Clinical Manifestations and Therapies for Constipation
Constipation refers to hard, difficult-to-pass stools due to prolonged retention in the intestines, where excessive water absorption causes dryness and hardness, resulting in defecation difficulty. Typically, bowel movements occur every 3–5 or 6–7 days, sometimes even longer. Causes are numerous, commonly due to heat accumulation, food stagnation, or overconsumption of spicy, hot, and rich foods, or due to aging, post-illness weakness, and insufficient body fluids.
1. Light Open-Seat Decoction
Formula: Decoct and take orally. One dose daily, seven days per course. After bowel movement resumes, use stir-fried cassia seeds 20g, steep in boiling water as tea daily.
Preparation and Usage: Prepared rehmannia 15g, angelica 15g, hemp seed 12g, mirabilite (added last) 12g, white honey (mixed in) 30g. Add flos sennae 2g if constipation is severe.
2. Ice-Gan Plaster Moxibustion Formula
Formula: Select Shenque acupoint, once daily. Grind herbs finely and mix evenly. Place powder in acupoint, place about 0.1g pure moxa into conical shape above it, apply moxibustion for approximately five applications. For mild symptoms, sprinkle powder into the acupoint, cover with gauze, secure with adhesive tape.
Preparation and Usage: Raw euphorbia 3g, borneol 1g, common salt 4g. Used for heat-type constipation; for cold-type constipation, add processed aconite 1.5g and reduce raw euphorbia to 2g; for deficiency-type constipation, omit raw euphorbia and add raw rhubarb 3g.<constipation therapy>