The Small Intestine According To Chinese Medicine

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE IS NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR A DOCTOR. YOU SHOULDN’T USE IT FOR THE PURPOSE OF SELF-DIAGNOSING OR SELF-MEDICATING BUT RATHER SO YOU CAN HAVE A MORE INFORMED DISCUSSION WITH A PROFESSIONAL TCM PRACTITIONER OR YOUR FAMILY GP.

THE SMALL INTESTINE ACCORDING TO CHINESE MEDICINE

CHINESE: 小肠

PINYIN: Xiǎo Cháng

SUMMARY

The Small Intestine's main function is to receive partially decomposed food and drinks from the Stomach, digest and absorb them further. In doing so it separates the pure part from the impure part.

THE FUNCTIONS OF THE SMALL INTESTINE

CLASSIFICATION

THE TCM SMALL INTESTINE FUNCTIONS

MAIN SYMPTOMS

Disharmony in the Small Intestine may give rise to urinary or bowel disorders, abdominal pain, thirts, scanty dark urine, throat pain, tongue ulcers and heat in the chest areas.

PATTERNS OF DISHARMONY

1. FULL-HEAT IN THE SMALL INTESTINE

This pattern is closely associated with Heart Fire Blazing since both Organs are associated at the channel level and they belong to the Fire element in the Five Phases theory. Heart Fire is transmitted to the Small Intestine, and this interferes with its function of receiving and transforming as well as separating the Fluids. The Heat burns the Fluids, causing scanty and dark urine and pain on urination. In severe cases the Heat reaches the Blood causing it to extravasate and resulting in blood in the urine. Heart Fire causes the symptoms of mental restlessness, tongue ulcers, pain in the throat and thirst. Deafness is caused by obstruction of Fire in the Small Intestine channel, which enters the ear.

2. SMALL INTESTINE QI PAIN

The “Qi pain” involved in this pattern is due to Qi Stagnation in the Small Intestine. It is usually associated with Liver Qi Stagnation invading the Spleen (giving rise to Spleen Qi Deficiency). The symptoms, such as the twisting abdominal pain with distension, are due to Qi Stagnation preventing the smooth flow of Liver Qi and the transformation of Fluids by the Small Intestine.

3. SMALL INTESTINE DEFICIENT AND COLD

This is an Interior pattern of Deficiency and Cold. It almost always is paired with Spleen Yang Deficiency, so much that it’s difficult to distinguish these two patterns. The surest sign the Small Intestine is involved is the presence of borborygmi (gurgling noise made by the movement of Fluid in the intestines). The Empty-Cold impairs the Small Intestine’s function of separating Fluids, which is what leads to the symptoms of diarrhea and the abundant clear urine.