Elderly People Use Cistanche For Constipation
Nov 10, 2023
Cistanche, also known as Dayun, is mainly produced in the Alxa League of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and the Taklimakan Desert of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Traditional Chinese medicine calls it goblin or golden bamboo shoot. It is an extremely valuable Chinese medicinal material. It is known as "desert ginseng" and has been used as a tribute to the imperial court by various countries in the Western Regions. Cistanche has been used as medicine for a long time. It is sweet and warm, salty and moist in texture. It has the characteristics of tonifying yang without dryness, warming kidney yang and replenishing kidney deficiency; tonifying yin without being greasy, moistening the intestines and abdomen, and curing constipation. It is precisely because of its tonic and soothing properties that it is known as Cistanche Rong (calm).
Cistanche is a good medicine for nourishing the kidneys and anti-aging. It has been recorded in "Shen Nong's Materia Medica", saying that it can "nourish the five internal organs, replenish essence and qi, and lighten the body after long-term use." Zhen Quan, a famous doctor in the Tang Dynasty, also said: "Cistanche can benefit the marrow. It is pleasing to the eye and prolongs life." Some doctors call it an important medicine for nourishing the kidneys and replenishing essence and blood. Taking it for a long time will make you fat, strong, and light. In ancient times, people in Cistanche-producing areas often ate it as food. "Scrape off the scales, wash away the black juice with wine, cut it into thin slices, and mix it with yam and mutton to make a soup. It is very delicious and beneficial to people. It is good to eat." Tonic." It is precisely because of its tonic and soothing properties that it is known as Cistanche Rong (calm).
Before the Ming Dynasty, many doctors did not know that Cistanche also had the effect of moisturizing the intestines and laxatives. Miao Xiyong, a famous physician in the Ming Dynasty, discovered that Cistanche had the effect of moisturizing the intestines in clinical cases, and it was used by later generations of doctors.
It is said that an elderly man named Tang Zhenshan came to invite Dr. Miao to treat his illness. The old man had gray hair, was thin, and looked haggard. He said to Dr. Miao: "My chest is tight and my bowel movements are not smooth." After taking his pulse and checking his tongue, Miao said: "Your disease is caused by intestinal dryness and constipation caused by dry blood. Cistanche can be effectively cured." After Tang Zhenshan took it, he was indeed The stool is smooth, the chest is happy, and the spirit is good.
Another day, Tang Zhenshan's old illness relapsed, and he asked another doctor for diagnosis and treatment. He showed the doctor the prescription written by Dr. Miao. After reading it, the doctor shook his head and said, "Cistanche is a warm and dry product, which can help relieve fire." How can it be a laxative because of the disadvantages of robbery Yin?" So he switched to other drugs for treatment. Not only did the symptoms not improve, but the condition worsened. Tang Zhenshan said: "It's bad." He still took Miao Fang and took it, and the illness went away and he felt good.
Afterward, people asked Miao for advice, and Miao said: "Cistanche is a good medicine for nourishing essence and blood. If used suddenly, it can relieve bowel movements. Ancient medicine books have already recorded that Tang Zhenshan was old and weak, with insufficient essence and blood, abnormal transportation and transformation, and intestinal dryness. For constipation, chest tightness, and discomfort, a large dose of Cistanche can replenish essence and deficiency, nourish liquid, and moisturize dryness, and the natural medicine can cure the disease." After listening to Miao's talk, the man sighed deeply and said: "Some doctors treat Common diseases caused by not studying seriously and not being able to differentiate syndromes when treating diseases."
For senile constipation, Professor Tung Chee-hwa, a famous contemporary Chinese medicine doctor, is also good at using Cistanche to treat constipation. Dong uses Cistanche and Angelica sinensis as the main medicines, plus hemp seeds and honey. The four flavors are combined to nourish the kidneys and blood, and the body's body will naturally generate fluid and blood. effect.
The ancients said: "If the elderly suffer from constipation, they should cook porridge with Cistanche ." This can be regarded as a health-care medicinal diet for middle-aged and elderly patients with constipation.
The old man had constipation for nearly a week, and this prescription relieved him after just one dose...
To treat habitual constipation in the elderly, Cistanche must be mentioned. Why? This starts with a patient treated by an old Chinese medicine practitioner.
