METAL /|\ LARGE INTESTINE
This is the partner organ to the LUNG, as previously discussed
It is also associated with the METAL element, effected by sadness|worry|anger, resonates with the color white, and its’ season is autumn
“The main function of the Large Intestine is to revive food + drink form the Small Intestine. Having reabsorbed some of the fluids, it excretes the stools” Giovanni Maciocia. The Foundations of Chinese Medicine.
The LARGE INTESTINE controls:
* passage + conduction
* transforms stool + reabsorbs fluids
The patterns most commonly associated with the LARGE INTESTINE are those presenting with bowel movement disruptions
The LARGE INTESTINE meridian starts at the tip of the index finger
It runs along the inside of the index finger, up the arm to the shoulder
It will cross over to the back of the neck, to come back to the front of the collar bone
From the collar bone, a branch of the meridian will pass down to the lungs + large intestine organs
The meridian will continue over the neck, the cheek, the lower jaw, and crosses over the other side of nose
At the nose, it connects with the STOMACH meridian
The LARGE INTESTINE meridian has a total of 20 points
Acupuncture points along the LARGE INTESTINE meridian will:
* affect the arm, shoulder, neck + head
* expel exterior wind (common cold, Bell’s palsy, headache)
* treat face + sinuses
* many points will dissipate nodules + treat goiter
But what about the bowel disruptions that present with LARGE INTESTINE organ disharmonies?!?
So, this is where Organ System disharmonies + Organ Meridian disharmonies are clearly not the same
Welcome to the complexities of TCM: of the 20 points found on the LARGE INTESTINE meridian, only 3 of them will “regulate the intestines
TCM Fun Fact
In the West, we learn acupuncture points by their numbers (LARGE INTESTINE 1-20)
It was however encouraged to learn their NAMES, as they indicate location + function
For instance, LI 20 is named “Welcome Fragrance”
It is found next to the nostril, and will open the nose + remove obstruction from the channel
We use this point to clear nasal congestion + discharge to restore sense of smell
Qi stagnation in the Large Intestine
This Organ pattern might resonate with you, if:
* you eat in a hurry
* you work while eating
* you eat standing up
* you’re watching the news while eating
* you’re harboring resentment towards a spouse, partner, co-worker, family member, stranger who cut you off on the road, stranger who didn’t wear a mask while walking their dog (you get the picture)
You will find yourself with abdominal distention, constipation with “bitty stool”, irritability, + pain
With these symptoms, you might be increasing your water intake, take magnesium, drink smooth move tea, or even cut out gluten/dairy
All of these are a great approach to keeping your gut healthy, but if you do not make changes to your eating environment + emotions, nothing will change
What can you do?
Allocate more time for your meals, + CHEW your food
Step away from your work station
Enjoy your meal in the fresh air + sunlight
Turn off your phone/tv/radio while you eat
Avoid hard conversations during a meal
Journal + talk to your therapist if you know you have unresolved conflict in your relationships
Make an appointment to see your acupuncturist for consistent care (we always address your emotional health)
Emotions + the Large Intestine Organ
Sadness :: causes a deficient of Qi in the Lungs + Large Intestine
Worry :: depletes Lung Qi, which in turn fails to help the Large Intestine function correctly. This leads to stagnation of Qi
Anger :: causes Qi stagnation in the Large Intestine
The general symptoms of disruption of the Large Intestine function will present as bowel problems (bloating, constipation, diarrhea, pain)
One point on the Large Intestine meridian, which calms the mind, sent a patients foot flying into the air yesterday
It is often prescribed for headaches, but we used it for its’ function to strongly soothe the mind + calm anxiety
Even though the needle was not inserted deeply, the patient could feel the accumulation found in this point
This point is so incredibly powerful, that it is not allowed to be needles during pregnancy. It will induce labor.
