Thelarge intestine (simplified Chinese:大肠;traditional Chinese:大腸;pinyin:dà cháng) is one of thefu organs stipulated bytraditional Chinese medicine (TCM). As distinct from the Western medical concept oflarge intestine, 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.
The large intestinemeridian communicates with thelung (肺), with which it is externally-internally related. The two paired organs are associated with themetal element (金) and the emotion of grief. The main function of the large intestine is to receive the waste material sent down from thesmall intestine, 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.[1]
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 theumbilicus, constipation or diarrhea, bloody stool ortenesmus with blood and pus in the stool, and prolapse of the rectum are signs of large intestine disease. The main patterns are listed below:
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