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
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