The spleen is located on the left side of the abdomen. The spleen can be considered as two organs in one; it filters the blood and removes abnormal cells (such as old and defective red blood cells), and it makes disease-fighting components of the immune system (including antibodies and lymphocytes/white cells).
The body of the spleen appears red and pulpy, surrounded by a tough capsule. The red pulp consists of blood vessels (splenic sinusoids) interwoven with connective tissue (splenic cords). The red pulp filters the blood and removes old and defective blood cells. The white pulp is inside the red pulp, and consists of little lumps of lymphoid tissue. Antibodies are made inside the white pulp. Similarly to other organs of the lymphatic system, particular immune cells (B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes) and blood cells are either made or matured inside the spleen. Blood enters the spleen via the splenic artery, which subdivides into many tiny branches. Each branch is encased in a clump of lymphocytes, which means every drop of blood is filtered for foreign particles as it enters the spleen.
The Naturopathic or Chinese view of the spleen is very important when it comes to immunity, as you can see from the information above. Therefore ‘strong’ spleen energy keeps the body vibrant and with a strong immune system/defence system. The spleen like the kidneys does not like cold/damp weather or too much cold or raw food – as this energetically saps strength from the spleen.
Those with a removed spleen; may find their immunity compromised although conventional medicine does not recognise this and commonly removes.
