Damp heat in the large intestine

Clinical manifestations : Abdominal pain, tenesmus ; blood and mucus in the stools, or, diarrhea with yellow, watery stools ; a burning sensation of the anus ; scanty deep - yellow urine ; possible fever and thirst ; a yellow, sticky tongue coating and a rolling, rapid pulse or soft, rapid pulse.

Etiology and pathology : Ibis syndrome often occurs in summer and autumn when pathogenic summer heat, damp and toxic heat invade the intestines and stomach. It may also be due to irregular food intake, excessive eating of raw and cold food, or intake of unclean food, all of which may injure the spleen, stomach and intestines. Abdominal pain is the outcome of retention of pathogenic damp heat in the intestines, which results in retardation of qi circulation. Damp heat injures the blood vessels of the intestinal tract and thus creates blood and mucus in the stools. Retention of damp heat in the large intestine impairs its function of transmission, eliciting diarrhea with yellow, watery stools, burning sensation in the anus and scanty, deep yellow urine. Consumption of body fluid by excessive heat gives rise to fever and thirst. A yellow, sticky tongue coating and a rolling, rapid pulse or a soft, rapid pulse are all signs of retention of damp heat in the interior.