🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Constipation
Constipation refers to hard stools, difficulty in evacuation, and prolonged intervals between bowel movements, typically not having a bowel movement for two or more days, or feeling the urge but unable to pass stool. Common causes include internal heat accumulation, qi deficiency impairing propulsion, or yin deficiency and blood insufficiency. The following are commonly used effective folk remedies:
[Formula One]
Apricot kernel, almond, and winter melon seeds in equal amounts, plus appropriate honey. Mix all into fine powder, make into pills the size of dates with honey, take 2–3 pills daily with warm water.
This formula clears heat and moistens the intestines, suitable for constipation caused by intestinal heat.
[Formula Two]
1–2 bananas, appropriate rock sugar. Peel bananas, add rock sugar, steam over water, consume once or twice daily for several days.
This formula treats constipation due to dryness from depleted body fluids.
[Formula Three]
Salvia root 15g, mulberry fruit 15g, honey 30g. Cut salvia root, decoct with mulberry fruit, add honey and stir well, divide into two doses.
This formula treats constipation due to qi deficiency.
[Formula Four]
Honey 30g, honeysuckle 15g. First decoct honeysuckle, remove residue and cool, then gradually dissolve honey into the liquid. Do not make too concentrated—typically prepare two bowls of honeysuckle juice, store in bottle and mix with honey when drinking.
This formula clears heat and promotes bowel movement, suitable for constipation due to intestinal heat.
[Formula Five]
Potatoes in any quantity. Wash, crush, squeeze juice, filter through gauze. Consume half a cup on an empty stomach in the morning and before lunch.
This formula treats constipation caused by various reasons.
[Formula Six]
Raw rhubarb 4g, appropriate sugar. Pour boiling water, drink as tea frequently.
This formula treats constipation due to intestinal heat accumulation.
[Formula Seven]
Apricot kernel, almond, sesame seeds in equal amounts. Mix into fine powder, make into pills the size of dates with honey, take 2–3 pills daily with warm water.
This formula clears heat and moistens the intestines, suitable for hard stools.
[Formula Eight]
Adenophora 50g, polygonatum 50g, one old male duck, appropriate seasonings. Remove feathers and internal organs, wash thoroughly, place with adenophora and polygonatum in clay pot, add scallions, ginger, water, bring to boil, simmer gently for one hour until duck meat is tender. Add salt and monosodium glutamate as desired, eat the meat and drink the soup.
This formula treats intestinal dryness due to lung deficiency and stomach yin deficiency.
[Formula Nine]
Lean pork shoulder 100g, rice 100g, fennel, salt, sesame oil, Sichuan pepper powder in small amounts. Cut pork into small pieces, briefly fry in sesame oil, then add rice to cook porridge. Just before serving, add fennel, Sichuan pepper, and salt, boil for another 1–2 minutes. Eat on an empty stomach in the morning and evening.
This formula treats constipation after febrile illness.
[Formula Ten]
Spinach 200g, rice 30g. First cook rice into porridge, just before completion, add spinach, boil until cooked, eat freely.
This formula harmonizes the center and promotes bowel movement, suitable for weak individuals or those with long-term illness suffering from difficult defecation.
[Formula Eleven]
Castanea flour, corn flour 30g each, sesame seeds, hemp seeds, rock sugar in appropriate amounts. Wash and drain sesame seeds, roast until fragrant; grind hemp seeds into powder, mix with both in a bowl, then add castanea flour, corn flour, and rock sugar, mix with water into dough, steam over high heat for 15–20 minutes, consume once daily in the morning.
This formula tonifies the kidneys and moistens the intestines, suitable for constipation due to qi deficiency.
[Formula Twelve]
Dried seaweed 3g, oyster meat 60g, lean pork 60g, rice in appropriate amount. Clean dried seaweed and oyster meat, chop pork into paste, form meatballs. Boil in clay pot with sufficient water, add rice, dried seaweed, and oyster meat, stew until rice blooms, then add meatballs and cook until done. Eat meat and drink soup.
This formula comes from "China Food," suitable for senile constipation.
[Formula Thirteen]
Plum kernel 15g, white rice 50g. Crush plum kernel, mix with water, strain to obtain juice. Alternatively, decoct plum kernel with 500ml water to extract juice. Use the juice to cook washed white rice into porridge, consume warm twice daily.
This formula moistens dryness and lubricates the intestines, suitable for elderly constipation.
[Formula Fourteen]
Yam 250g, rice 50g, salt as needed. Peel yam, cut into chunks, cook with rice into porridge, season with oil and salt.