One morning, the old Chinese medicine doctor was visiting the outpatient department of the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine. A young man came in supporting an old man. The old man looked in pain and asked about his condition, only to find out that he had not had bowel movements for nearly a week. The old man has always suffered from constipation. This time he suffered from constipation 10 days ago. At that time, he went to a hospital for treatment. The doctor gave him rhubarb, senna, and other medicines. After taking the medicine, although his bowel movements were clear the next day and he had diarrhea several times a day, he still had constipation. Constipation occurred, and after taking the above medicine several times, the stool was still blocked.
After careful examination, the veteran Chinese medicine doctor found that he was old and frail, with a dull complexion, lukewarm limbs, cold pain in the abdomen, pale lips and tongue, and a slow and weak pulse. He believed that this syndrome was "false and true," and that the treatment should be tonic. Mainly, it replenishes temperature and yang, moistens the intestines, and relieves constipation. Do not take it rashly.
After dialectical analysis, the old Chinese medicine doctor prescribed:
20 grams of Cistanche, 15 grams of Astragalus membranaceus, 10 grams of Angelica sinensis, 15 grams of Scrophulariaceae, 20 grams of Rehmannia glutinosa, 15 grams of Ophiopogon japonicus, 15 grams of Adenophora adenophora, 15 grams of peony root, and 5 grams of licorice. The patient was also instructed to boil it in water twice and take the juice in two doses. Ask them to drink more water and eat more vegetables rich in fiber.
After taking one dose of the medicine, the stool became clear. After 3 doses, the stool gradually became regular, and the patient had bowel movements once a day. The old man was very grateful. Afterward, he used cistanche and cassia seed tea to consolidate the condition, and the old man's habitual constipation for many years was finally cured.
Cistanche cassia tea
10 grams of Cistanche, 10 grams of fried cassia seeds, 2 tablespoons of honey. Put all medicines together in a thermos cup, brew with boiling water, and drink as tea. 1 dose daily.
Why can't constipation be cured without being cured?
In this case, the patient was old and frail, with insufficient yang energy and loss of both qi and blood. Qi deficiency means that stool transmission is weak, and blood deficiency means that the fluid is dry and unable to moisten the large intestine, leading to constipation. At this time, if you blindly use laxatives, it will further damage the body fluids. Not only will it be difficult to pass stool, but the symptoms of constipation will be aggravated. On the contrary, if the deficiency is supplemented, the intestines will be moistened and the stool will be smooth. It's like a boat stranded in a dry river. If you want it to move, it's impossible to push it on the shore. Only by filling the river with water can the boat move on its own. This is what Chinese medicine calls "increasing water and sailing the boat".
Cistanche, also known as Da Yun, Cun Yun, Cistanche, Goblin, etc., has extremely high medicinal value. Known as "desert ginseng" and "living gold", there is also a popular proverb among the people, "I would rather have a basket of cistanche than a house full of gold and jade".
Cistanche is sweet, salty, and warm. It has the effect of nourishing the liver and kidneys, moisturizing the intestines and laxative. It is often used to treat weak bones and muscles, cold pain in the waist and knees, erectile dysfunction, spermatorrhea, old age, post-illness, and postpartum anemia caused by liver and kidney weakness. Or dryness of the intestines, constipation, and other diseases caused by insufficient body fluids. It has a soft texture, mild medicinal properties, tonifying but not harsh, and no harmful effects of dryness or harshness.
Pharmacological studies have shown that Cistanche can extend the life span of fruit flies, lower blood pressure, and enhance immune function. The inorganic salts and hydrophilic colloidal polysaccharides contained in Cistanche can promote intestinal peristalsis and promote defecation.
Using Cistanche to make porridge, tea or soup is very effective in preventing and treating constipation in the elderly. Regular use by the elderly can not only solve the problem of constipation but also help keep the body light and fit.
Cassia seeds are sweet and slightly cold, and have the effects of clearing the liver, improving eyesight, moistening the intestines, and laxative. The warm Cistanche and the slightly cold Cassia seed complement each other and make it more peaceful, so it is very suitable for middle-aged and elderly patients with constipation to take it for a long time.
An old Chinese medicine practitioner said that Cassia seed has one of the best characteristics in treating constipation, which is that it makes defecation smooth and not thin, and it also eliminates abdominal pain and other discomforts. Patients with chronic constipation can take it regularly without any side effects. In particular, it has health care effects, can lower blood lipids, lower blood pressure and improve eyesight. It is especially suitable for middle-aged and elderly patients with hyperlipidemia, obesity, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and other cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, as well as patients with presbyopia.
