1. The Interrelationship Between Strengthening the Spleen and Nourishing the Kidneys

1. The Interrelationship Between Strengthening the Spleen and Nourishing the Kidneys

The spleen governs the transformation and transportation of food and water, nourishing all five zang organs, six fu organs, and the limbs and bones; ancient texts refer to it as the “postnatal foundation.” The kidneys are the source of essence and blood, the abode of primordial yin and yang, and are called the “innate foundation.” Postnatal spleen qi depends on innate kidney fire for warming and nourishment; innate true yang rises thanks to postnatal spleen qi for moistening. Xu Zhike said, “Nourishing the spleen is not as good as nourishing the kidneys.” Li Dongyuan said, “Nourishing the kidneys is not as good as nourishing the spleen.” Although these two statements seem contradictory, they actually reveal the extremely close intrinsic relationship between strengthening the spleen and nourishing the kidneys. Zhang Jingyue elaborated on this relationship in greater detail. He said, “At birth, humans derive their essence from the source of essence and blood; after birth, they are nourished by food and water. Without essence and blood, there would be no basis for the physical form; without food and water, the body could not grow strong. Essence and blood are governed by the Mingmen, while food and water are governed by the spleen and stomach. Thus, the Mingmen receives innate qi, and the spleen and stomach receive postnatal qi. Therefore, the sea of food and water relies primarily on innate qi, while the sea of essence and blood must depend on postnatal qi for sustenance. Consequently, from birth to old age, if the innate foundation is insufficient, as long as postnatal nurturing is provided, the effort to strengthen the innate foundation can account for half of the overall effect.” The spleen and kidneys complement each other, maintaining the growth and development of human functions; strengthening the spleen and nourishing the kidneys can work together to promote the abundance of vital energy. In the struggle between pathogenic and defensive forces, enhancing the body’s ability to expel pathogens helps diseases subside and the body recover. Based on this, ancient practitioners often combined spleen-strengthening and kidney-nourishing therapies in clinical practice, a treatment known as the “Spleen-Strengthening and Kidney-Nourishing Method.”