This formula treats hard, dry stools.
[Formula Fifteen]
Fresh hollow stem amaranth 200–250g, 10 lotus roots (peeled). Cook together into soup, consume in 2–3 portions daily.
This formula treats constipation due to intestinal heat accumulation.
[Formula Sixteen]
Pine nuts 15g, rice 30g. First cook rice into porridge, then mix pine nuts with water into paste, add to porridge, boil for 2–3 minutes, consume on an empty stomach.
This formula treats constipation due to qi and blood deficiency.
[Formula Seventeen]
Ginseng 9g, white atractylodes 12g, poria 12g, astragalus 15g, polygonatum 10g, angelica 10g, platycladi seed 10g (mixed), pine seed 10g (mixed), licorice 7g. Decoct and take orally, one dose daily, divided into two doses.
This formula treats constipation due to qi deficiency.
[Formula Eighteen]
Angelica 12g, ligusticum 10g, white peony root 10g, rehmannia 12g, prepared polygonatum 12g, hemp seed 20g (mixed), astragalus 15g, saffron 7g (ground and added to decoction), yam 15g. Decoct and take orally, one dose daily, taken in the morning and evening.
This formula treats constipation due to blood deficiency.
[Formula Nineteen]
Rhubarb 6g, areca nut 10g, citrus fruit 7g, sandalwood 7g, agalloch 9g, agarwood 7g (ground and added), tangerine peel 9g, poria 10g, pinellia 10g, apricot kernel 10g. Decoct and take orally, one dose daily, divided into two doses.
This formula treats constipation due to qi stagnation.
[Formula Twenty]
Milk 250ml, honey 100ml, a little green onion juice. Consume warm every morning.
This formula lubricates the intestines and promotes bowel movement, suitable for habitual constipation.
[Formula Twenty-One]
Fresh peach blossom 4g, rice 100g.
Cook both ingredients into thin porridge, consume every other day.
This formula lubricates the intestines and promotes bowel movement, suitable for constipation.
[Formula Twenty-Two]
Black sesame 25g, rice 50g. Roast black sesame, grind into fine powder. Wash rice clean. Combine black sesame and rice in a pot, add water, bring to boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat until porridge is ready.
This formula nourishes liver and kidney, enriches the five viscera. Suitable for liver-kidney deficiency, vertigo due to wind deficiency, intestinal dryness and constipation, post-illness weakness, dry cough without phlegm, premature graying hair, and insufficient lactation after childbirth.
This formula originates from "Compendium of Materia Medica" and "Dietary Differentiation for Disease Regulation." Originally named "Black Sesame Porridge," it is used for "deficiency of the five viscera, strengthening vitality, reinforcing tendons and bones," and "intestinal obstruction due to wind-dryness, dry cough without phlegm." It is a commonly used tonic for liver and kidney deficiency. Liver-kidney deficiency fails to nourish the brain, causing dizziness; lung lacks moisture, causing dry cough; dryness in the intestines leads to constipation; lack of nourishment to hair causes premature graying; insufficient source of milk leads to poor lactation; general deficiency of vital organs results in weakness and emaciation. Therapy should focus on nourishing liver and kidney, enriching the five viscera. The main ingredient, black sesame, nourishes liver and kidney, enriches the five viscera; rice serves as auxiliary, nourishes the spleen and stomach, supplements deficiency, enhancing the tonic effect. Together they form a formula that nourishes liver and kidney and enriches the five viscera. This formula emphasizes tonification, especially suitable for those with insufficient essence and blood, and dryness due to fluid deficiency. Black sesame also has anti-aging properties, making it ideal for the elderly and frail.
Adding honey enhances the nourishing and moistening effects.
This formula has strong tonifying power; therefore, avoid use in cases of phlegm-dampness excess or loose stools.
[Formula Twenty-Three]
Dog meat 250g, sweet potato 250g. Cooking wine 1 spoon, salt in small amount. Peel and cut sweet potato into pieces. Wash dog meat, cut into small pieces, add cooking wine, sufficient water, salt, bring to boil, skim off foam, stew for about one hour, then add sweet potato until soft.
This formula tonifies the center, strengthens qi, warms the kidney, invigorates yang, and widens the intestines to relieve constipation. Suitable for frequent urination at night and habitual constipation.
Note: Due to the presence of sweet potato, excessive intake may cause acid regurgitation. Not recommended for those with gastric ulcers or excessive gastric acid.<constipation remedies>