, leading to indigestion and loss of appetite. Especially for those with a naturally weak spleen and stomach, it should be avoided. As warned in the "Ben Cong Xin": "It is strictly contraindicated for those with spleen deficiency."
7. Oyster Meat
It is slightly cold in nature and sweet and salty in flavor. Although it can nourish yin and blood, eating it for a long time can lead to spleen-cold and worsen the condition of chronic digestive system diseases. It is contraindicated in large amounts for chronic gastritis, chronic enteritis, indigestion, and chronic diarrhea caused by spleen deficiency. Huang Gongxiu of the Qing Dynasty also said: "It is contraindicated for those with spleen deficiency and seminal emission."
8. River Snails
They are cold in nature and sweet in flavor. Although they can clear heat, they are not suitable for those with spleen-cold. As pointed out in the "Ben Hui Yan": "This substance is very cold in nature and good for resolving all kinds of heat disorders. It should not be eaten if there is cold drink in the stomach or long-term, non-solid diarrhea in the abdomen." Yao Kecheng's "Shi Wu Ben Cao" also says: "Eating too much can cause abdominal pain and indigestion." Therefore, those with spleen deficiency should avoid it.