Combined Attack and Tonification for Constipation
Zhang Congzheng, a renowned physician from the Jin-Yuan period, was famous for his "attack and purge" approach to treatment. However, for elderly patients with insufficient qi and blood, he adapted his methods by selecting mild purgative therapies to achieve the goal of eliminating pathogenic factors without harming vital energy.
For example, in treating constipation in the elderly, he advocated using purgative methods. Yet, the choice of herbs was gentle and balanced—such as Shengong Wan (composed of prepared rhubarb, chebulic myrobalan bark, sesame seeds, and ginseng) or Mahuang Wan (containing prunus fruit, sesame seeds, rhubarb, areca nut, yam, windproof herb, tangerine peel, ligusticum, and sandalwood)—to ensure a moderate effect.
Besides medication, Zhang also employed dietary therapy: consuming pig or sheep blood, vegetable soup, or spinach stir-fried with hemp oil could help relieve constipation. He believed that constipation in the elderly must be treated promptly and recommended methods such as elevating kidney yin and reducing heart fire. If neglected, it might lead to complications like blindness.
Constipation