The Spleen and Immigration: When the Body Struggles to Digest Change
This Friday night, at a friend’s Shabbat table, I met a woman visiting from Canada. She and her family had recently immigrated there. As we spoke, she mentioned that her daughter was having a hard time adjusting to their new life.
During the conversation, I asked her whether her daughter was experiencing digestive issues. She said yes, and asked how I knew.
The answer lies in how Chinese medicine understands the Spleen.
The Spleen: more than digestion
In Chinese medicine, the Spleen belongs to the Earth element. It is responsible not only for digesting food, but for helping us process and absorb our experiences. We often speak about our thoughts and experiences using the same language Chinese medicine uses to understand the body — without even realising it.
We say things like:
- “I need time to digest that.”
- “I need to let it percolate.”
- “That was a lot to take in.”
- “I haven’t fully absorbed it yet.”
- “I need to marinate in that idea a bit more.”
The Spleen is associated with:
Digestion and absorption
Feeling grounded and settled
The ability to adapt to change
A sense of internal stability
When the Spleen is functioning well, we can take in food and experience without becoming overwhelmed. When it is under strain, the body struggles to process both — and digestion is often the first place this shows up.
Immigration is an Earth shock
Immigration is not just a logistical or emotional event. Energetically, it directly affects the Earth element.
Consider what changes all at once:
A new country
A new language
A new school and social system
Different food, smells, sounds, and daily rhythms
Loss of familiarity, routine, and a sense of home
For adults this is challenging. For children, it can be deeply destabilising. From a Chinese medicine perspective, this kind of change places strain on the Spleen. There is simply too much new information for the body to absorb all at once.
It’s the same experience we describe when we say something is “too much to take in,” or “I’m not ready to take on anything else right now.” In Chinese medicine, this is often understood as the Spleen signalling overload.
Why digestion is often affected
When the body is under ongoing stress, the nervous system tends to stay more alert. Digestion is one of the functions that can be affected by this.
This may show up as:
Stomach aches
Bloating or discomfort
Constipation or diarrhea
Changes in appetite
Fatigue or heaviness
These symptoms aren’t a sign that something is “wrong.” They’re signals that the body hasn’t yet settled.
In Chinese medicine, emotional strain and physical function are not separate. When life feels unstable, digestion often reflects that instability.
How stress shows up in the body
During periods of major change, stress is often expressed physically rather than emotionally — in both adults and children.
Adjustment doesn’t always look like anxiety or sadness. It frequently shows up through the digestive system.
This can include:
- Ongoing digestive discomfort
Bloating, constipation, or diarrhea
Changes in appetite
Fatigue or a heavy feeling in the body
A persistent sense of not feeling settled
In Chinese medicine, digestive symptoms during times of upheaval are often understood as a sign that the Spleen is under strain and the system hasn’t yet fully adapted.
If this feels familiar
If you recognise yourself — or someone close to you — in this, you’re not alone.
Digestive issues during periods of change are common when the body hasn’t yet found its balance again. Even when life appears to be moving forward, the body may still be catching up.
This can change.
Supporting the body during transition
Medical Qi Gong supports the body during periods of adjustment. It helps the nervous system settle, improves circulation to the digestive organs, and supports the Spleen as it adapts to change. As the system steadies, digestion often improves and the ongoing sense of internal tension begins to ease.
This isn’t about managing symptoms. It’s about helping the body regain its natural balance.
Medical Qi Gong can be practiced at home, which can be helpful when life feels unsettled or when routines are still forming. More information is available at www.thejewishqigongteacher.com.
If digestion has remained unsettled since a move or major life change, Qi Gong for Weight Loss & Healthy Digestion is a Medical Qi Gong masterclass that works directly with the Spleen and digestive function.