Lungs-Largeintestines - Stomach-Spleen - Heart-Smallintestine - Unitarybladder-Kidneys - Pericardium-Tripleheaters - Gallbladder-Liver

Stomach (TCM)

Stomach - (Leg Yangming) 45 meridian pressure points
Direction of meridian - Face to foot, qi moves downward
Emotion that disrupts Earth element - Obsession/Pensiveness
"The stomach is the sea of water and grains", food is gathered in the stomach to be cooked and churned about into turbid substances and is the grand source of nutrition for all the organs.
Energy and light fluids are sent to the spleen (ku qi) from the stomach to be spread, whilst digested solids and heavier fluids are sent to the small intestine.
More about the Stomach and Spleen Earth Element.

Over-sitting damages the stomach & spleen

TCM - Stomach Diseases
Yin/Yang deficiency and excess, deficiency of Stomach yin, food stagnation in the Stomach, cold in the stomach, heat in the stomach.

Spleen generates pensiveness & worry whilst dealing with reminiscence & memories

Stomach explains worry affecting memories whilst pursuing or neglecting self-care

Mental Process and Emotional Imbalances (what to look for)
The stomach produces and supports the intellectual process, an intellect that is made of negative yin and positive yang with an obsessional side to it when out of control (obsessed with being thin, fat, stupid, intelligent etc).
Obsessions can hold back and hide or suppress emotions.
Hurt feeling can be numbed by being obsessed with eating food or not eating food, encouraging the pleasure principal that food can supply; also taking drugs because of feel good hormonal chemical release.
Emotions have the ability to feed an obsession in some personality types, obsessions such as stalking, excessive cleaning or sudden and long term rage to name just a few emotive scenarios (rage which is produced by obsessions can affect the wood element emotion of anger).

Being obsessed about work in any profession, whatever that work is, the obsessive work ethic can bleed into the rest of any life.
Being able to learn if an obsession is present can help deal with it? whilst learning how to understand any obsessive behaviour (through awareness), accessing and separating any one aspect of a life's dysfunction, in this case dysfunctional obsessions from day to day emotional living (with children, friends, family), can help re-balance the earth element (and connected elements of wood and water) to not only promote emotional balance and harmony to deal with most day to day content but because of the emotional healing the body may heal too.
Excessive obsessions will feed back to, and weaken both the wood (ke cycle) and metal element (sheng cycle) adding to the emotional turmoil of a dysfunctional stomach/earth element.

Over-eating damages the stomach

Obsessional Food Behaviour
The stomach takes in and can energetically move on emotions via food and drink, because a mental dysfunctional food and drink relationship can seriously damage the physical part of the body.
Obsessional food behaviour can encourage and produce more negative emotions that have to be fed (or not fed-anorexia, or expelled-bulimia) fostering obesity and most eating disorders.
Nurturing Emotional Food
Food is a nurturing process that all babies instinctually need (a natural obsession) to live, when a baby asks for food, if it is not satisfied it cries (demands), because it has a natural mother nurturing relationship metaphysically with food and drink (and the care giver - brain synchronized) that requires an answer (to be fed), the baby is DNA programmed to know with its whole being that when it eats and drinks it will grow bigger and stronger (survival instinct).
Lack of Self Nurturing but wants Control
Lack of nurturing (self-esteem, self-love etc) as a baby and young child can develop in an adult which may be lead by a gut feeling (second brain). Turning to (the inner child) food for obsessional comfort (developing into a eating disorder) and not for sustenance as it is an imbalanced illness.
Rich countries
People in most western countries (and other rich countries) can get food when they want, food can be a way of connecting with unconscious, instinctual health, a person can make their body grow through overeating (getting in touch with damaged jing energy)
People can gain some emotional control by over eating or denying food (in-denial) which could mean they either deny themselves (from wanting to fit in) or take control (doesn't matter who gets hurt) by metaphorically expressing, I am in control (of my emotions through denial - Anorexia or numbing - obesity), so in control I can do anything (even to myself), controlled rejection can be seen when food is taken in (survival baby mind), then control-sick food out (I don't need you mother, so I'm letting go - Bulimia), deciding to make a stand via an eating disorder and be nurtured when they want, by controlling the taking in and letting go or numbing of any metaphysical emotion and expression via foods/drinks (either consciously or subconsciously) control.
Emotion of Breath

"Over longing or pensiveness impairs the spleen,
anger subdues longing or pensiveness"

Western Medical Mental Process and Emotional Imbalances "Food Depression"

