Traditional Chinese Medicine Dialectical Treatment of Constipation

The TCM treatment of constipation needs to be classified according to the deficiency and excess, cold and heat. There are mainly four types of constipation: heat, qi, deficiency and cold, which can be improved through traditional Chinese medicine conditioning, diet regulation, acupuncture and moxibustion and massage.

1. Hot secrets

Hot secrets are often caused by gastrointestinal heat accumulation, and are commonly found in people who enjoy spicy food or are susceptible to external heat pathogens. Manifesting as dry stool resembling sheep manure, abdominal distension and pain, refusal to press, dry mouth and bad breath, red and yellow tongue. The treatment should clear heat and moisten the intestines, and formulas such as Maziren Wan and Dahuang Gancao Tang can be used. Daily consumption of moisturizing foods such as bananas and honey water, and avoidance of heat promoting foods such as lamb and Sichuan peppercorns.

2. Qi secret

Qi secret is related to liver depression and qi stagnation, and is more common in people with emotional disorders. The symptoms include poor bowel movements, anal bloating, frequent belching, and thin white tongue coating. Treatment requires regulating qi and promoting stagnation, commonly using modified Liumo Tang and Chaihu Shugan San. Tuina can be applied by tapping on the Taichong and Zhongwan acupoints, combined with rose and tangerine peel tea drinks to soothe the liver and relieve depression.

3. Void Secret

Void Secret is divided into Qi and Blood Deficiency Type and Yin Deficiency Type. People with Qi and blood deficiency have weak bowel movements and pale complexion, and it is advisable to use Huangqi decoction to replenish qi and moisten the intestines; For those with yin deficiency, if their stool is dry and hard like chestnuts, and their hands, feet, and heart are hot, they can choose Zengye Tang to nourish yin and promote bowel movements. Recommended dietary therapies include black sesame paste, pine nuts, etc. Moxibustion at Zusanli and Guanyuan acupoints can enhance spleen and stomach function.

4. Cold Secret

Cold Secret is caused by spleen and kidney yang deficiency and is commonly seen in the elderly and weak. Manifested as difficulty in defecation, cold and painful abdomen, lukewarm limbs, and pale tongue coating. Treatment requires warming yang and promoting bowel movements, which can be done with Jichuan decoction or semi sulfur pills. Eating chives and walnuts as isothermal foods in daily life, combined with ginger moxibustion at Shenque acupoint to improve Yang deficiency.

5. Comprehensive conditioning

All syndrome types require abdominal massage therapy: clockwise circular massage of the abdomen 200 times, twice a day. Develop a habit of regular bowel movements and avoid prolonged sitting and lying down. People with Qi deficiency can practice Eight Section Brocade to regulate the spleen and stomach, and those with Yin deficiency should do Five Animal Play with Birds to nourish yin and moisten dryness.

Long term constipation patients should rule out organic diseases, and traditional Chinese medicine conditioning is recommended to be carried out under the guidance of a physician. Daily diet should increase dietary fiber intake, such as oats, celery, etc., and daily water intake should not be less than 1500 milliliters. Moderate exercise such as Tai Chi and walking can promote intestinal peristalsis and avoid excessive dependence on laxatives that can cause intestinal dysfunction.