Large Intestine Syndromes Flashcards
Damp-Heat in the Large Intestine
1) Symptoms
2) Pulse & Tongue
3) Pathology
4) Aetiology
5) Treatment
1)
Key symptoms: Abdominal pain and fullness, diarrhoea, mucus and blood in stools.
AccompanYing symptoms: Offensive odour of stools, burning in anus, scanty dark urine, a feeling of heat, fever, sweating that does not decrease the fever, thirst with no desire to drink, a feeling of heaviness in body and limbs.
2)
Pulse: Slippery, Rapid.
Tongue Body: Red.
Tongue Coat: Thick, Sticky, Yellow.
3)
Pathology: All symptoms are due to either Dampness or Heat. Dampness interferes with LI function of absorbing fluids and excreting stools, resulting in diarrhoea. Mucus in stools in indicative of Dampness and blood in stools is indicative of Heat, which makes blood extravasate. Foul-smelling stools, dark scanty urine, burning in anus, thirst and fever are all due to Heat. Feeling of fullness in abdomen and heaviness in body are due to Dampness. Symptoms may vary according to whether Damp or Heat predominates.
4)
Aetiology: a) Poor diet - excess consumption of hot greasy food. b) Long-standing emotional problems such as anxiety and worry. c) External Pathogenic Damp-Heat.
5)
Treatment Principles: Clear Heat. Resolve Damp. Stop Diarrhoea.
Examples of Points: Sp 9, Sp 6, Ren 3, Bl 25, St 25, St 27, Ren 12, LI 11, St 37. Needle Technique: Even or Reduction.
Heat in the Large Intestine
1) Symptoms
2) Pulse & Tongue
3) Pathology
4) Aetiology
5) Treatment
1)
Key symptoms: Constipation with dry stools, a burning sensation in anus.
AccompanYing symptoms: Burning sensation in mouth, dry tongue, swelling in anus, scanty dark urine, thirst.
2)
Pulse: Full, Rapid.
Tongue Body: Red.
Tongue Coat: Thick, Dry, Yellow (or Brown or Black).
3)
Pathology: All symptoms are due to Full Heat and Dryness. Dryness results from a burning up of the body fluids by the Heat. The LI is closely related to the Stomach, within the Bright Yang (Yang Ming) and Heat in the Stomach causes a burning sensation in the mouth and a dry tongue. Heat in the Lower Burner makes the urine more concentrated and scanty, hence its dark colour.
4)
Aetiology: Poor diet – excessive consumption of hot and dry food.
5)
Treatment Principles: Clear Heat in the Large Intestine and Stomach. Nourish Body Fluids.
Examples of Points (a) LI 2, LI 11, St 44, St 37, St 25, Bl 25. (b) Ren 4, Ren 12, Sp 6, Kid 6.
Needle technique: (a) Even or Reduction. (b) Tonification.
Cold Invading the Large Intestine
1) Symptoms
2) Pulse & Tongue
3) Pathology
4) Aetiology
5) Treatment
1)
Key symptoms: Sudden, cramping abdominal pain, diarrhoea with pain, a feeling of cold. AccompanYing symptoms: Cold sensation in abdomen.
2)
Pulse: Deep, Tight
Tongue Coat: Thick, White
3)
Pathology: All symptoms due to Exterior Full Cold.
4)
Aetiology: a) Cold foods. b)Sitting on cold, wet surfaces. c) Exposure to cold with abdomen not
properly covered.
5)
Treatment Principles: Expel Cold from the Large Intestine. Warm the Lower Burner.
Examples of Points:
Needle technique:
Other applicable techniques:
St 37, St 25, St 36, Sp 6, Sp 8, Liv 3, St 27. Even or Reduction.
Moxa.
Large Intestine Dry
1) Symptoms
2) Pulse & Tongue
3) Pathology
4) Aetiology
5) Treatment
1)
Key symptoms: Dry stools that are difficult to discharge.
AccompanYing symptoms: Dry mouth and throat, foul breath, dizziness.
2)
Pulse: Thin
Tongue Body: Dry, Pale or Red
Tongue Coat: Rootless, partially Peeled or Peeled
3)
Pathology: This pattern nearly always occurs in combination with Stomach Yin deficiency. It is characterized by a state of Dryness and deficiency of Body Fluids. Foul breath is caused not by Heat, but by retention of food that results from chronic constipation.
4)
Aetiology: a) External Pathogenic Dryness. b) Poor diet – irregular eating habits. c) Blood Deficiency. d) Yin Deficiency.
5)
Treatment Principle: Promote Fluids in the Large Intestine.
Examples of Points: Li 4, St 36, Sp 6, Kid 6, Ren 4, St 25, Sp 15, Bl 25. Needle technique: Tonification.
Collapse of the Large Intestine
1) Symptoms
2) Pulse & Tongue
3) Pathology
4) Aetiology
5) Treatment
1)
Key symptoms: Chronic diarrhoea, prolapsed anus, haemorrhoids.
AccompanYing symptoms: Tiredness after bowel movement, cold limbs, poor appetite, mental exhaustion, desire to drink warm liquids, desire to have abdomen massaged.
2)
Pulse: Thin, Weak, Deep.
Tongue Body: Pale.
3)
Pathology: Symptoms are due to chronic deficiency of Spleen, Stomach and Large Intestine, with sinking of Spleen Qi. Sinking of Spleen Qi causes the prolapsed anus and chronic diarrhoea. Poor appetite, cold limbs and a desire for warm liquids are all caused by deficiency of Spleen Yang. The desire to have the abdomen massaged and tiredness after a bowel movement indicate a Deficiency pattern.
4)
Aetiology: a) Poor diet – too much raw and/or damp-forming food, and irregular eating habits. b) Mental strain and over-thinking. d) Chronic disease. e) Excessive physical work.
5)
Treatment Principles: Tonify Stomach and Spleen. Raise Qi.
Examples of Points:
Needle technique:
Other applicable techniques:
LI 4, Ren 6, St 25, St 36, Sp 3, Bl 20, Bl 21, Du 20, Bl 25. Tonification.
Moxa.
Other Large Intestine syndromes
- Heat Obstructing the Large Intestine
- Qi Stagnation in the Large Intestine
- Large Intestine Cold
