In my medical practice, I often come across patients who suffer from constipation problems. They described to me the difficulty of defecating: trying to defecate only to pass dry, hard stool in the shape of sheep dung. These patients often mistakenly believe that their bodies are dehydrated and therefore drink a lot of water, but they still feel dry and their constipation does not improve.
From a TCM perspective, this type of symptom is often classified as yin-deficiency constipation. This means that the patient does not have enough fluid in the intestines, resulting in an extreme lack of water in the large intestine. This lack of water further fuels a heat and dryness, which is difficult to solve by simply increasing water intake, as excess water evaporates quickly from the body. In response to this situation, we need to take a more comprehensive approach from the perspective of adjusting the balance of yin and yang in the body.
The relationship between stool morphology and the human body.
Normal bowel movements are usually banana-shaped or slightly thin and light yellow or brown in color, reflecting a healthy intestinal state. Conversely, watery or muddy bowel movements may indicate diarrhoea, often associated with a viral or bacterial infection, with nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In traditional Chinese medicine theory, diarrhea is divided into catharrhoea (acute) and prolonged diarrhoea (chronic). Diarrhea is usually triggered by damp heat or improper diet, and can be caused by kudzu root and qin lian soup or Bohol pills**. The long-term diarrhea is related to the weakening of spleen and stomach function and liver and spleen disorders.
On the other hand, if the bowel movements are infirm, dry, and difficult to pass, it may be a sign of constipation. This can be caused by poor diet, insufficient fiber intake, or slow bowel movements. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, constipation in children is often caused by intestinal fever or spleen deficiency, and it is necessary to regulate the diet and use medicine to regulate the spleen and stomach. Constipation in women may be related to the menstrual cycle, and the decrease of yin fluid in the body during menstruation affects the smooth passage of stool. Constipation in the elderly may affect the function of the large intestine due to the weakness of lung qi. Constipation in men is relatively rare and is mainly related to diet, anorectal diseases or lifestyle habits, so it is recommended to use appropriate medications under the guidance of a doctor and pay attention to the adjustment of dietary habits.
The following is an introduction to the "secret" tips that can be used to treat constipation at home, such as dietary therapy and medicinal diet, pressing acupuncture points:
Hot constipation: presents with difficulty defecating with dry mouth and irritation. It is recommended to use Shengjun tea, that is, 4 grams of raw rhubarb soaked in water, add an appropriate amount of sugar, as a daily drink, 1 to 2 times a day.
Cold constipation: Manifested by poor bowel movements and a cold abdomen. It is recommended to cook 10 to 15 grams of shallot white (30 to 50 grams of fresh ones) and 100 grams of japonica rice into porridge, and eat it warm 1 to 2 times a day.
Pneumatic constipation: manifested as an unsatisfied desire to defecate, accompanied by abdominal distention. It is recommended to cook wood champagne nut porridge, 5 grams of wood incense and betel nut each after decoction, and 100 grams of japonica rice to cook porridge, add rock sugar when it is nearly cooked, 1 to 2 times a day.
Qi deficiency constipation: the stool is not hard and dry, but it is difficult to defecate, sweating easily and shortness of breath. It is recommended to grind 60 grams of ginseng, yam, peach kernel, almond kernel, 90 grams of walnut meat, boil it with 90 grams of beef pith and 240 grams of honey, 5 to 10 grams each time, and chew on an empty stomach.
Constipation: Dry stools and a dull complexion. It is recommended to drink milk and honey, mash 25 grams of black sesame seeds, mix them with 50 ml of boiled milk and honey, and drink them on an empty stomach in the morning.
Yin-deficient constipation: dry stools with weight loss and dry mouth. It is recommended to use Mulberry Rehmannia honey ointment, boil 500 grams of mulberry and 200 grams of raw rehmannia rehmannia and double the amount of honey, twice a day, one tablespoon each time, and take it with boiling water.
Yang deficiency constipation: poor stool resolution, accompanied by chills and chills in the extremities. It is recommended to use 5 grams of decoction juice of Suoyang and Cistanche, mix with 200 grams of flour, cook it in mutton broth, add green onions and salt to taste, and use it as a staple food or snack.