Large Intestine collapse
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 Large Intestine in Chinese Medicine
Key attributes
Chinese name: 肠虚滑泄 Pinyin name: Cháng Xū Huá Xiè
Pattern nature: Empty
Causes
Precursor patterns: Spleen Qi Sinking
Common causes: Overwork
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Fatigue Cold limbs Haemorrhoids Anus prolapse Poor appetite and three other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Weak (Ruo), Fine (Xi)
Tongue description: pale tongue
Treatment
Treatment principle: tonify Stomach and Spleen, raise Qi in the Large Intestine.
Common formulas: Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang
Pathology
Large Intestine Collapse is a kind of Qi Deficiency in the Large Intestine but the condition is much more severe than any normal Qi Deficiency. It is mostly caused by prolonged Spleen, Stomach and Large Intestine Qi Deficiency, or even Spleen Qi Sinking. All above patterns can give rise to chronic diarrhoea and anus prolapse.
Due to the Yang Deficiency of the Stomach and the Spleen, the patients often experiences tiredness after bowel movements, lack of appetite, cold limbs and strong desire to drink warm water and abdomen massage.
Causes
Precursor patterns: Large Intestine collapse can derive from Spleen Qi Sinking
Overwork : Prolonged overwork without proper rest can cause Spleen and Stomach Deficiency. As a result, the collapse of Large Intestine happens.
Diagnosing Large Intestine collapse
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), weak (Ruo) or fine (Xi)
Tongue description: pale tongue
Main symptoms: Fatigue Cold limbs Haemorrhoids Anus prolapse Poor appetite Chronic diarrhoea Mental exhaustion Thirst for warm drinks
Diagnosis commentary: Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the chronic diarrhoea and prolapse anus.
Treating Large Intestine collapse
Treatment principle
tonify Stomach and Spleen, raise Qi in the Large Intestine.
Herbal formulas used to treat Large Intestine collapse
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang
Source date: 1247
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Qi of the Spleen and Stomach (Middle Burner). Raises the Yang. Detoxifies. Lifts what has sunken.
Formula summary
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang is a 10-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1247, it belongs to the category of formulas that tonify Qi.
Besides Large Intestine collapse, Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang is also used to treat Qi Deficiency or Qi Collapsing or Qi Sinking.