What does food do to the stomach/spleen
The stomach is loosely called the second brain because sometimes when we feel/judge with the senses the stomach can react with a gut feeling, sometimes the feelings are positive and sometimes negative, that natural gut feeling can act as an alarm system or precursor to an enjoyable or bad experience, the stomach emotively talks to us but we have the choice to listen or ignore pedantically if we have a positive relationship with the mind/body and body image.
Body image
Guilt associated with loss of control, shame because they have this disorder and they see it as their fault/problem, low self-esteem-feelings of worthlessness and poor self image-they see themselves as physically distorted in some way, with constant self-evaluation-think or ruminating all of their fears, image profile and what other people think of them in a constant loop, depression- low mood, isolation, loneliness with possible feelings of self-harm.
An eating disorder may be the only thing that the participant may feel they have control of in their life, their only success, which of course is a distorted view of their overall self-esteem, and a negative, harmful way to gain some short-term comfort via food control (food biology) over their life.
When the belly is large the stomach is indicating through size that we are eating too much food (unless a medical condition is present and sometimes old age - slowed metabolic rate), this is visible by the fat layers being put down, however, when people are very thin, this is too, maybe an sign which portrays that not enough food is being eaten to establish a healthy body fat layer; which protects the organs, a layer of fat that may carry important, healthy vitamins and minerals, indeed, both extremes of over (yang), and under-weight (yin) are usually the result of poor eating habits of which can harm the body and mind.
Size of the stomach and chemicals of the brain
When human beings eat food a chemical reaction can start with the brain (via the senses - looking at food etc) which affects the whole body. In fact, food intake can be an enjoyable experience because of food intake related feel good, happy, rewarding chemicals that the body produces (such as serotonin and dopamine) are naturally released, this makes food not only part of the bodies reward system but also a survival mechanism. Indeed, for some, food can become very addictive in many different ways, so addictive that eating disorders may developed from the emotional bond that people naturally develop with the food and the chemical process that eating food creates (aka comfort eating) as people grow, eat and mature.
Food (and drink) can become an issue which is no longer eaten or drank to stay alive but is eaten to emotionally survive; survival eating can become an act of consuming copious amounts of food which, in itself, becomes the only real pleasure in their lives (comfort eating), or way to feel in control, but the control can also come from suppressing the natural pleasure of eating through denying food pleasure (anorexia), which maybe the only way anorexic thinks they can feel they have power over anything.
Origins of food disorders
All food disorders originate somewhere in the brain that are emotionally reflected by the body (and becomes a vicious circle), the extreme obsessive, anxiety driven states (obesity-chemical brain feeding, "flight", control of emotions through denial-anorexia "flight", taking in and spitting out emotions-bulimia "freeze"), are all types of hyper or hypo depressions that are difficult for victims of these diseases to recognize, and even more harder to overcome especially with self therapy. Therapeutic interventions can help encourage safe, healthy releases to foster positive, whole-person (holistic) healing and metaphysical balance.
Dieting (my opinion)
Yo Yo dieting could be seen as a form of bi-polar (because of the extreme brain-chemical changes from the practice of obsessional, unhealthy dieting) that is promoted by some diets and diet clubs (for money), which in a strange twisted way (along with fast food outlets) has encouraged many eating, mental disorders, leading to mental and physical dysfunctions throughout modern society.
Note: depression and anger can go hand in hand. If talking therapies have not worked to balance an eating disorder try Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Brief Stomach Western Medical Anatomy and Actions
The stomach is a digestive organ that is part of the gastrointestinal tract which is hollow when empty that is located between the oesophagus and the small intestine. Digestive enzymes and gastric acids are secreted by the stomach to break food into digestible liquids or mushy chunks.
Located at the top of the stomach is the lower oesophageal sphincter (in the area of the cardiac region) which stops any back flow from the stomach (acid reflux) but opens to release food into the stomach, indeed the oesophagus controls food moving downward into the stomach, and at the lower end (other end) of the stomach is the pyloric sphincter which controls the movement of digested foods (chyme) from the stomach into the small intestine (via the duodenum), where peristalsis (flowing, muscular movement) moves partially digested food into the small intestine.
The stomach is enveloped by parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves (part of the central nervous system), with the brain and all its neurotransmitter chemical actions (synapses) as the commander that regulates secretions and most of the stomach's muscular activity.
Stomach disorders and associated dysfunctions
Trapped wind (flatulence), constipation, indigestion , stomach ulcer, cushing ulcer, Dielafoy's lesion, dyspepsia, pyloric stenosis, achlorhydria, gastroparesis, gastric antral vascular ectasia, gastric dumping syndrome, gastric volvulus, gallstones, kidney stones, diverticulitis (bowel inflammation), a torn, strained or pulled stomach muscle, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, unitary tract infection, period pain, heartburn, portal hypertensive gastropathy, and acid reflux.

