How often do you poop? Do you have constipation problems?

Constipation refers to the condition where stool is too dry and hard, making bowel movements difficult and infrequent.

Constipation is mainly characterized by a reduced frequency of bowel movements, prolonged bowel movement intervals; or hard stools and difficulty in defecation; or weak defecation effort, with the urge to defecate but difficulty in passing stool.

The normal frequency of bowel movements is approximately between three times a day and three times a week. A regular bowel movement cycle, even if it is once every two days, is considered normal.

 So, when the regular frequency of once a day or once every two days gradually changes to once every three days or once a week, it is considered constipation.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the causes of constipation can be summarized as irregular diet, emotional disturbances, external pathogens invading the stomach, and insufficient constitution. The nature of the disease can be categorized into four aspects: cold, heat, deficiency, and excess.

The main pathogenesis is divided into:

1.      Gastrointestinal Dry Heat – Intestinal dryness and constipation, resulting inHot Secret
2.      Qi stagnation – accumulation of waste inside, resulting inQi constipation
3.      Qi and Yin Deficiency – Weak conduction in the large intestine, resulting inVirtual Secret
4.      Yin Cold Stagnation – Internal accumulation of yin cold, resulting inCold Secret

People with constipation generally also experience abdominal bloating, abdominal pain, dizziness and head pressure, epigastric discomfort and belching, and loss of appetite.

 The combination of tongue appearance and pulse condition helps in the diagnosis and treatment of constipation.

【If you want to know more, please consult our Chinese medicine team】