Large Intestine Cold
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
At a glance
Preliminary reading: What is a pattern? The concept of Cold The Large Intestine in Chinese Medicine
Key attributes
Chinese name: 大肠寒结 Pinyin name: Dà Cháng Hán Jié
Pattern nature: Empty
Causes
Precursor patterns: Spleen Yang Deficiency
Common causes: 1. Diet, 2. Cold weather
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Borborygmi Cold limbs Loose stools Abdominal pain Clear urination
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Weak (Ruo)
Tongue description: Pale color tongue
Treatment
Treatment principle: Tonify and warm the Large Intestine and the Spleen.
Common formulas: Liang Fu Wan Tao Hua Tang
Pathology
This is an Empty Cold pattern which is caused by prolong Deficiency of Spleen Yang. The Yang fails to warm the Large Intestine, hence the symptoms of dull abdominal pain and cold limbs. The function of absorbing Body Fluids is also impaired and thus the patients develop loose stools like duck droppings.
It is different from the pattern of Cold invading the Large Intestine as the Cold here is Full. The Empty pattern often exists in chronic cases, while the Full one happens more in acute cases.
Causes
Precursor patterns: Large Intestine Cold can derive from Spleen Yang Deficiency
Diet: Over consumption of cold or raw foods can cause this pattern.
Cold weather : Abdomen's prolonged overexposed to cold environment can cause this pattern.
Diagnosing Large Intestine Cold
Diagnosing a pattern in Chinese Medicine is no easy feat and should be left to professional practitioners. In particular one has to know how to differentiate between different types of pulses and tongue coatings, shapes and colors as well as learn to read from a long list of seemingly unrelated symptoms.
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen) or weak (Ruo)
Tongue description: Pale color tongue
Main symptoms: Borborygmi Cold limbs Loose stools Abdominal pain Clear urination
Diagnosis commentary: Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the loose stools, dull abdominal pain and cold limbs.
Treating Large Intestine Cold
Treatment principle
Tonify and warm the Large Intestine and the Spleen.
Herbal formulas used to treat Large Intestine Cold
Liang Fu Wan
Source date: 1842 AD
Number of ingredients: 2 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Middle Burner. Dispels Cold. Promotes the movement of Qi. Alleviates Pain.
Formula summary
Liang Fu Wan is a 2-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1842 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that promote Qi movement.
Besides Large Intestine Cold, Liang Fu Wan is also used to treat Cold invading the Stomach or Cold invading the Large Intestine.
Tao Hua Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Warms the Middle. Dispels Cold. Binds up the bowels and stops dysenteric disorders.
Formula summary
Tao Hua Tang is a 3-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that bind up Intestines and secure abandoned conditions.
Besides Large Intestine Cold, Tao Hua Tang is also used to treat Cold invading the Large Intestine or Kidney and Spleen Yang Deficiency with Empty Cold.
Diet recommendations
Try avoiding cold and raw foods and cold environment. Protect the abdomen from coldness.
Consequence patterns
Large Intestine Cold is a Deficiency pattern. It is often the result of Spleen Yang Deficiency, which in the other hand, can give rise to Large Intestine Cold or worsen it.