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The Small Intestine in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Alternative Medicine and Natural Health in NYC

The Small Intestine is considered a Yang organ in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is energetically paired with the Heart. The functions of Yang organs in Chinese Medicine are much more similar to their functions in Western medicine than those of the Yin organs.

The Small Intestine receives partially digested food from the Stomach and temporarily stores it. During this time, the Small Intestine is said to “separate the clear from the turbid” meaning it absorbs the remaining nutrition from the food as well as absorbing fluids. Imbalance in the Small Intestine organ can lead to symptoms such as abdominal pain or distension, gurgling in the abdomen, as well as scanty or frequent urination.

The energetic channel associated with the Small Intestine begins on the outside of the little finger, travels up the inside of the arm, across the scapula and up the side of the neck, ending in front of the ear. It is often said that the Small Intestine channel has little to do with the Small Intestine organ and that the Small Intestine itself is better treated with points on other meridians.