Emotional eating
Welcome to our 5 part series on how each organ system is linked to specific emotional state and why addressing our emotional needs have implications for our health.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), when we talk about the organ, we are not primarily referring to the anatomical organ that Western medicine describes. We’re talking about a functional system — an energetic network of processes.Think of it less as an organ and more as a set of responsibilities in the body–mind -spirit ecosystem.
By gently addressing your hurts and emotional patterns, you may not only feel more internally supported, but may also begin to see shifts or relief in certain physical health issues as well.
Like many others, I’m thrilled that more people are discovering the benefits of TCM. At its core, TCM teaches that the body reflects the movement of energy within us. When we experience discomfort or illness, it often signals that this energy is out of balance.
TCM offers many tools to restore harmony—herbs, acupuncture, cupping, and tui-na (medical massage), to name a few.
But there’s an important nuance: if emotional patterns remain unresolved, healing will have limits. TCM can help regulate your physiology, but it cannot fully stabilize your system if an ongoing emotional signal continues to disrupt organ function. In fact, TCM has always been clear about this—persistent emotional states are not just contributors to imbalance; they are primary causes.
It’s like trying to fill a bucket while a hole remains open.
This perspective is not just theory—it’s personal experience. I took herbs semi-regularly and felt short-term relief, but I never truly felt well. It wasn’t until I began untangling some of my emotional knots that my health genuinely improved.
The bottom line: your emotions deserve your attention. Healing is not only mental—it unfolds on emotional, physical, and spiritual levels.
In this series, we’ll begin with the Spleen.
The Spleen and worry
In TCM, each organ system is associated with an emotional pattern. The Spleen is linked to worry, rumination, and overthinking— which can be a subtle form of self judgment.
A healthy Spleen allows us to think clearly, focus, study, and process information without becoming consumed by it. But when worry becomes chronic—when thoughts loop endlessly, when we replay conversations, when we mentally chew on problems without resolution—it weakens the Spleen.
TCM is very clear about this: persistent emotional states are not secondary to disease; they are often primary causes.
Worry ties the energy in knots.
It’s like mentally “digesting” the same thought over and over again—but never fully breaking it down. Just as the Spleen transforms food into nourishment, it also helps us transform experiences into understanding. When we can’t process life events, the system becomes congested.
Over time, this congestion shows up physically.
Worry and its implications for dampness
In TCM, the Spleen is responsible for transforming and transporting food and fluids into blood and energy (Qi). When the Spleen is weakened—by diet, stress, or environment—it loses its ability to properly move fluids. This leads to what TCM calls dampness.
Dampness refers to excessive moisture and fluid accumulation in the body. Over time, this internal dampness can contribute to modern conditions such as type 2 diabetes, autoimmune and inflammatory disorders (like rheumatoid arthritis), high cholesterol, and even cognitive decline.
From a Western perspective, dampness resembles inflammation, fluid retention, and metabolic sluggishness.
A quick note on GLP-1 users
Some people using GLP-1 medications notice that while “food noise” quiets and the urge to eat decreases, they also feel less driven or motivated.
From a TCM and emotional health perspective, this can signal that an underlying emotional need is still present. Appetite suppression doesn’t erase emotional patterns—it simply quiets one expression of them. Those unmet needs still deserve care, attention, and kindness.
Signs of a Weak Spleen
Common symptoms of Spleen and Stomach weakness include:
Bloating
Loose stools or diarrhea
Fatigue (esp after eating)
Nausea
Edema (water retention)
A thick tongue coating
Puffiness around the jawline
One classic sign is a scalloped tongue—teeth marks along the edges. This happens because the tongue becomes swollen and presses against the teeth.
Nutrition: More powerful than herbs
Herbs and acupuncture can stimulate function. But nutrition provides structural nourishment.
What you consistently eat shapes your health more profoundly than occasional treatments. In the long run, your daily food choices are more powerful than herbs. And how you nourish yourself is often connected to something deeper—your sense of worthiness.
Finding balance around food can also be emotionally complex. When you decline certain foods, is it coming from discernment and self-respect? Or from rigidity and a need for control? TCM is rooted in harmony—not extremes.
Foods that help clear dampness
If you have signs of dampness or a scalloped tongue, consider regularly incorporating:
Job’s tears
Adzuki beans
Millet
Celery
Congee
A note about white rice: I love it—I grew up on it. But it has a high glycemic index. You might consider mixing it with millet or Job’s tears for additional fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It’s also helpful to eat protein and vegetables before carbohydrates to support blood sugar balance.
Foods to limit when dampness is present
If you’re experiencing dampness, consider reducing:
Dairy: milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream
Sugars and sweets: refined sugar, artificial sweeteners, candy, chocolate
Greasy or fried foods: fast food, deep-fried items, heavy oily sauces
Cold and raw foods: smoothies, large raw salads
Certain fruits (in excess): bananas, persimmons, avocado
Beverages: alcohol, concentrated fruit juices, excessive coffee
Why start with the spleen?
I’ve spent extra time on the Spleen because it is foundational. If you’re dealing with competing health concerns, I often suggest strengthening the Spleen first. If your body cannot properly transform high-quality food into nourishment, rebuilding vitality becomes much harder.
In the next post, we’ll explore the Kidneys—and how Spleen health directly affects them.
Experiment
Worrying is insidious and can turn into a loop of overthinking if we can’t pause to ask ourselves, what is the emotional material going on underneath? And more importantly, how do we be in relationship with the emotional material? This inner repair is critical to your healing journey.
