How to Increase Spleen Qi

Eastern tradition says that the spleen plays a vital role in digestion. It transforms the foods and liquids you consume into qi (life energy), blood and other bodily fluids. Like a domino effect, when spleen qi is deficient it weakens other organ systems in your body. This deficiency can be caused by overwork, poor diet, lack of exercise, or obsessive thinking. Compulsive worrying is the primary cause of spleen qi vacuity. The resolving emotion is trust. Learning to trust instead of worry works to charge, rather than stagnate, spleen qi. Certain qigong exercises also stimulate spleen qi.

Things You'll Need

• A quiet space and room to move

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Instructions

The Stretch

• 1

  Stand with your feet shoulder's width apart. Hold both hands out about six inches from your navel as if you're embracing an invisible ball. Inhale deeply.

• 2

  Slowly exhale while rotating your left forearm away from your body and raising the arm up toward the sky (in the end your palm should look as if you're pressing up against something directly overhead). Simultaneously rotate your right forearm down toward the earth and press the whole arm downward (in the end your palm should look like it's pressing down against something directly beneath you). Hold briefly.

• 3

  Gradually reverse your movements and bring your hands back to the center as though embracing the ball. Inhale deeply.

• 4

  Slowly exhale while rotating your right forearm away from your body and raising the arm up toward the sky (in the end your palm should look as if you're pressing up against something directly overhead). Simultaneously rotate your left forearm down toward the earth and press the whole arm downward (in the end your palm should look like it's pressing down against something directly beneath you). Hold briefly.

• 5

  Gradually reverse your movements and bring your hands back to the center.

• 6

  Repeat eight more times.

Reading the Palm

• 7

  Stand with your knees slightly bent and feet shoulder width apart. Place your left hand in front of your nose, six inches away, and your right hand in front of your navel, six inches away, as if you're embracing a barrel of energy.

• 8

  Keep your legs and waist stationary as you twist to the left.

• 9

  Move your head down to follow the movement of your left hand slowly falling down to stop at your navel. Slowly raise your right hand up in front of your nose, lifting your head up to follow its movement.

• 10

  Keep your legs and waist stationary as you twist to the right.

• 11

  Move your head down to follow the movement of your right hand slowly falling down to stop at your navel. Slowly raise your left hand up in front of your nose, lifting your head up to follow its movement.

  Repeat 8 more times.