As the saying goes, "If you can't poop, you're worried, but when you poop, you're relaxed." The elderly are prone to constipation due to intestinal decline, dry stool, fecal blockage, etc., and can also cause bloating, abdominal pain, irritability, etc., which will increase the oxygen consumption of the myocardium and increase the burden on the heart. In particular, constipation knots and excessive exertion during defecation can cause a sharp increase in myocardial oxygen consumption, which can easily induce myocardial pain and even lead to myocardial infarction.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that constipation in middle-aged and elderly people is mainly due to insufficient qi, blood and fluid, and the intestines lose lubrication and propulsion, and stool will be easily blocked in the intestines. Therefore, keeping the stool clear is an important aspect of health care for the elderly.
So for this common cause of constipation, our main idea is to lubricate and boost, first add moisturizing fluid to the intestines, so that the friction of the "channel" is reduced and smoother, and at the same time, the qi is used to increase the peristalsis of the intestines and help relieve stool.
Constipation, how is it treated in Chinese medicine?
Let's introduce a classic treatment for constipation:
Interpretation of the name
Diarrhea
Rhubarb + magnolia bark + citrus aurantium
"Rhubarb + Magnolia + Citrus aurantium" in the recipe is a small Chengqi soup, rhubarb is used to laxative tangible dross, Magnolia bark + Citrus aurantium is practical to laxative invisible stasis, these three herbs work together in the stomach and intestines, used to diarrhea the dregs and stasis in the gastrointestinal tract.
moistening
Asako Jin + White Pear + Apricot Kernel
The main function of "hemp seed kernel + white peony + almond" is to lubricate the intestines, among which hemp seed kernel is hemp seed, which has a smooth and fatty texture, and can even be directly squeezed for oil, so it has a strong effect of moistening the intestines and laxative.
repair
Honey bees
Finally, honey is added to further lubricate the intestines, honey also has a soothing effect, making the medicinal power longer, and honey can also replenish the body and help the elderly to strengthen their healthy qi.
Dosage
Ma Ziren pills are made into pills "as big as sycamore seeds", and "ten pills are drunk at a time", which is about equal to 3g, and 3 times a day, which is about equal to 9~10g. "Take three pills a day, gradually increase, take knowledge as the degree", starting from 10 pills at a time, 3 times a day, you can gradually increase the amount. "Take knowledge as the degree" "Knowledge", healing, is to take the stool as the degree, and it also contains the meaning of stopping the disease and protecting the righteousness.
Functional indications
Ma Zi Ren Pill (or changed to decoction) is widely used in clinical practice, such as senile constipation, childhood constipation, habitual constipation, postpartum constipation, etc., all of which can be treated with this prescription. For those with insufficient kidney qi, you can add products that nourish the kidney and moisten the intestines, such as Cistanche, Cassia Seed, Black Sesame, Shou Wu, etc.
Precautions for use
For long-term severe constipation or combined with other drugs, it is necessary to adjust the dosage or use it with caution under the guidance of a physician, and for cold deficiency constipation, pregnant women need to be cautious in using heat-clearing and laxative herbs.
- Patients who are allergic to drugs: Ma Ren pills contain a variety of drug ingredients, if the patient is known to be allergic to one or more of them, it is forbidden to take Ma Ren pills, otherwise it may cause rashes, skin itching, and may even lead to laryngeal edema, causing difficulty breathing;
- Patients with loose stool: Ma Ren pills are cold and have the effect of laxative, so patients with loose stool themselves are forbidden to take Ma Ren pills to avoid aggravating symptoms;
- Spicy diet: Patients should avoid spicy diets, such as chili peppers, while taking Ma Ren Pills, and avoid drinking alcohol at the same time, so as not to aggravate gastrointestinal discomfort, and may also affect the efficacy of the drug, which is not conducive to the recovery of the disease.
- Pregnant and lactating women, the elderly, children, and patients with underlying diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease should take medication strictly under the guidance of a doctor.
Final summary
There are many factors that cause constipation, many elderly people suffer from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, need long-term medication treatment, and some antihypertensive drugs can cause constipation, or long-term use of diazepam, antidepressant and other drugs, will also inhibit intestinal peristalsis, causing constipation. In addition, dietary factors and reduced activity are also factors of constipation.
Therefore, it is necessary to take appropriate measures to prevent constipation, such as the following:
Intensify your workouts
Proper exercise, such as walking after meals, can stimulate the peristalsis of the intestinal wall and speed up the passage of stool through the intestines.
Drink plenty of fluids
When constipation, the elderly need to drink 2000-3000 ml of water every day, and it is best to drink a large glass of water on an empty stomach in the early morning and then move appropriately, which can moisten the gastrointestinal tract and soften the stool.
Eat more crude fiber foods
It can promote the secretion of digestive juices and maintain the normal peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract.
理用药
Constipation in the elderly needs to be treated dialectically according to the different constitutions and symptoms of patients, and laxative drugs must not be used blindly.
Reviewer: Fang Jian, Chief Pharmacist, Guangzhou Huadu District People's Hospital
Author: Luo Ning, chief pharmacist of Guangzhou Huadu District People's Hospital