Large Intestine Functions
In TCM, the large intestine connects with the small intestine through the ileocaecal valve, and it's end part is the anus. The large intestine receives the digested food residue from the small intestine and continues to absorb water from these materials. At the end of the process, stools are formed and excreted through the anus. Large intestine disharmony usually presents with symptoms like abdominal pain, intestinal rumblings and diarrhea or constipation. Besides the action of large intestine, food residue transmission in the large intestine also relies on proper lubrication by body fluids, as well as the coordination of stomach, lungs and kidney. If any of these factors are abnormal, the functions of large intestine will be affected. For example, if the body has accumulated excess heat, intestinal fluids will dry up, and constipation will occur.
The large intestine and lungs are connected and communicated with each other through their meridians, this relationship makes them influential to one another physiologically and pathologically. For example, when the lungs are attacked by evils that impaired their disseminating and descending actions, body fluids will have difficulty in distributing to the intestines, and thus result in hard stools forming in the large intestine. If case if lung qi is deficient, the large intestine will be weakened too, leading to constipation due to qi deficiency. On the other hand, excess heat accumulated in the large intestine that disturbs its transmission process can in turn affect lung functions, resulting in chest stuffiness and coughing. Sometimes, physicians will use remedies that aim to promote the disseminating and descending actions of the lungs in order to relieve constipation, or they use remedies that aim to promote defecation in order to relieve lung problems, are concrete samples based on the above concept.
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