Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institiute

Spasmodic Colic

A spasmodic colic is known as Large Intestine Cold in TCM terms. The horse may exhibit a pale tongue, sudden abdominal pain, and unusually cold front and hind legs and increased peristaltic movement. To the TCM practitioner, this condition is seen as resulting from the intake of too much cold food or fluid, or excessive and unprotected exposure to the cold.


POINT	TRADITIONAL NAME	FUNCTION
St 25	Heavenly Pillar	Alarm Point for the Large Intestine. Use for abdominal disorders and to increase circulation.
St 27	Big Great	Moves stagnant Chi of the lower abdomen and regulates Stomach Chi.
Liv3	Bigger Rushing	Calms spasms, relieves nervous tension and stress.
LI 20	Welcome Fragrance	Meeting point of the Large Intestine and Stomach meridians.
BI 205	Spleen Back Transporting Point	Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach, increasing their transformation and transportation functions.
BI 25	Back Transporting Point of the Large Intestine	Regulates the Large Intestines. Relieves abdominal pain, gas, and constipation.
BI 26	Origin Gate Back	Removes obstructions. Use with BI 25 to relieve constipation and gas.

When cold is present in the Large Intestine, it can cause sudden pain or spasms as it interrupts the smooth flow of Chi or life force energy. This pattern of imbalance can be helped by warming and strengthening or tonifying the Large Intestine, which will release the cold.