Editor's recommendation: Professor Wang Shun, President of the Northern Chronic Disease Prevention Branch of the Chinese Geriatric Society, Vice president of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, M.D., doctoral supervisor, brings a series of science popularization.  

Epidemiological studies on community populations show that the prevalence of chronic constipation in Chinese adults increases with age, and the prevalence of chronic constipation in people over 60 years old can be as high as 22%. By summarizing literatures related to senile constipation at home and abroad, scholars believe that senile constipation is related to factors such as decreased quality of life, digestive system diseases, urinary system diseases, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, central nervous system and other diseases (chronic liver disease, eczema, dermatitis, endocrine diseases). Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history of preventing and treating habitual constipation in the elderly, and has rich and valuable clinical experience. The following are practical and effective methods of preventing and treating habitual constipation in the elderly with traditional Chinese medicine:

1. Etiology, pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of habitual constipation

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that due to the deficiency of Qi and blood Yin and Yang in the elderly, the intestine can not normally transfer the dross, so the elderly habitual constipation is generally dominated by deficiency syndrome, deficiency and accumulation. It is often manifested as a prolonged defecation cycle, or a short cycle but difficult defecation, difficult defecation, accompanied by dry stool, discomfort after defecation or residual sense of stool, can be accompanied by rectal prolapse, anal fusing, hemorrhoids and elevated blood pressure, angina pectoris and other acute and chronic diseases, seriously affecting the quality of life of the elderly. So how to prevent the elderly habitual constipation?

Second, how to prevent the elderly habitual constipation

Traditional Chinese medicine believes: "the elderly body is deficient, that is, Yin and Yang are deficient, Yang deficiency means the body has less movement of Qi, Yin deficiency means the body lacks shape; Caused by the disease from the lower deficiency, the cure must seek its original, from the "deficiency is to supplement its mother" method, lung gold sheng kidney water, then tonifying the lung and kidney; Also from the 'lung and large intestine' method, Xuanyi lung qi and regulate the large intestine, then stool self-regulation." Therefore, according to the characteristics of the elderly, it is mainly in the aspects of daily life, diet and Chinese patent medicine.

1. Prevention and treatment of daily life:

(1) According to their physical condition, every morning to choose eight sections of brocade, Taijiquan and other health exercises to promote gastrointestinal peristalsis of Qi and blood running level;

(2) Drinking a cup of warm water after a meal can play a role in moistening the intestine, but also can supplement water.

(3) Every day after meals, knead the umbilical area clockwise for about 10 minutes to help the colon push the stool smoothly to the rectum, so that the stool is smoothly excreted from the body.

2. Dietary prevention methods:

(1) To light diet, appropriate drinking water (not recommended to drink more water, traditional Chinese medicine believes that the elderly spleen and stomach weak, the ability to transport water is weaker than young people, drinking a lot of water but to the spleen and stomach burden, resulting in phlegm drink disease);

(2) Eat coarse grains properly (it is not recommended to eat more, coarse grains are warm and dry, if too much use may lead to a lack of gastrointestinal Yin fluid, causing constipation), appropriate consumption of fresh green leafy vegetables, fruits (fruit more cold, excessive consumption but lead to insufficient Yang Qi, and Yang deficiency constipation).

(3) Appropriate consumption of probiotic dairy products, such as yogurt, improve intestinal flora and promote gastrointestinal motility.

3. Chinese patent medicine treatment: Commonly used Chinese patent medicines include Maren Runchang pill, Qirong Runchang oral liquid, Liuwei Anxiao capsule.

(1) Maren Runchang pill

Composition: hemp seed, bitter almond (peeled and fried), rhubarb, wood fragrance, orange peel, white peony. It is suitable for gastrointestinal heat, chest and abdominal distension, constipation, dry stool, difficult discharge and so on.

(2) Qi Rong Runchang oral liquid

Composition: Astragalus (grilled), Cistanche, white art, Radix pseudostellariae, Rehmannia, Scrophulariae, Ophiopogon, Angelica, Fructus flavus (prepared), mulberry, black sesame, sesame seed, plum seed, Fructus aurantii (stir-fried with bran), honey. It is suitable for constipation caused by deficiency of Qi and Yin, deficiency of spleen and kidney, and loss of large intestine in moistening, which is manifested as inability to discharge, defecation obstructed, dry and so on. The combined effect of Maren Runchang pill is more effective

(3) Liuwei Anxiao capsule

Composition: Tibetana, Rhubarb, Kaempferia, North cold water stone (calcined), Chebule, alkali flower. Suitable for constipation accompanied by stomach pain and distention, dyspepsia, female common.  

Each person's situation is different, the specific drug or treatment plan, please go to the regular hospital in time to consult the doctor.  

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