Habitual constipation

　　The main causes of habitual constipation are as follows.

　　1. Psychological factors:Emotional tension, worry, anxiety, intense focus on a certain task, or strong mental stimulation such as fear, can lead to cortical and autonomic nervous system disorders, causing the loss of defecation desire.

　　2. Slow gastrointestinal motility:Deficiency of B vitamins, hypothyroidism, endocrine disorders, malnutrition, etc., can affect the whole gastrointestinal motility, causing food to pass slowly and form constipation.

　　3. Hyperperistalsis of the intestines:When the parasympathetic nervous system is abnormally excited to promote hyperperistalsis, it can lead to abnormal intestinal movement, causing spastic contraction, which can cause alternating constipation and diarrhea, and excrete hard stools like sheep dung, cut by the spasmodic colon.

　　4. Insufficient stimulation of the intestines:Insufficient dietary intake or insufficient fiber and water in food can lead to insufficient stimulation of the intestines, which cannot cause reflex peristalsis of the colon and rectum. As a result, food residue stays in the intestines for too long, water is fully absorbed, and the stool becomes dry and difficult to pass.

　　5. Lack of defecation power:Surgical injury to the anal muscles, or weakness due to old age, long-term illness, or postpartum, can weaken the contraction of the diaphragm, abdominal muscles, and anal sphincter muscles, leading to insufficient defecation power, difficulty in defecation, and constipation.

　　6. Weakening of the reactivity of the intestinal wall:After diarrhea, the nerve sensory cells in the intestinal wall can reduce defecation activity to counteract diarrhea and maintain normal physiology. Long-term use of stimulant laxatives can also weaken the reactivity of the intestinal wall, leading to worsened constipation.

　　Habitual constipation can affect the vitality of pelvic floor muscles, thereby reducing muscle contraction. At the same time, constipation can block the excretion of cholesterol. The increase in cholesterol content in the blood can make blood vessels prone to invasion and hardening, which can affect the function of endothelial cells, and is not conducive to male erection and female clitoral engorgement. Long-term constipation can also increase toxins in the body, hinder the synthesis, storage, and release of neurotransmitters that increase sexual pleasure such as nitric oxide and vasoactive intestinal peptide. Constipation can also cause bloating, causing discomfort. Long-term constipation can lead to decreased libido, erectile dysfunction in men, premature ejaculation, sexual apathy, or the absence of climax.

　　Habitual constipation refers to less than 3 bowel movements per week, or difficulty in defecation. People with long-term constipation may have a pale, bloated complexion, showing an abnormal pathological appearance. Habitual constipation is more common in the elderly.

　　When preventing habitual constipation, attention should be paid to the following aspects:

　　1. There must be an appropriate amount of fiber in the diet, and foods rich in dietary fiber should be eaten more.

　　2. It is necessary to consume a certain amount of vegetables and fruits every day, eat one apple on an empty stomach in the morning and evening, or eat 1-3 bananas before each meal.

　　3. Do not make staple food too fine, and eat some coarse grains appropriately.

　　4. In the morning on an empty stomach, drink a glass of dilute salt water or honey water,配合腹部按摩或转腰，let the water vibrate in the gastrointestinal tract, which can enhance the defecation effect.

　　5. Engage in appropriate physical activities, strengthen physical exercise, such as supine leg bending, deep squatting, and standing up, cycling, etc., which can strengthen abdominal movement, promote gastrointestinal motility, and help defecation.

　　6. Every evening before going to bed, massage the abdomen and develop the habit of regular defecation.

　　7. Keep a pleasant mood and have a regular lifestyle.

　　The main examination methods for chronic constipation are as follows:

　　1. Routine fecal examination should be performed.

　　2. Related to biochemical and metabolic tests. If clinical manifestations suggest that the symptoms are caused by inflammation, tumor, or other systemic diseases, it is necessary to perform blood tests for hemoglobin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and related biochemical tests.

　　3. Digital rectal examination can understand whether there is a mass and the function of the anal sphincter muscle.

　　4. Colonoscopy or barium enema can help determine whether there is an organic cause. Especially when there is a recent change in bowel habits and blood in the stool, it is recommended to perform a full colon examination to determine whether there is an organic lesion.

　　Chronic constipation patients should eat more coarse grains, mixed grains, vegetables, fruits, and other foods, and eat more gas-producing foods such as scallions, onions, raw cucumbers, raw turnips, and raw radishes. Utilize the fermentation effect of gas-producing foods in the intestines to produce distension, which can increase intestinal motility and facilitate defecation.

　　According to traditional Chinese medicine, chronic constipation is caused by incomplete digestion of food in the stomach or intestines or weakened peristalsis of the digestive tract, leading to the accumulation of excessive gas and fluid in the gastrointestinal tract, causing distension and preventing the descent of gas, resulting in constipation. Treatment should focus on promoting qi and removing food stagnation.

　　Formula One:15 grams of Magnolia officinalis, 12 grams of Pogostemon cablin, 12 grams of Perilla frutescens, 5 grams of Rheum palmatum. Take one dose daily, decocted in water for oral administration, three times a day.

　　Formula Two:20 grams of Astragalus, 15 grams of Atractylodes macrocephala, 10 grams of Cimicifuga foetida, 20 grams of Angelica sinensis, 20 grams of Codonopsis pilosula, 20 grams of Mulberry seeds, 15 grams of Schisandra chinensis, 20 grams of Bupleurum chinense, 20 grams of Sesamum indicum, 20 grams of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, 20 grams of Rehmannia glutinosa.