Spleen (Pancreas) (TCM)

Spleen - (Leg Taiyin) 21 meridian pressure points
Direction of meridian - Foot to chest, qi moves in a upward direction
Emotion that disrupts Earth element - Obsession/Pensiveness
The spleen (along with the stomach) is known as the official that is in charge of food storage. The spleen controls, governs and monitors blood that flows through the blood vessels, keeping the vessels full and evenly regulated and is considered the foundational force of postnatal existence and the transformation of fluids. The spleen likes warmth and dislikes cold (digestive enzymes need a warm environment to help with the breakdown of foods, since warm foods are digested easily). More about the Stomach and Spleen Earth Element.

TCM - Spleen Diseases
Yin/Yang deficiency and excess, deficiency of Spleen qi, deficiency of Spleen yang, Middle energy cave in, Spleen cold and damp, Spleen unable to govern blood, Spleen damp-steaming-heat.

Spleen generates pensiveness & worry whilst dealing with reminiscence & memories

Stomach expresses worry affecting memories whilst pursuing or neglecting self-care

Mental Process and Emotional Imbalances (what to look for)
When the spleen/pancreas is damaged by worry, which can weaken it's immune-function, worry emotion can change sugar regulation and completely messing up and confusing the hormones of the mind.
The energetic's of the spleen/pancreas needs to feel secure and balanced both emotionally and physically (one affects the other), the spleen/pancreas's emotional energy needs loving loyalty to feel comfortable otherwise it's energy has to find other ways to gain security, through worry, over thinking, being needy or being over religious (God is always loyal and fulfils spiritual needs), religious people proclaim love to the broken (cults, main stream religion, gangs etc) to temporarily fill the painful void (the emotions can produce) that obsessional worry can bring.
This void produced by spleen dysfunctions can turn to drugs, alcohol and food as they can all numb the pain of rejection and hurt. To overcome rejection and hurt one must first accept themselves and develop personal love and tolerance to evolve into honest love and respect for others (and genuine faith or truthful, deep felt God loving belief for a chosen religion), people who haven't the strength to do this find the energy of religion (not the true faith of religion) or other supportive groups such as gangs or cults (but these factions are never fully able to resolve the personal conflict, the conflict is always there somewhere in the background) etc.
Note: when food and drink travels through the body it goes through changes, the healthy food/drink is separated from the unhealthy until the unhealthy is excreted by body fluids or fecal waste, the mind and emotions go through a similar process taking in thoughts and ideas which go through changes as they are processed, obsessional behaviour and worry happens when this process is stuck in one place (stuck at the stomach/spleen) like a vinyl record which plays the same little verse over and over again because of a fluffy blockage on the needle (acupuncture needles unblock, blocked qi energy by clearing blocked, natural energy) that changes, transports and plays the records vibrating energy to the speakers, to play the whole tune and finnish the record the dust ball has to be manually removed by blowing it off with breath or physically brushing the dust ball away from the needle. Being stuck in a time moment is different to living in the moment (being), when stuck in a time moment, a traumatic event no matter how small is replayed over and over again when confronted with a trigger that the body/mind recognizes (or is plagued by), a holistic cue which starts a remembered emotional recording leading to metaphysical pain, the stuck event may be a manifestation of a repressed trauma (physical or non physical), that needs a release, the trauma could be in the form of mental or physical illness (any addiction, phobia, asthma, PTSD etc), and if the traumas energy is released (cathartic) the dysfunction may clear or be put under control from that moment, metaphysical damage can sometimes be so bad that it cannot be fixed in some cases only managed.
Emotion of Breath

"Over longing or pensiveness impairs the spleen,
anger subdues longing or pensiveness"

Western Medical Mental Process and Emotional Imbalances "Depression"

Possible causes of depression
There are two possible types of depression, short term and long term depression.
Depression can be an illness that runs through a family lineage across time (bi-polar etc), depression can also develop from personal problems and stressful life experiences (unemployment, failed relationships, isolation), all of which can be key causes of depressive physical and mental illness.
Indications of emotional-depressive states and behaviors
Anti-social behaviour, irritability, sadness, pessimism, low self-esteem, lack of self-worth and inadequacy.
Physical indications of depression
Loss or increased appetite, back pain, headaches, muscle aches and pains, fatigue, changeable sleeping habits (insomnia and hypersomnia), poor short-term memory and lethargy.
Chronic and acute depressive conditions
Prolonged depression is a chronic, major depressive disorder and acute depression is a short term depressive state, both conditions (chronic and acute) can experience feelings of hopelessness and failure leading to sadness, eating disorders, insomnia, self-harming and suicidal thoughts to name but a few.
States of depression
Some of the recognized depressive disorders include:
Atypical depression, bipolar (manic-depression), seasonal affective disorder (SAD), postpartum and psychotic depression.
Medications commonly used for depression and why
SSRI’s (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors – Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft etc) are commonly used  medications that affect the brain to help regulate the release of serotonin and dopamine which are brain chemicals associated with feeling of happiness and satisfaction.

