Qi Deficiency and Sleepiness

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" Feeling sleepy after eating indicates Spleen-Qi deficiency. " (Maciocia,

Foundations, p. 159)

 

This is to be expected. The Spleen Qi already is in short supply. What

little there is is being called on to perform the function of

transformation. This leaves even less Qi for other functions. Consider that

" The Spleen contols muscles and is responsible for transporting Food-Qi to

the muscles throughout the body and in particular to the four limbs. A

disharmony in this sphere often causes tiredness, which is an extremely

common symptom of Spleen deficiency. (Maciocia, p. 231) Another function of

Qi is to transport. If what little Spleen Qi there is is tied up in trying

to extract Qi, this doesn't leave much for transporting it.

 

When a person feels cold after eating anything (not just eating cold or raw

food or drinking cold liquids), this too can be a manifestation of Qi

Deficiency. Another function of Qi is to warm.

 

Oddly enough, sometimes a person who is Qi Deficient will substitute eating

for getting the rest s/he needs. This happens in more complex clinical

pictures than just Spleen Qi Deficiency because Spleen Qi Deficiency by

itself usually results in a below normal appetite or even no appetite. In

these cases, what usually happens is that yes, there will be a short-term

gain in energy from a boost in blood sugar, but overall the person will be

in worse shape than s/he would have been had s/he rested once the blood

sugar starts to fall again. And in some cases, this can occur within an hour

or even within half an hour. What often happens in these cases is that

instead of getting the needed rest and sleep, the person will eat something

else in order to be able to keep going for a little while longer. Needless

to say, this cycle can be one of the causes of obesity.

 

" A general feeling of lethargy and heaviness of the body indicates retention

of Dampness. If there is also dizziness , it indicates Phlegm. " (p. 159)

Oddly enough (to many Westerners), it is not the Kidneys or the Bladder

which is the main culprit in Dampness accumulation. It's the Spleen. The

Spleen not only governs the transformation and transportation of food, it

also governs the transformation and transportation of fluids. " The Spleen

separates an usable from unusable part from the fluids ingested; the " clear "

part goes upwards to the Lungs to be distributed to the skin and the " dirty "

part goes downward to the Intestines where it is further separated. "

Maciocia goes on to say, " The implication here is that the Spleen must

always be treated when there is Dampness, Phlegm or eoedema. Moreover, the

Spleen is also easily affected by external Dampness which may impair its

function of transformation and transportation. " (p. 90) (Note: Phlegm is

Dampness that has hung around too long and congeled into Phlegm. The TCM

concept of Phlegm includes the Western concept of phlegm but also goes far

beyond the Western concept.)

 

Victoria

 

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