Amazing how stress + emotions will show up in our body. Amazing how an acupuncture treatment effectively shifts that imbalance that was seriously disrupting the patients’ emotional well-being
A self-care ritual of decompressing in an Epsom salt bath not only supports your immunity, your stress, your pain, but can also support your bowel movements
Even though absorption is minimal, your body can actually use the magnesium sulfate to moisten + relax your intestines
The aspect of relaxing + calming down, will help your ability of processing emotions + support your mental health
This ritual can ease you out of the emotions that affect the Large Intestine (sadness, worry, anger)
Did you know that magnesium helps convert tryptophan into serotonin? Did you also know that there is a link between low serotonin levels + IBS?
If you do not have a tub to soak in, you can just soak your feet in your kitchen sink or a deep bucket
The grain associated with METAL season is HEMP SEED or known as HUO MA REN
This food will moisten dryness + lubricate the intestines
This herb is used on its’ own + in formulas to treat constipation due to dryness + blood deficiency
It is categorized as a laxative, and is generally safe when ingested in moderation
Sprinkle it into your morning oatmeal, add it to your toasted granola, bake it into your favorite cookie
ROOT + BRANCH Medicine
When it comes to treating according to TCM, the root + branch are important factors
ROOT: invisible, the origin of disease
BRANCH: visible, the manifestation of disease
The ultimate goal is to always treat the ROOT, however, some cases call for us to treat the BRANCHES first, in order to get to the ROOT (acute cases, urgency to mitigate symptoms)
If some branch manifestations are left untreated, they can turn into root diseases
One point that I love to include in facial rejuvenation treatments is LI 11 (“pool on bend”)
It is a SEA point on the elbow, where it BENDS - another great demonstration of understanding acupuncture point names (function + location!!!! See my previous post for context of acupuncture point names/numbers)
In one of our medical texts, it says that “in diseases of Yang within Yang [i.e skin], use the Sea points of the Yang channels” (1)
SEA points is where the Qi “in the channel is vast and deep; it collects, comes together and joins the general circulation of the body, like a large river flowing into the sea.” (2)
I include this in treatments in REJUVENATE, REVIVE, and MicroNeedling for its’ function:
1. clearing damp heat (i.e. acne, milia)
2. cooling the blood (i.e. psoriasis, eczema)
Healthy skin comes from within
(1) Yang Ji Zhou, Zhen Jiu Da Cheng (1980 Compendium of Acupuncture). People’s Health Publishing House, Beijing, first published in 1601
(2) Giovanni Maciocia, the Foundations of Chinese Medicine. Elsevier Limited, Second Edition, page 787
Open the airways /|\ breathing exercise
You’ll find the point RETURN FRAGRANCE right next to your nostril
You might feel tension, a slight depression, or pressure when you palpate this point
Use circular motions with your finger: inhale for the count of 4
Apply pressure for the count of 4, as you hold your inhale
Use circular motions for the exhale to the count of 4
Apply pressure for the count of 4, as you hold your exhale
Take your finger + gently sweep underneath your cheekbones towards the ear, 4 times
Move to the other side + repeat
Use your fingers, or a gua sha stone, or a reflexology tool, or even the soft end of a pen, you do not need any fancy tool for this breathing exercise
This is a great combination of opening your airways + calming your central nervous system
When we treat nasal congestion, we want to know all about your presentation. Is it sticky? Is it runny? Can it be expectorated easily? What’s the color? When is it at its worst? Are you thirsty? Are you sweating? Are you fatigued?
Once we gather insight form you, we then look at your tongue + check your pulse. This will tell us even more about what your treatment should look like.
We then choose a treatment made up of local + distal points
Distal points are located away from the problem area, but can treat the problem area quite effectively
Some local points for congestion are found around your nose, your cheek bones, your eyebrows
Some distal points to clear up congestion are found on your wrist, on your leg, on your ankle
I shared about an acupuncture point that I like to include in facial rejuvenation treatments
There are a few points on the LUNG + LARGE INTESTINE meridians that I like to include in the acupuncture treatment
These are not found on the face, but rather support our whole body health, in return eliciting change in our skin health
Their individual action + function support skin health, such as clearing acne, calming inflammation, nourishing tissue, and supporting your Shen (spirit, emotional health)