The large intestine () is one of the ''
fu'' organs stipulated by
traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an alternative medicine, alternative medical practice drawn from traditional medicine in China. A large share of its claims are pseudoscientific, with the majority of treatments having no robust evidence ...
(TCM). As distinct from the Western medical concept of
large intestine
The large intestine, also known as the large bowel, is the last part of the gastrointestinal tract and of the Digestion, digestive system in tetrapods. Water is absorbed here and the remaining waste material is stored in the rectum as feces befor ...
, this concept from TCM is more a way of describing a set of interrelated parts than an anatomical organ. It is a functionally defined entity and not equivalent to the anatomical organ of the same name.
Functions
The large intestine
meridian communicates with the
lung
The lungs are the primary Organ (biology), organs of the respiratory system in many animals, including humans. In mammals and most other tetrapods, two lungs are located near the Vertebral column, backbone on either side of the heart. Their ...
(), with which it is externally-internally related. The two paired organs are associated with the
metal element () and the emotion of grief. The main function of the large intestine is to receive the waste material sent down from the
small intestine
The small intestine or small bowel is an organ (anatomy), organ in the human gastrointestinal tract, gastrointestinal tract where most of the #Absorption, absorption of nutrients from food takes place. It lies between the stomach and large intes ...
, absorb its fluid content, and form the remainder into faeces to be excreted. Pathological changes of the large intestine will lead to dysfunction in this transportation function, resulting in loose stools and constipation. The large intestine's function is said to be the strongest between 5am and 7am.
Large intestinal disease
Large intestinal disease (''dà cháng bìng'') is attributable to evils such as heat, cold, stagnation, dampness, and wind, or to vacuity. Rumbling intestines or pain around the
umbilicus, constipation or diarrhea, bloody stool or
tenesmus with blood and pus in the stool, and prolapse of the rectum are signs of large intestine disease. The main patterns are listed below:
*Large intestinal vacuity cold (''dà cháng xü hán'')
*Large intestinal humor depletion (''dà cháng yè kuï'')
*Large intestinal damp-heat (''dà cháng shï rè'')
*Large intestinal heat bind (''dà cháng rè jié'')
*Large intestinal cold bind (''dà cháng hán jié'')
[Deadman, Peter (2007) ''A Manual of Acupuncture'']
Notes
Bibliography
*Cheng, X.-n., Deng, L., & Cheng, Y. (Eds.). (1987). ''Chinese Acupuncture And Moxibustion''. Bei
jing: Foreign Languages Press.
*Maciocia, G. (2005). ''The Foundations Of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text For Acupuncturists And Herbalists''. Philadelphia, MA: Elseverier Churchill Livingstone.
*Yin, H.-h., & Shuai, H.-c. (1992). ''Fundamentals Of Traditional Chinese Medicine''. Beijing, China: Foreign Languages Press.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Large Intestine (Chinese Medicine)
Traditional Chinese medicine