Acupuncture
and the Small Intestine
The small intestine is part of the gastrointestinal tract.
Up to 90 percent of the digestion and absorption of food occurs in the small
intestine and its main function is the absorption of minerals and nutrients
from the food we ingest. It is comprised of three separate parts, the duodenum,
the jejunum and the ileum. The small intestine measures upwards of six to seven
meters long and it has a surface area of over 200 meters. But in the Traditional Chinese Medical system,
the small intestine is much more than just its physical traits.
TCM pairs energetic meridians so that they form a complete
circuit. There is always a yang meridian and a yin meridian. The small
intestine meridian is paired with the heart meridian. Imbalances in the small
intestine meridian can lead to problems such as abdominal pain, digestion
issues and also appetite problems like overeating or poor appetite. The small
intestine meridian starts at the outer tip of the pinky finger and runs up the
arm, over the scapula of the shoulder, up the neck and ends in front of the
ear. The meridian pathway allows for it to be useful in treating not just
intestinal and abdominal issues, but also things like earaches, TMJ, shoulder
pain and neck pain.
The small intestine is the controller of the reception,
transformation and separation of solids and fluids. It receives food and fluids from the stomach
and then transforms them by separating the pure from the impure. The pure
essence is dispersed throughout the body and the impurities are flushed into
the large intestine for eventual removal from the body.
Since the small intestine is paired with the heart, it
should be noted both meridians belong to the movement of fire. The heart
meridian expresses movement upwards, while the small intestine meridian
expresses movement downwards. And when considering this pairing logically, it
makes sense. When we are experiencing heartache or stress (associated with the
heart meridian), most of us then have an upset gastrointestinal tract, pain in
the abdomen, vomiting, nausea or even a lack of appetite.
The small intestine meridian is particularly sensitive to
cold. Therefore eating lots of cold, raw foods can actually lead to problems in
the small intestine. When excess cold invades the small intestine, there may be
pain around the navel, watery diarrhea or loose stools, frequent clear
urination and loud gurgling sounds in the abdomen.
In TCM, the small intestine plays both a physical and a
mental role. The mental role of the small intestine is to separate the clear
thoughts from the turbid ones. This is another way the small intestine is
connected to the heart in TCM. The heart houses the mind and is in charge of
all of our mental health. Clear judgement depends on the ability of the small
intestine to separate the pure from the impure. When there is dysfunction in
the small intestine, then there may also be dysfunction in the mind.
While the small intestine may not seem as important as the
heart or the kidneys, it is still an integral part of our body and as such, it
should be taken care of equally as well. If you experience any abdominal or
emotional issues, turning to a licensed acupuncturist may be a good start. But
most of all, take good care of your gastrointestinal health and your body will
respond favorably.
New York Sports Acupuncture
Bishara Wilson, L.Ac., MSTOM
888.375.5444
No comments:
Post a Comment