Secret Formula for Constipation
1) Established Formulas for Treating Constipation:
① Cistanche Pill (from "Jisheng Fang"): Cistanche 2 fen, Saussurea 1 fen, powdered and made into pills the size of mulberry seeds with juice from sesame seeds. Cistanche warms and tonifies kidney yang, moistens the intestines and promotes bowel movement; Saussurea descends qi and guides stagnation; sesame seed juice moistens the intestines and facilitates defecation. Together, these herbs achieve the effect of warming the kidneys, descending qi, and moistening the intestines to relieve constipation, especially suitable for elderly or weak individuals with kidney yang deficiency causing constipation. Usage: Take 70 pills each time, on an empty stomach with rice congee.
② Su-Ma Porridge (recorded in "Comprehensive Medical Records from Ancient and Modern Books" under "Defecation and Urination"): Equal parts of sesame seeds and perilla seeds ground finely, water-filtered to extract juice, then cooked into porridge. Sesame seeds moisten the intestines and promote defecation; perilla seeds descend qi, resolve phlegm, and aid defecation. This formula is suitable for constipation due to dryness and obstruction in the large intestine.
③ Wei Lingxian Pill (recorded in "Comprehensive Medical Records from Ancient and Modern Books" under "Defecation and Urination"): Equal parts of Astragalus, Citrus aurantium, and Clematis root, powdered and made into honey pills the size of mulberry seeds. Astragalus tonifies qi; Citrus aurantium regulates qi and removes stagnation; Clematis root resolves stagnation and promotes defecation. Suitable for elderly individuals with dryness due to depleted body fluids. Usage: Take 50–70 pills each time, at any time, with ginger soup or plain water; avoid tea.
④ Yixue Dan (same source): Equal parts of Angelica and Rehmannia, powdered and made into pills with refined honey. Angelica nourishes blood; Rehmannia nourishes yin. Combined, they treat constipation caused by blood and yin deficiency.
⑤ Tiping San (from "Zabing Yuanyuan Xizhu"): Powdered Aconite root finely ground; one scallion white dipped in the powder and inserted into the anus—immediate relief occurs. Known as "Thunder Arrow," it treats both urinary and fecal retention. Aconite dispels wind-dampness, warms the body, and relieves pain; scallion white is pungent-warm and opens yang. Used together to treat cold-type constipation.
⑥ Fire Fumigation Method (from "Zhengzhi Hui Bu"): 1 liang of Rhubarb, 5 qian of Croton seed, powdered; 10 scallions, wine yeast mixed into a paste, add 3 fen of musk, apply to the navel, cover with cloth and fumigate with fire until intestinal sounds are heard strongly, then remove.
(2) Common Single-Formula Remedies for Senile Constipation include the following:
① 60g White Atractylodes, 30g Raw Rehmannia, 3g升Ma, decocted and taken orally; or use only 60g White Atractylodes, decocted and taken orally. Modern pharmacological studies show that White Atractylodes promotes gastrointestinal secretion, enhancing gastric and intestinal secretions and accelerating motility.
② 6–10g Citrus aurantium, decocted and taken orally. According to modern pharmacological research, Citrus aurantium can stimulate intestinal motility and relax smooth muscles of the intestine; thus, elderly patients should not take excessive doses.
③ 30–60g Radish Seed, taken with warm water, twice to three times daily, used for habitual senile constipation.
④ 30g Cassia Seed, decocted once and taken orally, effective for habitual constipation, with soft stool appearing the next day. The herb has a liver-calming effect, particularly suitable for elderly hypertensive patients with constipation or those who cannot strain excessively during defecation.
⑤ 20g Angelica, 20g Cistanche, steeped in hot water as tea, used for treating constipation due to yin deficiency and blood insufficiency with dry intestines.
⑥ One cup of diluted salt water, consumed every morning on an empty stomach.<constipation>