Vanessa Parducci , naturopath specializing in iridology, Chinese medicine and holistic medicine for dogs, talks about the importance of the intestine according to Chinese medicine.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the intestine is seen as "the area of the navel, the center of energy, the sea of qi", where " qi" means vital energy .
According to this vision, focusing on this is equivalent to promoting an interaction between all the organs of our body , thus stimulating a condition of well-being and longevity of our entire organism.
Gut-brain axis
We are used to often hearing the statement: Gut-brain axis, but what exactly are we talking about?
The intestine, which we can define as the " second brain or enteric brain ", comes into action several times during our day, and its function is very similar to that of the cranial brain , already known to all of us.
In fact, at the intestinal level there are actual digestive neurons , located between two muscular layers of the digestive system. These neurons produce neurotransmitters and hormones , chemical molecules similar to those produced by the cranial brain, necessary for intercellular communications and for the correct functioning of the organism .
The enteric brain assimilates the events and emotions that derive from the cranial brain, just as the latter can influence digestive processes. In practice they influence each other , which is why we speak of an axis between the two organs.
Emotions & intestines
Stress, pain or sadness , a traumatic event , a feeling of anxiety and fear can cause, for example, nausea, vomiting, the classic stomach ache or an attack of dysentery. If, however, we are sad, feel alone, or are trying to process a disappointment , it will be easy for many people to find some comfort in food, especially in carbohydrates or sweets which become " comfort food" , thus triggering an apparent sensation. of well-being, due to the release of endorphins, while on the contrary some people "stomach closes".
In case of constipation , however, we will feel weighed down, bloated, tired and with little appetite , which will also be reflected in our mood and our performance during the day.
Intestine & Polomon
For TCM, the large intestine is the viscera coupled to the lung organ which has the task of separating the pure part of the air from the impure part that is expelled, so the large intestine reabsorbs a final portion of liquids that are still usable and expels waste through the feces.
The Lung and Large Intestine meridians run along the upper limbs (palmar side for Lung, dorsal side for Large Intestine) and reach the upper part of the body (chest for Lung, head for Large Intestine).
This set also includes the skin , the nose, the nasal mucus (not that of a cold , but that which keeps the mucous membranes humidified).
What happens, however, when the lung and large intestine are not in balance?
Their Qi (“energy”) will struggle to carry out the functions for which they are responsible and a series of related disorders may appear:
Lung
- ease of getting sick
- cold, respiratory allergies , sore throat, cough
- accumulation of phlegm , sinusitis
- coldness
- paleness of the face
- tiredness that worsens with activity
- weak voice, hoarse voice (even chronic), loss of voice
- difficulty breathing, feeling of fatigue/shortness of breath at the slightest effort
- sweating at the slightest effort
- accumulation of fluids on the face
- dry skin, skin problems
- constipation
- problems related to the rhythm of the menstrual cycle
Large intestine
- loose stools, diarrhea
- constipation
- abdominal swelling, borborygmi, flatulence
As for the small intestine, the bowels, it is coupled to the heart organ .
It deals with reception (of the impure substances that come out of the stomach), transformation (continuation of the digestive process) and separation (of the "pure", the liquids and essences of recoverable foods, from the "impure", the liquid and solid substances of waste).
Its functional system includes the Heart and Small Intestine meridians , which run along the upper limbs (palm side for Heart, dorsal side for Small Intestine) and reach the upper part of the body (chest for Heart, head for Small Intestine).
This set also includes the blood vessel system , the tongue as an organ of speech, and sweat (especially emotional sweat).
What if the Heart and Small Intestine are out of balance?
A series of disorders will appear linked to all the compartments that this organ and this viscera deal with, since their Qi ("energy") is no longer able to carry out the related physiological functions in a normal way.
Heart
- palpitations (sensation of feeling your heart beating) ranging from mild to intense
- rapid rhythm or tachycardia
- irregular heart rhythm
- tiredness and shortness of breath
- restlessness and anxiety that worsen in the evening
- strong and continuous anxiety and agitation
- panic attacks , speaking in a disjointed way
- dizziness
- paleness (of face, lips, mucous membranes)
- difficulty concentrating
- difficulty falling asleep / light sleep / frequent awakenings / insomnia
- night sweats, heat in hands, feet and chest
- ulcers in the mouth and tongue
- bitter mouth
- thirst
- red face / red cheeks
- scanty and dark urine
Small intestine
- abdominal pain
- scanty and dark urine
- pain or burning when urinating, blood in the urine
- abdominal swelling, meteorism
With this we are able to understand how closely the organ and bowels are linked in TCM and how emotions or disturbances lead to reactions such as those described above .
So what to do?
The food aspect is certainly of extreme importance, pay attention to the quality of the food we ingest, listen and evaluate the reactions of our body when we eat certain foods, try to process the emotions in the best possible way, perhaps with the help of a professional. that disturb us or the traumas that we cannot metabolise. Drink lukewarm/hot water and not cold water with ice throughout the day , for example, limit the use of fermentative foods as much as possible and cyclically, always after a careful medical history carried out by a specialist , take specific supplements to support the intestine.
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