Treat Chronic Constipation From Dampness
Dec 25, 2023
As a common clinical disease, constipation is mainly characterized by hard and dry stools, reduced defecation frequency (<3 times per week), or feces that are not hard but not discharged smoothly, such as difficulty in defecation, a feeling of incomplete defecation, and time-consuming defecation. , requiring manual assisted defecation, etc., the disease duration ≥ 6 months can be diagnosed as chronic constipation, and long-term constipation can lead to mental and emotional disorders, including abnormal anal sensation, gastrointestinal symptoms, etc., and even mental and psychological disorders. Constipation should attract sufficient attention.
Modern Chinese medicine generally believes that constipation is mainly caused by gastrointestinal conduction disorders caused by heat knots, qi stagnation, cold coagulation, and deficiency syndrome. Constipation is divided into two categories: deficiency and excess. Actual constipation includes heat secretion, qi secretion, cold secretion, and deficiency constipation. It includes secrets of qi deficiency, blood deficiency, yin deficiency, and yang deficiency. In clinical practice, it has been found that many patients have stools that are not dry and hard, but sticky and unformed, difficult to pass, time-consuming and labor-intensive, and sometimes have a feeling of incomplete defecation, accompanied by anorexia, fullness and tightness in the chest, heavy head and body, and tongue The texture is light, the coating is white and greasy, and the pulse is moist. According to TCM syndrome differentiation, constipation is caused by dampness evil, which is often called damp constipation in clinical practice.
Causes of Dampness
1. Exogenous dampness and evil accumulate in the colon. In a humid environment, you are most susceptible to the invasion of dampness evil. The dampness evil flows into the large intestine and easily adheres to the residue in the intestine.
2. Careless eating, endogenous dampness evil, excessive consumption of fat, sweet and thick food, excessive drinking, causing dampness and turbidity, or long-term improper diet, damage to the spleen and stomach, the spleen and stomach are unable to transport and transform, and water and dampness seep down. 3. Qi movement is not smooth, damp evil accumulates and hinders emotions and will, liver qi is stagnated, or sedentary or lying down for a long time, and lack of exercise leads to poor qi movement. When qi is stagnant, fluid will stop, and when fluid stops, dampness will develop.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment for Dampness
Starting from the overall concept of traditional Chinese medicine, syndrome differentiation analysis, treatment from the spleen, stomach, large intestine, liver, lungs and other internal organs, with the general principle of "strengthening the spleen and removing dampness, promoting qi and unblocking the organs, and opening up and down" as the general principle of treatment, the treatment of damp-heat accumulation syndrome It should clear away heat and dissipate dampness, guide stagnation and relieve defecation. To treat the syndrome of qi stagnation and dampness, it should move qi to dissipate dampness and unblock the fu organs to guide stagnation. To treat the syndrome of spleen deficiency and dampness, it should strengthen the spleen dissipate dampness, move qi, and guide stagnation.
Damp-heat accumulation syndrome is common in summer and autumn. At this time, the weather is hot and the earth is humid. People are between heaven and earth, and they are susceptible to damp-heat diseases. At the same time, the days are long and the nights are short. People gather more, eat more, and drink more. Barbecuing, etc., improper diet, endogenous dampness and heat, obstruction of the spleen and stomach, poor Qi movement in the middle burner, then chest tightness too. The diffuse burning of heat evil and the heavy turbidity and stickiness of damp evil will lead to tenesmus and anal burning. The syndrome is caused by the mutual aid of heat evil and dampness evil. When using medicine, both heat-clearing and dampness-removing methods can be used. Clinically, Sanren Decoction can be modified and subtracted. It is suitable to go up, smooth the middle, and soak down to separate the dampness and heat. Shaoyao Decoction, Ganlu Xiaodan, and Lianpu can also be used. Drinks, etc., when clearing away heat and removing dampness, do not forget to regulate Qi. Firstly, dampness evil is most likely to block Qi movement. Secondly, when Qi circulates, body fluids will flow smoothly, and dampness and evil will go away on their own. In clinical practice, woody scent, tangerine peel, etc. are often used.
Qi stagnation and dampness syndrome Modern people have a lot of pressure in work and life, and they are often worried, anxious, and depressed. In addition, they usually sit for a long time and lie down for a long time, and they seldom exercise. The function of the meridians and muscles and bones is imbalanced, resulting in poor Qi or stagnation, which affects the body. of health. Stagnation of spleen and stomach qi will lead to abdominal distension, anorexia, and abnormal sagittal qi; stagnation of liver qi will lead to distending pain in the chest and hypochondrium; stagnation of qi and body fluid will cause sticky stools; stagnation of qi and dampness in the large intestine will lead to large intestine Due to the loss of conduction, the stool is not discharged smoothly.
