Difficulty expelling stools. They normally come for consultation in cases of chronic constipation: stools may be very hard and dry in texture or defecation frequency every few days.
It mainly affects the Large Intestine. Depending on the causes it can be of excess or empty type.
Heat in Large Intestine
There is heat in Large Intestine and dryness in Yang Ming that hinder the transport and evacuation function of LI.
Causes
- Very yang constitution.
- Drinks little water.
- Improper diet: Excess of yang-natured foods (pungent, fats, fried foods), large quantities.
- Xie Qi: heat dryness in the lung that transmits to LI.
Symptoms
- Hard and dry stools.
- Abdominal pain and distension.
- Pain on palpation of the abdomen. (Fullness)
- Foul-smelling gas.
- Halitosis (bad breath).
- Feeling of heat.
- Dry mouth, thirst, desires cold drinks.
- Pain and bleeding gums.
- Red face. Acne may be present.
- Frontal headache (Yang Ming).
- Scant and dark urine.
- Red tongue with yellow coating, greasy and dry.
- Pulse full, broad, rapid.
Treatment
Eliminate heat and cool LI, hydrate.
- LI-2 (eliminates heat and hydrates LI)
- ST-44 or ST-45, LI-4 + LI-11 (eliminate Yang Ming heat)
- SP-15
- Common points for constipation: BL-25, ST-25, ST-37, TE-6, KI-6
Empty-Cold
Has urge to defecate but lacks Yang, lacks strength to expel stools. See Empty-Cold of Large Intestine.
Causes
- Kidney-Yang deficiency: lacks energy to move, peristalsis.
- Spleen-Yang deficiency: does not generate Qi to perform LI functions.
- Combination of the above: Spleen- and Kidney-Yang deficiency.
Symptoms
- Usually occurs in elderly people.
- Weakness, tiredness.
- Aversion to cold.
- Stools may be normal or even pasty.
- No peristalsis (needs to help with hand to get it out).
- Lumbar area and knees feel frozen.
- Pale tongue.
- Pulse very weak, deep and slow. Especially in the foot position.
Treatment
Warm and tonify Spleen and Kidney Yang Qi.
- Moxa of the triangle: CV-8 (with salt) and moxa cones on the curious points San Jiao Jiu
- BL-20, BL-23
- CV-4 (long needle + moxa)
- SP-15
- ST-25
- ST-36, SP-3, KI-3, KI-6
- GV-4
- BL-26
Qi and Blood deficiency
Does not propel (Qi) and does not hydrate (Blood).
Causes
- Qi deficiency and Blood deficiency: after childbirth, chronic illness that weakens, old age
Symptoms
- Thin or pasty stools if due to Qi deficiency.
- Drier stools if due to Blood deficiency.
- Does not have the urge to expel stools.
- After defecating becomes very tired, has spontaneous sweating or pallor.
- Pallor, dizziness, palpitations
- Hair and nails weak and dry (Blood)
- Pale tongue
- Pulse fine and weak
Treatment
Tonify Qi and Blood (SP/ST, KI and LI)
- BL-20 (BL-21), BL-25
- ST-36, SP-6, SP-3, CV-4 (CV-6), ST-25
- LR-13
- If due to Blood: KI-6
- If due to Qi: GB-34
Kidney-Yin deficiency
- Dry stools
- Red cheekbones
- Heat in the five hollows: palms of hands, soles of feet and sternum
- Night sweating
- Tongue red and dry, cracked
- Pulse rapid and fine
Treatment
Tonify Yin and moisten LI
Qi stagnation
Causes
- Emotional: injury of the seven passions, stagnates Liver Qi and blocks the drainage and evacuation function.
- Sedentary lifestyle
Symptoms
- "I have urge to defecate but I sit and nothing comes out". May last for days.
- Stools may be normal, not so dry, which would indicate it is not a fluid problem but one of propulsion and drainage.
- May have abdominal pain and distension.
- Nervousness, chest and costal oppression.
- Belching and gas but without much odor.
- Bitter taste in mouth.
- Lack of appetite.
- Pulse tense.
- Tongue normal or tending to be red.
Treatment
Unblock Qi of LI and Liver
- LR-13 or LR-14
- Combination: TE-6 + GB-34 (shao yang)
- SP-14 (Knotted abdomen)
- CV-6(unblocks Qi of lower Jiao) + ST-25 Mu of LI
- PC-6 + LR-3 + LI-4
- BL-18 (if emotional issue is important)
Auriculotherapy for constipation
See: Auriculotherapy
- Recommended points (not all, choose the most appropriate):
[[Large Intestine, Small Intestine, Rectum, Spleen, Stomach, Liver, Kidney, Lung, Shen Men, Constipation.
Naturopathy for constipation
Constipation is a common symptom, not a true disease. Once the causes producing constipation are eliminated, the intestine needs to be reeducated and adopt healthy habits. If constipation is chronic, investigate medical causes: colon cancer, Vitamin B9 deficiency (also causes depression, tiredness, and paresthesia in the legs), Folic acid deficiency (found in: meat, liver, green vegetables, whole grains and potatoes). B9 in pharmacies: ACFOL
Recommendations
- Never suppress the urge to defecation, always take advantage of it.
- Drink 6 to 8 glasses of liquid/day. Especially in the morning (a large glass of hot water or infusion).
- Sit on the toilet every morning at the same time.
- Do physical exercise, minimum 20 minutes/day, 3 days/week.
- Stop using laxatives and enemas (slowly).
- In babies, stimulate the anus with thermometer or suppository.
Remedies
There are irritant laxatives and mechanical laxatives.
Irritant laxatives
They are plants with anthraquinone substances, irritative of the colon mucosa, activate it by irritation. In excess they can cause ulceration of the mucosa with abdominal pain (colic). When consumed chronically, they generate dependence.
- Castor oil
- Cascara sagrada
- Aloe vera
- Senna leaves
- Rhubarb.
Mechanical laxatives
They are the recommendable ones, they do not irritate nor generate dependence. They have high fiber content.
- Psyllium seed
- Flax seeds
- Cereal bran in general.
Osmotic laxative
They attract water into the colon.
- Magnesium. No more than 400 mg. Of elemental Mg.
Peristalsis stimulants
Lactitol and Lactulose (DUPHALAC) are transformed by the action of the flora in the colon into lactic acid that stimulates peristalsis. Moreover both act as prebiotics, reduce putrefaction flora and reduce absorption of nitrogenous residues, they can be administered to babies.
Dietary recommendations
- High-fiber diet.
- Whole oats.
- Whole corn.
- Plenty of liquid.,