Explanation
- Sheng Di Huang and Shu Di Huang nourish Yin and Blood.
- Dang Gui nourishes Blood and moistens the Intestines.
- Tao Ren and Hong Hua move Blood. Tao Ren also moistens the Intestines.
- Sheng Ma raises the clear Yang and, by so doing, helps the impure Qi to descend. This
helps to stimulate the bowel movement. - Zhi Gan Cao harmonizes.
This formula is suitable if there is also some stasis of Blood and the tongue is slightly Purple.
Cold
Cold in the Intestines
Internal Cold in the Intestines can derive either from an invasion of external Cold or from Yang
deficiency, particularly of the Spleen and/or Kidneys. Cold contracts the muscles and prevents
the proper movement and transformation of Qi in the Intestines. It can therefore cause
constipation. If it derives from Yang deficiency, then constipation results not only from the
contracting action of Cold, but also from the deficient Yang-Qi being unable to push the stools
through the Intestines. In such cases, the condition is characterized by a combination of
Deficiency and Excess.
Constipation from Cold is nearly always accompanied by quite severe abdominal pain.
Clinical Manifestations
Difficult defaecation, stools not dry, no bowel movement for several days, spastic abdominal
pain, pale urine, pale face, cold limbs, feeling cold.
Tongue: Pale and wet. Thick-white coating on the root.
Pulse: Deep-Slow-Full-Tight. If Cold derives from Yang deficiency the pulse will be
Deep-Slow-Fine, with a slightly Tight quality on both Rear positions only.
Treatment Principle