TCM dialectics and clever use of food therapy to treat constipation
The treatment of constipation in traditional Chinese medicine also requires syndrome differentiation. Generally, the symptoms of constipation can be improved or partially improved by the use of some laxatives under the guidance of a doctor. However, it is often not suitable for middle-aged and elderly patients.
Middle-aged and elderly patients, especially elderly patients, suffer from the gradual loss of essence and blood, insufficient body fluids, and dry and constipated stools. There are many types of constipation due to qi and yang deficiency. Treatment should be tonic and moisturizing. Excessive use of purgative agents will deplete healthy energy and only damage body fluids, resulting in dryness of body fluids and dryness of the intestines and aggravation of constipation symptoms. According to TCM syndrome differentiation, common habitual constipation in the elderly has the following syndrome types:
1 Qi deficiency and constipation type
Although the patient has the urge to defecate, it is difficult for him to defecate. He often struggles with difficulty, sweats after defecation, is tired and weak, has a pale tongue with a thin coating, and has a weak pulse. The treatment is suitable for replenishing qi and moisturizing the intestines, and the prescription is astragalus decoction (astragalus, tangerine peel, hemp seeds, white honey). Optional folk remedies are available:
Ginseng, Cistanche and Cistanches Lean Meat Soup
Ingredients: 30 grams of Codonopsis pilosula, 20 grams of Astragalus membranaceus, 20 grams of Cistanche, 50 grams of lean pork. Add water to decoct and take it. Each dose can be decoctioned twice and taken twice a day for several days.
Efficacy: It has the effects of nourishing qi, strengthening the spleen, moistening the intestines, and being laxative.
Astragalus and cistanche pancake
Ingredients: 25 grams of astragalus, 20 grams of Cistanche, 10 grams of tangerine peel, and 20 grams of hemp seeds. Take it orally in boiled water. Each dose can be boiled twice and taken once in the morning and once in the afternoon.
Efficacy: It has the effects of nourishing qi, strengthening the spleen, moistening the intestines, and being laxative.
2 Blood deficiency and constipation type
The patient had constipation, a dull complexion, dizziness, palpitations, pale lips and tongue, and a thin and astringent pulse. The treatment is suitable for nourishing the blood and moistening the intestines, and the prescription is to use Runchang Pills (Bangui, Rehmannia, hemp seeds, peach kernels, and citrus aurantium). Optional folk remedies are available:
Fried mulberry and cistanche
Ingredients: 50 grams of mulberry seeds, 15 grams of, 12 grams of raw Polygonum multiflorum, 15 grams of flax seeds, and 20 grams of rock sugar. Decoction in water to extract juice, add rock sugar when taking, 1 dose per day. It has the effect of nourishing blood and moisturizing dryness.
Efficacy: It is suitable for dry stools, pale complexion, dizziness, palpitations, and forgetfulness due to insufficient blood content and inability to moisten the large intestine.
Cistanche, Angelica, and Red Date Tea
Ingredients: 20 grams of Cistanche, 20 grams of angelica root, 4 red dates. Remove the pits from the red dates, soak the 3 ingredients in boiling water, and drink them as tea. Efficacy: nourishing blood and moisturizing dryness. Suitable for blood deficiency and constipation.
3 Constipation due to yang deficiency
The patient has hard and astringent stools, clear and long urine, lukewarm limbs, a preference for heat and an aversion to cold, a pale tongue with a white coating, and a slow and slow pulse. The treatment is suitable for warming yang and laxatives. Jichuan Jian (angelica root, achyranthes root, cistanche, Alisma, Cimicifuga, Citrus aurantium, and cinnamon) is recommended. For folk remedies, the Cistanche recipes introduced earlier are suitable.
It is true that although constipation in the elderly is mainly caused by deficiency, there is also little empirical evidence. Even so, treatment cannot be directed at it alone but should be treated with a combination of attack and supplement. In addition, in addition to drug treatment, constipation in the elderly can also be combined with some dietary therapy. For example, grind black sesame seeds, walnut meat, and pine nut kernels in equal parts and mix them with a little white honey. It is very effective in treating constipation caused by insufficient yin and blood.
