What are the Functions of Large Intestine Meridian?
The Large Intestine is the Yang organ paired with the Yin Lungs in the Metal Element. According to the Huangdi Neijing medical text written in 2,700 BCE, its function is to “Transport all turbidity. All waste products go through it”. The Large Intestine is closely associated with the lungs and skin, which are other important detox organs. It absorbs liquid and releases anything that is no longer needed in the way of food, toxins, emotions, thereby cleansing the body, mind, and spirit.
The Source Point of the LI meridian is LI-4, Hegu, in the web of the hand between index finger and thumb. Massaging this point helps to relieve pain, clear stagnation, and vitalize Qi flow in all meridians. It’s also good for sore throat, blocked nose, abdominal pain, constipation, and more.
Large Intestine Psycho-Spiritual Issues:
The Large Intestine’s close relationship to the Lungs makes it equally affected by emotions of sadness, grief, and worry. An imbalance in the Large Intestine can cause physical weakness or emotional introversion, accompanied by feelings of depression, irritability, discouragement, distress, and apathy.
Large Intestine Consciousness
Letting go, Releasing , Grief, Self-poisoning, Control, Stubbornness, Compulsiveness, Confusion, Rigidity, Guilt, Regret, Hanging on.
Signs of Imbalance in the Large Intestine Meridian:
Colitis, Constipation, Diarrhea, Diverticulitis, Constipation,sallow skin, age spots, slow metabolism, stubbornness, confusion, sore throat, rigid thinking, resisting change, clinging to the old, control issues, tendency to eat too many cold foods, tendency to like greasy or spicy foods, tendency to consume excessive meat or alcohol, Acidic body ph, swollen gums, smelly or bloody stools, burning anus, accumulated mucus, or slick stools, bloating, lack of energy, bottling up or stifling emotions, tends to gain weight, inflammation, food allergies, edema, foul breath, thin hair, hair loss, colon cancer.
Large Intestine’s Worst Enemies:
Dehydration, sedentary lifestyle, gulping down meals, stagnant job, toxic environment, poorly chewed foods, irregular eating patterns, low-nutrient foods, acidic foods and foods that cause congestion, such as dairy (except yogurt), sugar and sweets, gluten, wheat, GMO-foods, refined or processed foods, excess raw fruits (sugar), excess raw vegetables and mushrooms (mold from the soil), peppers, cold beverages (which immobilize the digestive track), yeast, excess vinegar, alcohol, fatty, greasy and deep-fried food, ice cream, milkshakes, and cold dairy foods.
Large Intestine’s Best friends:
Drinking plenty of clean water, Chewing food completely down to a liquid, Moving the body, Energetic, relaxing movement such as Qigong, Taichi, Nadhi Shoshana breathing. Massage and lymph movement for detoxing, Sweat a bit. Release the old and accept the new. Express emotions including crying. Meditation, Yoga. Eat an alkaline diet of fresh vegetables lightly cooked in steam. GREEN vegetables, Eat lots of natural fiber from vegetables. Avoid sugar.
Foods that relieve dampness are: onion, cinnamon, ginger, scallion, basil, rosemary, dill, oregano, sage, parsley, cardamom, nutmeg, fennel, anise, clove, coriander, leek, chives, adzuki beans, celery, lettuce, alfalfa, turnips, raw honey, seaweed, fenugreek, and flax seed.
To Balance the Large Intestine Meridian:
Set a clear intention to build health. Trace the entire meridian in an upward direction. Start at LI-1, the outside corner of the index fingernail. Trace up the edge of the finger, between the two tendons of the thumb at the wrist joint along the bony margin of the inner edge of the arm (the radius bone) to the elbow. Continues up to LI-15 on the outer shoulder muscle. Cross the shoulder to center spine at GV-14 Trace forward to the collarbone and up the side of the neck, over the top lip to LI-20, the end point by the opposite nostril. (You may optionally trace the internal branch connecting down from collarbone around the lung and to the large intestine. It descends internally to the lung and then the large intestine. ) Trace both sides at the same time, or one after the other.
To Clear the Large Intestine Meridian:
Set a clear intention to build health. Trace backwards from the end point by the opposite nostril. Trace across the midline of face down the neck to collarbone, back around the shoulder to C-7 at center of spine, then up over to the inner arm, down the inner arm to the outside corner of the index fingernail. Then trace forward 3 times as indicated above, both sides together or one at a time.
“My biggest beauty secret is a clean colon. I take a colonic every week.” Mae West