Qi constipation

　　How is Qi constipation caused? Briefly described as follows:

　　1. Insufficient intake of food, or lack of dietary fiber, or insufficient water, which reduces the stimulation of colonic movement.

　　2. Due to work stress, a fast pace of life, changes in work nature and time, and interference from mental factors, which disrupts the normal defecation habit.

　　3. Disordered colonic motility caused by colonic and sigmoid colonic spasm, commonly seen in irritable bowel syndrome. In addition to constipation, it also has abdominal pain or distension, and some patients may manifest as alternating constipation and diarrhea.

　　4. Insufficient tension of the abdominal and pelvic muscles, insufficient force to push the stool out, and difficulty in expelling feces from the body.

　　5. Abuse of laxatives, forming drug dependence, causing constipation.

　　6. Elderly people with weak physical strength, insufficient activity, and intestinal spasm can cause difficulty in defecation, or due to the elongation of the colon.

　　Qi constipation can cause diseases such as weak speech, fatigue of the mind, and inability to defecate, which seriously affects the patient's daily life and invades the patient's health. Therefore, once signs appear, timely treatment is essential.

　　What are the symptoms of Qi constipation? Briefly described as follows:

　　The symptoms of Qi constipation include difficulty in defecation, frequent belching, stuffy feeling in the hypochondrium and abdomen, or even distension and pain, the stool may be dry or not dry. It also often manifests as a lack of defecation desire, a decrease in defecation frequency, difficult and laborious defecation, unsmooth defecation, dry and hard stool, and a feeling of incomplete defecation. Constipation is accompanied by abdominal pain or discomfort.

　　Some patients also have sleep disorders, irritability, frequent dreams, depression, anxiety, and other mental and psychological disorders. The 'alarm' signs of constipation include hematochezia, anemia, emaciation, fever, melena, abdominal pain, and a family history of tumors. If alarm signs appear, one should go to the hospital immediately for further examination.

　　For this type of patient, when Qi moves, the bowels are unobstructed, and when the intestines are moist, defecation is smooth. Early prevention and reasonable treatment of constipation will greatly reduce the serious consequences of constipation, improve the quality of life, and alleviate the social and family burdens.

　　What kind of examinations should be done for Qi constipation? Briefly described as follows:

　　1. Clinical physical examination: If the patient feels difficulty in defecation, frequent belching, stuffy feeling in the hypochondrium and abdomen, or even distension and pain, the stool may be dry or not dry, a physical examination should be performed first.

　　2. Laboratory examination: Routine examination should be performed for non-organic lesions, such as blood sodium, potassium, chlorine, calcium, magnesium, and pH value should be checked if there is concurrent electrolyte imbalance.

　　3. Other auxiliary examinations: Abdominal X-ray film shows intestinal and colonic gas. Ultrasound shows dry fecal plug. Others include sigmoidoscopy, fecal leukocytes, fecal pus, fecal blood, fecal mucus, and fecal characteristics, etc.

　　Diet: Patients of this type should avoid astringent and astringent substances, as astringency can easily lead to Qi stagnation and poor flow, and astringency can worsen constipation, such as Bai Guo, Lian Zi, Qi Shi, Li Zi, Shu Li, and Shi Li should be used less. Instead, use substances that can promote Qi, soften hardness, and moisten the intestines. When Qi flows, the Qi of the bowels is unobstructed, and when the intestines are moistened, bowel movements are smooth.

　　The pathogenesis of Qi constipation lies in Qi stagnation, so the treatment should be to regulate Qi and promote bowel movements, and the Six Mo decoction is commonly used, the composition of the medicine: Bing Lang 18g, Chen Xiang 6g, Mu Xiang 10g, Da Huang 10g, Ji Shi 12g, Wu Yao 10g.

　　In the formula, Bing Lang and Ji Shi break Qi and descend Qi, Bing Lang can also attack downward; Wu Yao and Mu Xiang promote Qi; Chen Xiang descends Qi; combined with Da Huang, they work together to regulate Qi, promote bowel movements, and relieve stagnation. If Qi stagnation transforms into fire, and the symptoms are bitter mouth, dry throat, yellow tongue coating, and rapid pulse, add Zhizi, Xia Ku Cao, and other herbs to clear heat and relieve fire; for those with depression and sadness due to emotional stagnation, add柴胡, Bai Shao, and He Huan Pi to relieve liver Qi stagnation; if there is stagnation of Qi due to worm infestation, use Bing Lang heavily, and add Lei Wan, Shi Jun Zi, and others; if there is a fall or injury or postoperative intestinal adhesion, in addition to regulating Qi, add herbs to activate blood circulation and remove blood stasis, such as Ta Ren, Hong Hua, and others; if there is Qi stagnation due to phlegm and fluid retention, add herbs such as Zao Hua, Gan Sui, and others to expel fluid and promote bowel movements.

　　For those with constipation due to the lung Qi not descending, it is necessary to descend the lung Qi, as the lung and large intestine are internally and externally related, and the Su Zi Jiang Qi decoction is used. The composition of the medicine: Su Zi 15g, Ban Xia 10g, Chen Pi 10g, Dang Gui 10g, Qian Hu 10g, Hou Po 8g, Rou Gui 6g, Gan Cao 6g, Sheng Jiang 6g, Da Zao 5 pieces. For those with constipation due to wind stroke or paralysis, Sou Feng Shun Qi Wan can be used, the composition of the medicine: Sheng Da Huang 12g, Ma Ren 15g, Yu Li Ren 12g, Shan Yu Rou 10g, Shan Yao 10g, Che Qian Zi 10g, Niu Xi 10g, Tu Si Zi 10g, Fang Feng 10g, Du Huo 10g, Bing Lang 12g, Ji Qia 10g.