Excessive serotonin and dopamine intake metaphysical side effects

Dopamine - increased dopamine in the brain or brain's limbic system is linked to the behavior of a suspicious personality, paranoia, menstrual disorders, delayed puberty, infertility, decreased immune function and antisocial withdrawal.
Note: dopamine promotes a feeling of happiness and joy if released naturally without damaging the brain's natural chemical balance, or brain receptors, continual damage to brain receptors through constant drug use may lead to compromised or irreversible brain damage.
More about dopamine.

Serotonin - excessive serotonin in the system can be indicated by diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headaches, shivering, agitation, restlessness, uncoordinated movements, confusion, high fever, irregular heartbeat, loss of consciousness or a seizure.
Note: serotonin encourages a feeling of happiness and joy if released naturally without damaging the brain's natural chemical balance, or brain receptors, damage to brain receptors by continual drug use may lead to compromised or irreversible brain damage.
More about serotonin

Warning: taking recreational drugs such as cocaine, crack cocaine, ecstasy (MDMA) etc can increase dopamine and serotonin levels to such a degree that brain damage occurs, because brain chemical receptors can burn out through abusive use, which can lead to permanent brain functional impairment.

MAOI's (monoamine oxidase inhibitors such as; Marplan, Nardil, Emsam).

Some possible side effects of antidepressant medications
Constipation, dizziness, dry mouth, fatigue, irritability, vision impairment.
Some possible overdose effects of antidepressant medications
Seizures, double vision, coma, hands shaking, sickness, muscle soreness and impaired fine motor functions.
Note: drugs that treat depression tend be addictive because their very nature is to create a happy, stress free environment for the mind, this is very appealing mind set of chemicals that the brain wants, desires or craves all the time (addiction).
Note: depression and anger can go hand in hand.

Natural chemicals (the bodies drugs) released during exercise

Acupuncture (TCM) - Reflexology - Aromatherapy - Hypnotherapy - Qigong - Taiji (Qigong walking) and Meditation are therapeutic interventions which affect brain/body chemistry that are all side-effect free, and can help with acute or mild depression, alcohol addiction, drug addiction and prescription drug withdrawal and drug use side effects

Brief Spleen Western Medical Anatomy and Actions
The spleen is a fist size organ with a structure of a large lymph node located behind the left ribs which works as a blood filter. Action of the spleen changes antibodies into a white milky pulp, part of its job is to destroy antibody coated bacteria and blood cells via the blood and lymph node system and is a major organ to support the immune system.
The spleen removes old red blood cells whilst storing reserves of blood and recycling biological, blood iron from any destroyed blood cells, and controls the level of blood cells. The spleen monitors, controls the level of red blood cells and white blood cells (infection fighting cells), and platelets (small cells that form blood clots). Extraction of the spleen is not life-threatening, the liver will take over most of the spleens functions on removal (splenectomy).
Spleen disorders
Anemia (from low red cell count), immune compromise (low white cell count), bleeding and bruising (reduced platelet count). Tenderness behind the left ribs could suggest a damaged, ruptured or enlarged spleen.

Brief Pancreas Western Medical Anatomy and Actions
The pancreas is part of the digestive system located in the abdominal structure behind the stomach. The pancreas is a hormone producing endocrine gland that manufactures pancreatic juices such as insulin, glucagon etc, to circulate throughout the blood system. As a digestive organ the pancreas secretes pancreatic juices with digestive enzymes that work with digestion and nutrient absorption, once the metabolized foods are passed into the small intestine pancreatic juices help break down carbohydrates, proteins and lipids.
Pancreatic disorders
Pancreatitis - The pancreas located behind the stomach and below the ribcage becomes inflamed causing repeated episodes of stomach pain, which can be caused by smoking, immune system attack, inherited, alcohol abuse, gall stones, cancer, tumors, pseudocyst, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, pancreatic fistula and diabetes.

Next Heart & Small Intestine Meridians

Lungs-Largeintestines - Stomach-Spleen - Heart-Smallintestine - Unitarybladder-Kidneys - Pericardium-Tripleheaters - Gallbladder-Liver

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