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Large Intestine Pattern Differentiation in Chinese Medicine

Large Intestine Pattern Differentiation in Chinese Medicine

Damp-Heat in the Large Intestine

Heat in the Large Intestine
Dryness of the Large Intestine
Cold in the Large Intestine

Etiology of Large Intestine Patterns

Large Intestine main function: to receive food from the Small Intestine, absorb fluids and excrete the remainder
as feces.

Diet

x
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Can directly affect the Large Intestine.

Excessive consumption of Cold and raw food can cause Interior Cold (diarrhea: loose stools)
Excessive greasy and hot foods can cause Damp-Heat in Large Intestine (foul urgent and loose stool with
burning)

Emotions

Lung/Large Intestine belong to Metal element; affected by SADNESS and also by worry.
Worry causes Lung Qi to become deficient and fail to descend, which can contribute to stagnation of Qi in Large
Intestine (abdominal pain and constipation). Also Stagnation of Liver Qi can affect the Intestines in the same
way.

Exogenous Pathogens

Cold can directly invade the Large Intestine causing abdominal pain and diarrhea.

x
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Damp-Heat in the Large Intestine

Signs
Abdominal Pain
Excess pattern
Diarrhea
Dampness impairs fluid absorption in the intestines
Mucus and Blood in the Stool
Damp causes mucus, heat causes extravasation of Blood
Foul stool, burning anus
Heat
Scanty and dark urine
Heat
Fever and sweating
Heat
Thirst without a desire to drink
Heat causes thirst, Dampness causes a lack of desire to drink
Heavy sensation in the body and limbs
Dampness
x
Stuffiness in the chest and epigastrium
Dampness

x
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Tongue
Red body with a sticky yellow coat

Pulse
Slippery and Rapid

Etiology
Too much hot and greasy foods plus emotional problems

Example: worry and anxiety over long period. All cause interior Heat.
May accompany other patterns involving Interior Heat such as Liver Qi
Stagnation with Liver Fire.

Treatment Principle
Clear Heat, resolve Dampness, stop diarrhea

Points
SP 9 (Yinlingquan )
Clear Damp from Lower Burner
SP 6 (SanYinjiao)
Clear Damp from Lower Burner
REN 3 (Zhongji )
Clear Damp from Lower Burner
BL 22 (Sanjiaoshu)
Clear Damp from Lower Burner
BL 25 (Dachangshu)
Back Shu of Large Intestine; stops diarrhea
BL 17 (Geshu)
Stops Bleeding
REN 12 (Zhongwan)
Resolves Dampness
LI 11 (Quchi)
Clears Heat and Dampness
ST 37 (Shangjuxu)
Lower Sea point of Large Intestine Stops diarrhea
BL 20 (Pishu)
Regulates Spleen to resolve Dampness x

Method

x
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Sedate, moxa not applicable

Heat in the Large Intestine

Signs
Constipation with Dry Stools
Heat burning fluids
Burning sensation in mouth
Heat
Burning sensation in Anus
Heat
Scanty and dark urine
Heat in the Lower Jiao

Tongue
Thick yellow coating (possible brown or black coating)

Pulse
Full and rapid Pulse

Etiology/Pathology
Too much hot foods (alcohol, lamb, beef) and dry foods (baked or broiled meats)

Treatment Principle
Clear Heat in Large Intestine and Stomach, Promote Body Fluids

Points
REN 4 (Gyanyuan)
Tonifies Yin and Fluids
LI 11 (Quchi)
Clears Heat in Large Intestine
ST 37 (Shangjuxu)
x
Lower He Sea point of Large Intestine. Good for chronic conditions
ST 44 (Neiting)
Clears Stomach Heat

x
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LI 2 (Erjian)
Clears Heat in Large Intestine
SP 6 (SanYinjiao)
Nourish Yin and promote Body Fluids
REN 12 (Zhongwan )
Nourish Yin and promote Body Fluids
Ki 6 (Zhaohai)
Nourish Yin and promote Body Fluids

Dryness of the Large Intestine (Exhausted Fluid of Large Intestine)

Signs
Dry stools that are hard to pass
Dry mouth and throat, possible thin body type
Chronic Yin or Blood Deficiency

Tongue
Dry, pale, and red with no coating

Pulse
Fine

Etiology/Pathology
This pattern usually accompanies other patterns, x
Example: Yin or Blood Deficiency. Yin Deficiency produces
a red or red and peeled Tongue, whereas Blood Deficiency
produces a Tongue that is pale.

x
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This pattern is most common in older people and in women after childbirth.

Treatment Principle
Promote fluids in Large Intestine

Points
ST 36 (Zusanli)
Promotes fluids in Large Intestine (Stomach is the Origin of Fluids)
SP 6 (SanYinjiao )
Tonify Yin and promote Fluids
Ren 4 (Guanyuan)
Tonify Yin and promote Fluids
KI 6 (Zhaohai)
Tonifies Yin and promotes Fluids, moistens stool.

Method
Tonify all points

x
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Cold in the Large Intestine (Subcategory of Deficient Spleen Yang)

Signs
Loose stools
Yang fails to transform fluids
Dull abdominal pain
Deficiency
Borborygmus
Spleen and Large Intestine Qi Deficiency
Pale urine
Yang Deficiency
Cold Limbs

Tongue
Pale tongue

Pulse
Fine

Treatment Principle
Tonify and warm Large Intestine and Spleen

Points
x
REN 6 (Qihai)
Tonifies Qi and stops chronic diarrhea
ST 25 (Tianshu)

x
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Front Mu point of Large Intestine. Stops diarrhea and pain.

ST 36 (Zusanli)
Tonifies Spleen Qi
ST 37 (Shangjuxu)
Lower Sea point of Large Intestine. Stops chronic diarrhea
BL 25 (Dachangshu)
Back Shu point of Large Intestine. Tonifies Large Intestine
BL 20 (Pishu)
Tonifies Spleen Qi

References Used

The TCM information presented here has been referenced from numerous sources; including teachers,
practitioners, class notes from Five Branches University (http://www.fivebranches.edu), the following books, as
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