BODY TALK and the Large Intestine

BodyTalk and the Large Intestine – John Veltheim

This study of the 12 main meridians in Chinese acupuncture is a fascinating study. The Chinese medical orientation that is used is to first study the functions of the human body by describing the energy systems behind those functions. These insights are typically more important from a diagnostic and treatment perspective than the study of the actual physical organs. This was probably because trial and error over thousands of years showed that if you treated the energy system well, then the physical body repaired accordingly. This ties in to the general physics principle that “energy goes first, matter follows.” 

The Large intestine controls the transformation of digestive wastes from liquid to solid state and transports the solids through the rectum.  It plays a major role in the balance and purity of bodily fluids and, via the meridian system, assists the lungs in controlling the skin's pores and perspiration. Coupled with the lungs by way of the Metal element, the large intestine depends on the lungs for movement via the expansion and contraction of the diaphragm, which works like a pump to give impetus to peristalsis by regulating abdominal pressure. Hence, good breathing habits help to keep the bowel function regular. Conversely, congested lungs can be the result of sluggishness or blockages in the bowel. 

The emotion attributed to the large intestine and lungs is grief. Grieving is a way of processing life by allowing us to let go of the issues and memories associated with the cause of the grieving we are undertaking. For example, the grieving of the death of a loved one facilitates the release of the factors that involve strong entanglement with that person. The large intestine takes this to the next level. Its form of grieving is quite specifically the process of “letting go.” The concept of “letting go” does not really have to involve grief in an active way. Instead, it is more about the concept of letting go, or going with the flow, of life processes. If we have control issues, this can help produce and “anal-retentive” personality. This then leads to a tendency to want to control, and hold on to aspects of our life. The end result can be alternating constipation and diarrhea, hemorrhoids, and bowel deterioration later in life. 

The large intestine and lungs are strongly associated with the skin. They control the functioning of the skin and can account for many skin disorders such as eczema or chronic sores, keratin buildup, blemishes, etc. There is a strong relationship between asthma and eczema. When a patient has this combination you will see that during winter the asthma dominates and the skin improves. Conversely, in summer the eczema gets much worse, and the asthma improves. 

Psychologically, the yang large intestine and its yin metal element partner, the lungs, are the body’s main means of eliminating impurities at all levels. So besides eliminating the obvious in the form of toxins and wastes from our food, they are also very involved in the release of emotions, and negative thinking processes. Problems with the large intestine meridian develop into anal retentive, controlling, and obsessive personalities. Once both the meridian and the organ have been addressed with techniques such as BodyTalk, we will usually see changes in both the physiology and psychology of the patient.

(Jean Degenaar is Mayfair's in-house Body Talk specialist. Send any questions you have to mayfair.cottage@gmail.com)