There you go. Each month in traditional Chinese medicine is dedicated to one of the organs. June hasn't been left out. This month is ruled by the Small Intestine. This organ is one of the most important ones in terms of food digestion. It is the small intestine, if it functions properly, that decides whether nutrients from food will be properly absorbed or eliminated. It is therefore in our best interest to look after the small intestine as... as our best friend after all!

If you were to ask at the doctor's office, a Western doctor would describe it something like this. The small intestine is a section of the digestive tube, three to seven metres long, curved into a sinuous shape to fit into the abdominal cavity. It is found in the middle part of the abdominal cavity and is attached to the abdominal wall by a special tissue structure called a ring. The appearance of this ring can be likened to a fan, the handle of which is attached to the abdominal wall, while its long free edges support the intestinal villi. The collar not only fixes the intestine, but also supplies it with blood, because intestinal tissue (like any other organ) needs a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients.

The diameter of the small intestine is about three centimetres. The wall of the small intestine is covered with villi called villi. These are the basic absorptive units of the small intestine. The villi substantially enlarge the surface of the mucosa in order to absorb substances. The total surface area of the small intestine is thus comparable to the size of a tennis or football court, which is approximately 250 - 300^m2. This is approximately one hundred times the size of the surface of the body.

• The length of the human intestine is about 7 metres.
• Of the total length of the intestine, 3 to 5 metres is accounted for by the small intestine.
• It takes about 7 to 9 hours for digestive material to pass through the small intestine.

But why does the small intestine have to be so long? Mainly because its main function is the absorption of nutrients from ingested food into the bloodstream. It is therefore necessary to have as much surface area as possible to participate in the process of nutrient absorption. However, a length of around three metres would not be sufficient on its own - that is why the inner surface of the intestine is wrinkled into countless folds, and from each fold protrude thousands of long finger-like projections - villi. Imagine 20 to 40 of them per square millimetre. But even the surface of the villi is not smooth: it is covered with a layer of micro-villi, so that it resembles a fine brush. By this ingenious device, the small intestine increases its inner surface until it is as large as, as we have said, a football.

How does classical Chinese medicine see it?

According to the ancient Chinese physicians, the main function of the small intestine is the further transformation of food. Why more? Because as we know and as they knew in ancient China, the digestive system does not begin with the intestine. When we say transformation of food, we mean changing it into Qi, the life energy usable by the body to function properly.

In classical literature, the Small Intestine is said to control the separation of the clear from the turbid. What the small intestine gets to process goes partially upwards. Up goes the good, the pure, that which can still be used for the healthy functioning of the human body and also the human soul. And what is not really useful anymore will go further, actually to the final stage, to the Large Intestine. The small intestine is therefore a kind of last instance that can still determine what will remain in the body and thus become part of us and what will have to leave the body.

The small intestine, in breaking down food, simultaneously carries out its transformation and sorting. Its activity produces three basic products: the essences of ingested food and liquids, the unnecessary remains of solid food and the waste residues of liquids. The essence, or pure, is transported by the energy of the Spleen to the Lungs and Heart, and thence to the Blood, which distributes it throughout the body. The uneaten food and liquids, or turbid, go down with the aid of the energy of the Stomach, the solid waste entering the Large Intestine and passing out through the rectum, while the liquid waste is collected in the Urinary Bladder with the aid of the energy of the Triple Radiator and the Kidneys and thence excreted in the form of urine.

Psychologically speaking, the strong Qi of the Small Intestine influences clarity of thought, judgment and the ability to make decisions (the power to make these decisions is of course already controlled by someone else: the Gallbladder).

Myco and Yao for the Small Intestine

We have a solution for your small intestine, no matter how bad it is, in the form of 4 very popular products.

• Chaga

Chaga (or chaga) has been a part of traditional Russian and Chinese medicine for centuries, believed in its ability to revive and soothe the body and spirit. Our Chaga grows in the ecologically pure natural environment of the Northeastern Chinese highlands on birch tree trunks. We use the berries to produce our extracts.

• Mutton syrup

Herbs can literally work wonders. When you combine them correctly, plus add extracts from vitalch mushrooms, you can positively support a child's body in a purely natural way. The MycoMedica range of children's syrups is designed to help harmonise various imbalances in the child's body. Traditional Chinese medicine uses traditional recipes, which we also respect when making our syrups. The lamb syrup is based on the traditional Chinese medicine recipe of Bao He Wan.

• Cleaning the granary

Chinese herbs or yao are the basis of the Granary Cleansing tincture. For maximum effectiveness, we use only the highest quality ingredients and do not dilute the finished tincture any further. The Granary Cleansing Tincture is based on the traditional Chinese medicine recipe Jian Pi Wan. And why did we call it that? Well, because we have - as our grandmothers used to say - a good poetic gut! 

• MycoGastro

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the synergistic combination of hericia, aloe vera, chlorella and licorice supports the Wei (Stomach) and regulates its Qi, or energy. It also acts on the functioning of the Small Intestine. MycoGastro is based on the traditional Chinese medicine recipe Hou Tou He Zhong San.

June is the month when we already feel real summer in our bones and the children are looking forward to the holidays. But poor Small Intestine won't have any time off. Never. So at least give him a little home spa in June. Start regenerating and saving him. Take care of him. He's our best friend and he deserves care and attention.