Shrubby Sophora (Sophora flavescens, known as "Ku Shen" in Traditional Chinese Medicine, TCM) has a long history of use in East Asian herbal traditions. In TCM, it is considered bitter and cold in nature, and is traditionally used to "clear heat," "dry dampness," and "kill parasites." Its use to "support the Spleen" relates to the TCM concept of the Spleen, which governs digestion, assimilation, and the transformation of nutrients. Sophora flavescens is sometimes included in formulas aimed at resolving dampness and supporting digestive function, indirectly benefiting the Spleen system according to TCM philosophy. However, this usage is based on traditional energetics and diagnostic frameworks, rather than any anatomical or physiological correlation to the Western spleen organ.

Scientifically, there is moderate evidence that compounds in Shrubby Sophora (such as matrine and oxymatrine) have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and hepatoprotective effects in vitro and in animal studies. Some research has explored its effects on liver function and as adjunctive therapy for hepatitis, but robust clinical evidence for direct benefits to the Western-defined spleen or digestive support in humans is lacking. Overall, its reputation for "supporting the Spleen" is rooted in traditional usage, not modern biomedical science.