V Overview of Large Intestine Channel Functions

Oct 19, 2024

Lecture Notes: Hand Yang Ming Large Intestine Channel

Functions of the Large Intestine

  • Transports and transforms waste.
  • Removes and reabsorbs fluids.

Channel and Organ Relationship

  • Large Intestine Channel Points: Generally do not have a strong effect on the large intestine organ.
  • Lower He Si Points:
    • Used to treat organs located in the lower jiao.
    • Large intestine's lower He Si point is Stomach 37 (on the leg).
    • Small intestine's lower He Si point is Stomach 39.
    • San Jiao's lower He Si point is UB 39.

Characteristics of the Yang-Ming Channel

  • Full of Qi and Blood: Tends towards fullness, excess, stagnation.
  • Treats Pain: Moves Qi and blood stagnation, thus stopping pain.
  • Clears Heat: Due to excess yang.
  • Pathway Considerations:
    • Treats conditions along the arm (finger, wrist, elbow, shoulder pain).
    • Conditions like hemiplegia, weakness, or atrophy of the arm.
    • Treats facial conditions (headache, eye/nose problems, toothache, facial paralysis).

Channel Pathways

  • Primary Channel:

    • Begins at LI1, travels up the arm, neck, and face.
    • Internal pathway connects back to the neck at DU14.
    • Enters the lower gums and crosses the midline, joining the stomach channel at Stomach 1.

  • Luo Connecting Channel:

    • Starts at LI6, connects to the lung channel, splits into teeth and ear.
    • Treats fullness and congestion in the chest.

  • Divergent Channel:

    • Similar to primary channel, treats disorders along its course including chest, breast, upper back, lung, and throat.
    • Emerges at supraclavicular fossa and converges at the throat.

  • Sinew Channel:

    • Binds at joints, connects to the spine for treating upper back conditions.
    • Crosses to the other side connecting to the mandible.

Clinical Applications

  • Treats arm conditions and pain due to stagnation and heat.
  • Treats neck and upper back conditions.
  • Addresses throat and facial disorders.
  • Useful for skin, fever, and phlegm nodules.
  • Points are less effective for intestinal issues; prefer leg points for such treatments.

Important Points

  • LI1, LI2, LI3: Good for clearing heat in the face.
  • LI4: Commonly used, expels pathogens, moves Qi and blood, contraindicated in pregnancy due to potential to induce labor.
  • LI5, LI6, LI7: Clearing heat, treating wrist, ear, and mouth disorders.
  • LI8, LI9, LI10: Harmonizing points; clinically less used for intestinal issues.
  • LI11: Clears heat, treats skin disorders, elbow pain, and hemiplegia.
  • LI12 to LI20: Treat area in which they are located (elbow, arm, shoulder, throat, nasal passages).

Point Combination Strategies

  • Guest and Host Method: Use source point on one channel with the Luo point on its yin-yang pair.
  • Local and Distal Points: Combines local points with distal points for specific effects (e.g. opening the nose).
  • Chain and Lock Method: Use a series of points to open and guide Qi and blood through a channel (e.g., treating hemiplegia post-stroke).

That's the overview of the Hand Yang Ming Large Intestine Channel. Remember, choose points based on their location and the pathway of the channel for effective treatment outcomes.