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Summary of Small Intestine Disease Patterns

Chapter 7: Small Intestine Disease Patterns

Physiological Characteristics and Functions of the Small Intestine

  • Location: Lower abdomen, connected to the Stomach (above) and Large Intestine (below).

  • Structure: Approximately 20 feet long, hollow tubular organ (tortuous and piled-up).

  • Channel Pathway: Starts at the ulnar side of the tip of the little finger, courses up the medial arm, to the shoulder, connecting with Heart, Stomach, and further inside with the Heart.

Functions of the Small Intestine

  1. Receives and Transforms:

    • Accepts partially digested food from the Stomach (chyme).

    • Further digestion, compounding, and absorption of nutrients.

  2. Separates and Secretes Clear from Turbid:

    • Clear (qing): Absorption of food and water essence, sent to the Lung and Heart for distribution.

    • Turbid (zhu): Movement of solid waste to the Large Intestine and water waste to the Urinary Bladder.

    • Governs water metabolism, known as "Small Intestine governs ye-fluids" (zhuye).

Common Etiological Factors in Small Intestine Patterns

  • Dysfunction Causes:

    1. Exopathogenic cold or damp-heat invasion.

    2. Improper diet (overconsumption of cold, raw, spicy, hot, greasy foods).

    3. Emotional stress.

    4. Improper treatments (overuse of certain herbs).

    5. Chronic illness or aging affecting small intestine function.

Major Clinical Manifestations of Small Intestine Disease

  1. Abnormal Urination:

    • Definition: Changes in quantity (copious/scanty), frequency, color, or difficult elimination.

    • Etiology: Fluid issues due to failure in clear-turbid separation, leading to excess fluid in Urinary Bladder.

    • Symptoms: Frequent, copious urination or scanty, burning urination when excess heat is present.

  2. Loose Stools or Diarrhea:

    • Definition: Frequent passing of watery or shapeless feces.

    • Etiology: Cold invasion, improper diet, chronic illness.

    • Symptoms: Excess fluids pour down to the Large Intestine, leading to increased peristalsis.

  3. Other Signs:

    • Abdominal pain, distention, borborygmus (rumbling).

Common Patterns in Small Intestine Disease

  • Excess Patterns:

    1. Small Intestine Excess Fire.

    2. Small Intestine Qi Stagnation.

  • Deficiency Patterns:

    1. Small Intestine Deficiency Cold.

Small Intestine Deficiency Cold Pattern

  • Definition: Yang deficiency causing hypoactivity.

  • Manifestations: Dull abdominal pain (relieved by warmth), borborygmus, loose stools, clear copious urination, intolerance to cold.

  • Etiology: Improper diet, overconsumption of cold foods, chronic illness.

  • Indicators: Pale tongue (thin white coating), deep/weak pulse.

Small Intestine Excess Fire Pattern

  • Definition: Excess heat in the Small Intestine.

  • Manifestations: Frequent painful urination (burning sensation), scanty dark yellow urine, irritability, thirst, red tongue (yellow coating), rapid pulse.

  • Etiology: Exopathogen invasion, unbalanced diet (greasy, spicy foods), emotional stress.

Small Intestine Qi Stagnation Pattern

  • Definition: Qi stagnation leading to pain.

  • Manifestations: Twisting, colicky pain (extending to scrotum), distention, dislike of pressure, relieved by passing gas.

  • Etiology: Cold invasion, improper diet, excessive emotional strain.

Summary of Small Intestine Disease Patterns

  • Key Points:

    • Abnormal Urination: Frequent/copious or scanty/short urination.

    • Loose Stools/Diarrhea: Watery feces.

    • Identifying Symptoms:

    • Small Intestine Deficiency Cold: Dull lower abdominal pain, pale tongue, deep weak pulse.

    • Small Intestine Excess Fire: Frequent painful urination, thirst, rapid pulse.

    • Small Intestine Qi Stagnation: Colicky pain, distention, pain relief from gas.