The heart and spleen

The heart dominates blood and the spleen controls blood. The function of the spleen in transportation and transformation depends on the propelling force of the yang qi of the heart and kidney. The formation and flourishing of heart blood rely upon the function of the spleen in transporting and transforming the essential substances of food and water. The blood circulating in the vessels therefore is dominated by the heart and controlled by the spleen.

Pathologically the heart and spleen often affect each other. For example, deficiency of the source of blood due to deficiency of spleen qi, or hemorrhage due to dysfunction of the spleen in controlling blood, may result in consumption of heart blood. Conversely over thinking, which consumes heart blood may affect the normal function of the spleen in transportation and transformation. Both conditions may give rise to palpitations, insomnia, poor appetite, lassitude and pale complexion, known as " deficiency of both heart and spleen