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V Understanding the Small Intestine Channel

Nov 2, 2024

Han Tai Yang Small Intestine Channel Lecture Notes

Introduction

  • Overview of the small intestine channel in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
  • Focus on:
    • Functions and characteristics of the small intestine.
    • Channel pathways: primary, luo-connecting, divergent, and sinew channels.
    • Functions and indications of individual points.
  • Resources: Audio version and handouts available at tcmstudy.net.
  • Patreon support acknowledgment.

Small Intestine in TCM vs Western Medicine

  • Western Medicine: Small intestine key in digestion and nutrient absorption.
  • TCM: Functions attributed more to the spleen and stomach.
  • TCM views small intestine as separating clear from turbid but clinically less significant.
  • Common patterns: Related to urination problems due to heart heat, lower abdominal pain.
  • Treatment unlikely via small intestine channel points; prefer points like Stomach 39 or UB27.

Characteristics of the Small Intestine Channel

  • Channel Pathway: Starts at little finger, ascends arm, zigzags shoulder blade.
    • Treats fingers, wrist, elbow, shoulder issues (rotator cuff muscles).
    • Neck and face connection; treats neck stiffness, occipital headache, eye/ear issues.
  • Channel Relationships:
    • Tai Yang Pair with UB: First exterior attack.
    • Heart Pair: Calms the shen, especially for heat-related shen problems.
    • Internal pathway to chest connects to Ren 17: Benefits the breast, promotes lactation.

Functions and Characteristics of the Small Intestine

  • Chapter 8 of Su-wen: Small intestine holds office of abundant reception and material transformation.
    • Receives food from stomach, separates clear from turbid.
    • Process continuation of spleen and stomach functions.
  • Yang Channel Characteristics:
    • Fire element; good for clearing heat (fever, malaria, eye pain, etc.).
    • Paired with heart; treats heart issues, shen problems due to heat.
    • Tai Yang level exterior attack; releases exterior, expels wind heat.
    • Not used for digestive disorders despite organ connections.

Channel Pathways

Primary Channel Pathway

  • Begins SI1, ascends ulnar side of arm.
  • Treats pain in fingers, wrist, elbow, shoulder, neck.
  • Connects to DU14, goes to neck and face.
  • Treats facial disorders, eye, ear issues.
  • Internal pathway connects heart, stomach, small intestine.
  • Connects to Ren 17, explains breast-related functions.

Luo-Connecting Channel

  • Starts at SI7, connects to heart channel, proceeds to LI15.
  • Treats shoulder issues, excess symptoms include loose joints.
  • Deficiency symptoms: Long finger-shaped warts, scabies.

Divergent Channel

  • Separates at shoulder, enters axilla, connects to heart and small intestine.

Sinew Channel

  • Follows primary channel, binds at key joints, treats shoulder/scapula issues.
  • Enters ear, treats ear pain, tinnitus.

Functions and Indications of Individual Points

SI1 - Jing-Well Point

  • Revives consciousness, clears heat, promotes lactation, benefits breast.

SI2 - Ying-Spring Point

  • Clears heat, treats upper channel end.

SI3 - Shu-Stream Point

  • Treats joint pain, neck, back issues, calms shen, treats epilepsy.

SI4 - Yuan Source Point

  • Treats pain along channel, empirical point for jaundice.

SI5 - Jing-River Point

  • Clears heat from upper channel, calms shen.

SI6 - Xi-Cleft Point

  • Treats acute pain, benefits eyes.

SI7 - Luo-Connecting Point

  • Releases exterior, calms shen, treats disorders along channel.

SI8 - He-Sea Point

  • Treats arm/shoulder pain, less used.

Points on Shoulder (SI9 - SI14)

  • Treat shoulder/scapula pain.
  • SI11 noted for unbinding chest, promoting lactation.

SI15

  • Descends Lung Qi, treats cough.

SI16 & SI17 - Window of Heaven Points

  • Treat neck/throat disorders, regulate Qi flow.

SI18

  • Treats facial disorders, especially due to wind/heat.

SI19

  • Treats ear disorders.

Summary: The small intestine channel is less about digestive functions and more about treating symptoms along its pathway, particularly clearing heat and addressing issues in the upper body, such as the neck and face. It has connections that allow treatment of shoulder issues and benefits related to the breast due to its internal pathways.

Full transcript