Small Intestine Deficient and 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 Small Intestine in Chinese Medicine The concept of Deficiency The concept of Cold
Key attributes
Chinese name: 小肠虚寒 Pinyin name: Xiǎo Cháng Xū Hán
Pattern nature: Empty
Causes
Precursor patterns: Spleen Yang Deficiency
Common causes: Excessive consumption of cold and raw foods
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Diarrhea Borborygmi Cold limbs Desire for hot drinks Pale and abudant urination and one other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Slow (Chi), Weak (Ruo)
Tongue description: Pale body, white coating.
Treatment
Treatment principle: Expel Cold, warm the Intestines, tonify Spleen Yang.
Common formulas: Xiao Jian Zhong Tang Shen Ling Bai Zhu San
Pathology
This is an Interior pattern of Deficiency and Cold.
It almost always is paired with Spleen Yang Deficiency, so much that it's difficult to distinguish these two patterns. The surest sign the Small Intestine is involved is the presence of borborygmi (gurgling noise made by the movement of Fluid in the intestines).
The Empty-Cold impairs the Small Intestine's function of separating Fluids, which is what leads to the symptoms of diarrhea and the abundant clear urine.
Causes
Precursor patterns: Small Intestine Deficient and Cold can derive from Spleen Yang Deficiency
Excessive consumption of cold and raw foods: Excessive consumption of cold and raw foods interferes with the Small Intestine transforming function.
Diagnosing Small Intestine Deficient and 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), slow (Chi) or weak (Ruo)
Tongue description: Pale body, white coating.
Main symptoms: Diarrhea Borborygmi Cold limbs Desire for hot drinks Pale and abudant urination Abdominal pain alleviated by pressure
Diagnosis commentary: Dull abdominal pain, borborygmi and diarrhea are enough in and of themselves to diagnose Small Intestine Deficient and Cold.
Treating Small Intestine Deficient and Cold
Treatment principle
Expel Cold, warm the Intestines, tonify Spleen Yang.
Herbal formulas used to treat Small Intestine Deficient and Cold
Shen Ling Bai Zhu San
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Augments the Qi. Strengthens the Spleen. Leaches out Dampness. Stops diarrhea.
Formula summary
Shen Ling Bai Zhu San is a 10-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1107 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that tonify Qi.
Besides Small Intestine Deficient and Cold, Shen Ling Bai Zhu San is also used to treat Stomach and Spleen Qi Deficiency or Stomach and Spleen Yin Deficiency.
Xiao Jian Zhong Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Warms and tonifies the Middle Burner (Spleen and Stomach). Tonifies Qi. Relieves spasmodic pain.
Formula summary
Xiao Jian Zhong Tang is a 6-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that warm the middle and dispel Cold.
Besides Small Intestine Deficient and Cold, Xiao Jian Zhong Tang is also used to treat Stomach Yang Deficient and Cold.
Diet recommendations
Stay clear from cold and raw foods, eat only cooked foods.
Consequence patterns
Although this pattern may derive from Spleen Yang Deficiency, it may equally lead to it
A long-term condition of Small Intestine Deficient and Cold may lead to Kidney Yang deficiency