Ancient times regarded fatness as beauty, but modern times see thinness as beauty. Especially for many women, they are always trying to lose weight. Their basic idea of losing weight is to eat less, adopt fasting, and skip dinner. It is possible that the weight did indeed decrease in the beginning, so they decided to continue thinking it was effective. Little did they know, most people have fallen into a misconception and end up gaining more weight as they continue to lose weight. Constantly dieting leads to the body breaking down slowly.
The main reason for losing more weight but gaining more weight is mostly due to spleen deficiency. The spleen is the foundation of postnatal life and spleen deficiency is a common ailment among modern people. To effectively lose weight, it might be necessary to first nurture the spleen. Why do we say this? What does spleen deficiency have to do with unsuccessful weight loss? Let’s find out together.
Why does unsuccessful weight loss have to do with the spleen?
To eliminate the factors that cause weight gain despite dieting, if one eats three meals a day normally with a small amount of food, exercises reasonably, but the weight does not decrease and instead increases, this may indicate a problem with the spleen function. The spleen is mainly responsible for regulating water transport in the body. When the spleen is deficient, its function of transforming and transporting will weaken, reducing the capability to transport and regulate water dampness. This accumulation of moisture in the body forms phlegm, and excess water and fat cannot be promptly broken down and expelled. Even with reduced food intake and exercise, weight loss may still not occur.
Spleen deficiency has various causes related to one’s dietary habits, mental stress, and daily routines. Eating cold or cold-natured foods frequently can affect the spleen’s transformation function. Excessive mental stress and irregular daily routines might lead to spleen dysfunction. Generally, people with spleen deficiency often show symptoms of bloating, thick yellow tongue coating, and heavy dampness. If the issue of spleen deficiency is not addressed, no matter how hard one tries to lose weight, the results will be poor.
Mastering these tips might help improve your spleen and lighten your weight:
Learn acupressure: There is an acupoint on the foot called Taibai point, located slightly below the big toe knuckle on the inner side. Taibai point is the original point of the spleen meridian. Massaging this point regularly can have a good spleen-nourishing effect. In addition, pressing certain acupoints regularly can promote spleen health and aid in weight loss. The Sanyinjiao point on the inner ankle and the Yinlingquan point located below the inner tibia on the calf can be pressed to effectively nourish the spleen and aid in weight loss.
Appropriate gua sha: Gua sha is a common therapy in Chinese medicine, effective in detoxification, damp elimination, and meridian clearing. If weight loss is not achieved, it is mostly due to spleen deficiency, which is often related to dampness. Learning the proper gua sha technique can help the body expel internal dampness and improve spleen function. When the spleen is no longer deficient and dampness decreases, weight loss becomes easier.
Many believe that the best gua sha results in “significant redness or purple bruising,” which is a misconception. Gua sha does not need to result in excessive bruising for effectiveness. If gua sha is not performed correctly, it may not only be ineffective but could also lead to superficial blood vessel rupture. Generally, gua sha shows a slight red or purplish color, and should be stopped if there is discomfort.
Correct dietary therapy: If weight loss is unsuccessful and is related to the spleen, it is also related to the stomach. The harmonious functioning of the spleen and stomach is necessary. The intestines and stomach need to absorb and digest food, while the spleen has a transporting role. Both functions complement each other for effectiveness. To lose weight, one should avoid consuming spicy foods that stimulate the intestines and stomach, prevent spleen-stomach disharmony and coldness, and increase the intake of warm-nourishing foods for effective weight loss.
In conclusion, unsuccessful weight loss leading to more weight gain is mostly due to spleen deficiency. When the spleen loses its function, water dampness accumulates in the body, excess fat cannot be metabolized promptly, and even eating less may not result in weight loss. Try the above three tips to improve spleen and stomach health, effectively aiding in weight loss.