Qi stagnation can form dampness evil, and dampness evil can further block the movement of qi. The two form positive feedback and are the causes of each other. Pingwei Powder is commonly used in clinical practice. For patients with severe dampness, use atractylodes, poria, and other dampness-removing herbs. For severe qi stagnation, use magnolia bark, bupleurum, tangerine peel, and other qi-regulating herbs. At the same time, don't forget to "lift the pot and uncover it" and add platycodon and aster. , almonds, and other medicines that are good for the lungs. Prescribe the lung qi in the upper burner and clear the lower burner qi. Open the lung qi to promote the clearing and descent of the large intestine. Regulate the lung qi to promote the pivoting of the spleen and stomach qi. If the qi is smooth, it will be bad. Bai can be excreted smoothly, which is the so-called "appropriate upper and lower" method.
The syndrome of spleen deficiency and dampness accumulation is insufficient innate endowment and spleen deficiency in the body. Or careless eating, overwork, prolonged worry, or old age and chronic illness, which damages the spleen and stomach qi. The spleen and stomach are the basis of acquired life. Spleen deficiency means insufficient qi and blood biochemistry. Shortness of breath, fatigue, and sallow complexion are seen. The spleen governs the limbs, and water and dampness cannot be transformed and are trapped in the hands and feet. Therefore, the limbs are heavy and sleepy. The spleen is deficient and the water and grain essence cannot be transported up to the head. If the head and head are not nourished, dizziness will be seen. The water and grain essence does not rise but sinks. , it is noted that the clear and turbid intestines are mixed, and the external water and dampness do not transport the internal dampness evil, resulting in sticky, loose, and thin stools.
Shenling Atractylodes Powder is commonly used in clinical practice. It pays equal attention to spleen-tonifying and dampness-removing and takes into account both spleen-tonifying and lung-tonifying. For patients with obvious abdominal distension, Xiangsha Liujunzi Decoction can be used. For patients with obvious qi deficiency, Buzhong Yiqi Decoction can be used. This syndrome The medicines used need to be mild. Do not overuse tonics due to deficiency. Overdosing of tonics will aggravate the negative aspects of the spleen and stomach, and the gain will not be worth the loss.
The method of clearing the lower abdomen is the conventional treatment for constipation. However, constipation caused by dampness syndrome cannot be treated with drugs such as rhubarb and mirabilis to relieve diarrhea. Although these drugs can relieve the temporary embarrassment of uncomfortable bowel movements, they can easily damage the spleen and stomach. If the spleen is not healthy, the dampness evil will become more abundant, and the dampness evil will cause constipation. heavier. In addition, the lingering evil nature of dampness is difficult to cure, and the dampness caused by dampness cannot be cured in a day. Therefore, the treatment of dampness cannot be done in a day. Do not be greedy and seek quick and strong medicine for treatment. Instead, use gentle and long-lasting methods that will not damage the righteousness. The cure of dispelling evil. Furthermore, if the dampness is lingering, the disease should not be stopped immediately during treatment but should be treated as much as possible until the disease is fully recovered, to prevent the dampness from remaining in the body and waiting for an opportunity to recur. Emotional disorders are common in people with long-term illnesses, mostly due to anxiety and depression. Clinical medication should take into account emotional issues. Bergamot, roses, etc. can be used to soothe the liver and relieve depression, and at the same time provide mental encouragement to improve the effectiveness of treatment.
Natural Herbal Medicine For Relieving Constipation-Cistanche
Cistanche is a genus of parasitic plants that belongs to the family Orobanchaceae. These plants are known for their medicinal properties and have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for centuries. Cistanche species are predominantly found in arid and desert regions of China, Mongolia, and other parts of Central Asia. Cistanche plants are characterized by their fleshy, yellowish stems and are highly valued for their potential health benefits. In TCM, Cistanche is believed to have tonic properties and is commonly used to nourish the kidney, enhance vitality, and support sexual function. It is also used to address aging, fatigue, and overall well-being issues. While Cistanche has a long history of use in traditional medicine, scientific research on its efficacy and safety is ongoing and limited. However, it contains various bioactive compounds such as phenylethanoid glycosides, iridoids, lignans, and polysaccharides, which may contribute to its medicinal effects.
Wecistanche's cistanche powder, cistanche tablets, cistanche capsules, and other products are developed using desert cistanche as raw materials, all of which have a good effect on relieving constipation. The specific mechanism is as follows: Cistanche is believed to have potential benefits for relieving constipation based on its traditional use and certain compounds it contains. While scientific research specifically on Cistanche's effect on constipation is limited, it is thought to have multiple mechanisms that may contribute to its potential to relieve constipation. Laxative Effect: Cistanche has long been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a remedy for constipation. It is believed to have a mild laxative effect, which can help promote bowel movements and induce constipation. This effect may be attributed to various compounds found in Cistanche, such as phenylethanoid glycosides and polysaccharides. Moistening the Intestines: Based on traditional use, Cistanche is considered to have moisturizing properties, specifically targeting the Intestines. Promoting hydration and lubrication of the Intestines may help soften tools and facilitate easier passage, thereby relieving constipation. Anti-inflammatory Effect: Constipation can sometimes be associated with inflammation in the digestive tract. Cistanche contains certain compounds, including phenylethanoid glycosides and lignans, that are believed to have anti-inflammatory properties. By reducing inflammation in the intestines, it may help improve bowel movement regularity and relieve constipation.
