I. Physiological Functions and Pathological Core of the Large Intestine

1. Physiological Characteristics of the Large Intestine

• Official of Conduction: Receives residue from the small intestine, absorbs water to form feces (as described in “Su Wen · Ling Shu”), closely related to the descending of lung qi and the warming by kidney yang.
• Master of Body Fluids: Absorbs remaining water, regulates fluid metabolism; deficiency of large intestine fluid leads to constipation, while stagnation of damp heat causes diarrhea.

2. Core Pathogenesis of Large Intestine Diseases

• Abnormal Conduction: Stagnation of qi or imbalance of body fluids, leading to constipation, diarrhea, and prolapse.
• Damp Heat and Deficiency Cold: Damp heat descending causes tenesmus, while deficiency cold leads to incontinence.

II. Differential Diagnosis and Treatment Plans for Large Intestine Diseases

Lung Deficiency Diarrhea: Due to deficiency of large intestine qi and yang, unable to retain, leading to chronic diarrhea and prolapse. Spleen deficiency and sinking, insufficient pectoral qi, can also cause prolapse. Large intestine yang deficiency is prone to internal cold, with cold evil congealing, causing lower abdominal pain, borborygmus, preference for warmth and pressure on the abdomen, and cold limbs.
Treatment: Warm yang and tonify qi, consolidate and lift
Techniques: Moxibustion at Shenque, tapping Baihui, Tianshu (pressing Tianshu points, both sides simultaneously)
Dietary Therapy: Umeboshi, apples, hawthorn, lemon, pomegranate peel, lotus seeds can also be used. (Acidic foods can consolidate and stop diarrhea, but consider if the stomach and intestines can tolerate them)

Large Intestine Fluid Deficiency

Internal heat, lung fire, and lung dryness
Insufficient large intestine fluid, dry and hard stools, accumulation in the intestines leading to bad breath, dry mouth
Treatment: Supplement fluids, moisten the intestines
Dietary Therapy: Ma Zi Ren Wan (Chinese patent medicine), honey, lard, almonds
Techniques: Abdominal massage, double press Tianshu points, Chize, Kongzui

Large Intestine Damp Heat

Symptoms: Prolapse (due to dampness obstructing the large intestine), abdominal pain, dysentery with pus and blood
Initial dampness in the large intestine, water metabolism not being expelled, leading to loose stools, sticky stools, accumulation causing heat, forming damp heat, tenesmus, lung dryness and heat affecting large intestine fluid deficiency, spleen deficiency and qi sinking also causing water retention, need to regulate the spleen, clear lung heat
Techniques: Zusanli, Chize, Kongzui, Quchi, clear stomach fire
Dietary Therapy: Purslane, mung bean soup, green tea decoction. Must consider the constitution, avoid cold foods if the spleen and stomach are weak
(When using bananas for constipation, make sure they are fully ripe)

Prolapse: Dampness obstructing the large intestine; middle jiao blockage, stomach qi not descending, spleen qi not ascending, water retention, pectoral qi sinking
Techniques: Abdominal massage, Golden Line, tapping Baihui

Hemorrhoids: Damp heat first, qi stagnation. Heat damaging the collaterals of the large intestine (common in people who sit for long periods or are anxious)
Treatment: Cool blood and stop bleeding, treat both exterior and interior, Ma Yinglong, Huaijiao Wan.

III. Special Therapies and Practical Guidelines

1. Techniques and Acupoint Adjustments

• Damp Heat Syndrome:
  • Quchi + Kongzui: Clear lung and stomach damp heat, combined with Zusanli to strengthen the spleen and resolve dampness.
  • Tianshu Point Pressure: Press both sides simultaneously to regulate large intestine qi.
• Deficiency Cold Syndrome:
  • Moxibustion at Shenque + Mingmen: 15 minutes daily to warm and supplement spleen and kidney yang.
  • Tapping Baihui: Lift central qi, improve prolapse.

2. Analysis of Classic Formulas

• Ge Gen Qin Lian Tang: Gegen relieves muscles and lifts yang, Huangqin and Huanglian clear damp heat, suitable for acute enteritis.
• Ma Zi Ren Wan: Fire hemp seed moistens the intestines, Zhishi and Paojiang promote bowel movement, honey relieves urgency, treats dry stool constipation.

IV. Dietary Therapy and Daily Care

1. Food and Medicine Homologous Schemes

• Damp Heat Type:
  • Purslane Mung Bean Soup: Purslane clears heat and detoxifies, mung bean promotes diuresis and reduces swelling (use cautiously in those with spleen and stomach deficiency cold).
  • Green Tea Decoction: 3g of green tea brewed as tea, clears intestinal damp heat (add 5g of Sophora flower for those with bloody stools).
• Deficiency Cold Type:
  • Pomegranate Peel Brown Sugar Water: 10g of pomegranate peel brewed with brown sugar, astringes intestines and stops diarrhea.
  • Gorgon Fruit Walnut Porridge: Gorgon fruit consolidates the kidneys, walnuts warm the lungs, improves yang deficiency constipation.

2. Taboos and Health Preservation

• Dietary Taboos: Avoid spicy foods (chili, alcohol) for damp heat, avoid raw and cold foods (cold drinks, seafood) for deficiency cold.
• Sleep Schedule Recommendations: Rub the abdomen clockwise 100 times in the morning to promote large intestine peristalsis; go to bed before 11 PM to nurture yang qi.

V. Modern Research and Classic Origins

• “Huang Di Nei Jing”: “The large intestine is the official of conduction, transformation comes from it” — clearly states the conduction function of the large intestine.
• Modern Research: Moxibustion at Shenque can increase serum 5-HT levels in the intestines, improving irritable bowel syndrome.
• Tongue Manifestations: Differentiating between red tongue with yellow greasy coating (damp heat) and pale swollen tongue with white coating (deficiency cold).

Note: The therapies described in this article require guidance from a TCM practitioner. Organic diseases (such as intestinal obstruction, tumors) require combined treatment with Western medicine. The dosages of formulas are standard for adults and need to be adjusted individually in clinical practice.