Small intestinal disease reflects the disorder of the small intestine and the pathological changes of its functions in receiving and digesting food as well as in separating lucid substance from turbid substance. Clinically the symptoms of small intestinal disease are abdominal distension, borborygmus and loose stool.
 
In the theory of viscera and their manifestations, the digestive and absorptive functions of the small intestine are attributed to the spleen. So the disorders of the small intestine are usually included in the disorders of the spleen. The following is a brief description of sthenic heat syndrome of small intestine due to the heart transferring heat to the small intestine.

   
Sthenic heat syndrome of small intestine
Sthenic heat syndrome of small intestine refers to the symptoms due to exuberance of heat in the small intestine. This syndrome is usually caused by the heart transferring heat to the small intestine.
 
Clinical manifestations:
Dysphoria and thirst, ulcer in the mouth and on the tongue, scanty and brownish urine, inhibited urination, scorching pain in urination, hematuria, reddish tongue, yellowish tongue fur and rapid pulse. These symptoms are usually seen in Behcet's disease, infection of urinary tract and sicca syndrome.
 
Analysis of the symptoms:
Dysphoria is caused by internal exuberance of heart fire which disturbs mind; thirst is caused by heat scorching body fluid; ulcer in the mouth and on the tongue are caused by hyperactivity of heart fire; scanty and brownish urine, inhibited urination and scorching pain in urination are caused by exuberant heat in the small intestine transferred by the heart because the heart and the small intestine are internally and externally related to each other; hematuria is caused by extravasation of blood due to exuberant heat scorching the yin collaterals; reddish tongue, yellowish tongue fur and rapid pulse are the signs of internal exuberance of heat.
 
Key points for syndrome differentiation:
This syndrome is marked by vexation, thirst, mouth and tongue ulcer as well as scanty urine, inhibited urination and scorching pain in urination.