The Pathophysiology of the Small Intestine

When reading the ancient classics of Chinese medicine, it becomes strangely apparent that of all the organs discussed, the small intestine has not received much attention. One can but wonder as to the reasons for this.

However, both in Western physiology as well as in Chinese medicine, the small intestine is a very important organ fulfilling indispensable physiological functions. As such it becomes undeniably pressing to revisit said organ to discover more about its significance as a member of the court of twelve organ officials of classical times.

Dr. Versluys has spent years looking into this subject matter and discovered that the small intestine is actually the most important organ in the body, second to the Heart. Both organs belong to the Imperial Fire of the South, but the Heart is considered inaccessible and off-limits to direct treatment. As such, the Small Intestine becomes the most important organ to treatment in pathologies pertaining to the governance of blood and the supply of fire in the body.

In this seminar, Versluys will finally present in public the culmination of his many years of research, explaining the physiology of the Small Intestine in relation to the three aspects of qi, water and blood, and explain how the many treatments said to affect the Mingmen, actually treat the Small Intestine. Examples of herbs and formulas treating the Small Intestine will be used to give insight into its workings and its diseases. To illustrate said points, we will analyze relevant passages of pertinent Han dynasty classics such as the Neijing Inner Canon, the Shanghan Lun Treatise on Cold Damage and the Jingui Yaolue Essentials of the Golden Cabinet.

After completion of this seminar, the participant will have been reminded of the purely medical nature of Chinese medicine and have gained a final understanding of the place and value of Mingmen theory. The student will realize the value of the Small Intestine and learn to treat its conditions as well as conditions of its surrounding and related organs such as bladder, kidney, large intestine, stomach and liver.

 

4 CREDITS (NCCAOM, CALIFORNIA)