Constipation Flashcards
What is the definition of constipation?
Constipation refers to difficulty defecating with a production of dry and impacted stools or even lack of defecation for over 3-4 days
In ____________ , constipation is also called habitual constipation, intestinal neurosis, the recovery period after enteritis, diseases of anus or rectum- anal fissures, hemorrhoids or proctitis and weak constitutions
Western Med
What are the key factors in healthy bowel movements?
A good supply of fluids in Stomach and Intestines and strong Qi to move the stools along the digestive system.
The following are ______ of constipation.
Heat
Qi Stagnation
SP Qi Xu
KI Yin Xu (nourish LI)
KI Yang Xu (propel stool)
Cold (External invasion- cold food, cold evil or Yang Xu- empty cold)
Etiologies or causes of constipation
Heat is an etiology of constipation, what is the pathogenesis?
Yang constitutional or eating spicy, greasy food or alcohol or febrile disease (Qi) –> accumulation of heat in ST + LI –> drying up fluids –> dryness of stools –> constipation
When Qi is stagnated in constipation, what is the pathogenesis?
Emotion factors (stress + anxiety) cause Qi to stagnate in lower jiao + LI –> stools are knotted + can’t descend out of body
What evil is more associated with constipation?
Heat, Qi Xu or Yin Body Fluid Xu
How would you differentiate SP Qi Xu in diarrhea and constipation?
Chief complaint
Diarrhea: lassitude, pale face, weak pulse, emancipation
Constipation: exhausted, weak after BM after pushing
What are the functions of Qi?
Warm (warm body)
Propel (Blood, BM + other organ’s function)
Defend body (Wei Qi)
In Cold invasion, what is the pathogenesis causing constipation?
Caused by External Cold Invasion or Yang Xu results in cold –> constricts –> lack of movement = constipation
In Blood Xu, what is the pathogenesis causing diarrhea?
Lack of Blood can’t nourish LI causing dryness and resulting in constipation
(pale lips, face, tongue, poor memory, weak pulse)
When Qi is deficient, how does it cause constipation?
Not enough Qi to propel stools downwards and out of the body
When Body Fluids are Xu, how does it cause constipation?
Dryness + not enough liquid to moisten stool
(dry skin, dry throat, dry nose, dry mouth, thready and slightly rapid pulse)
When Yin is deficient, how does it cause constipation?
Not enough Yin fluid to nourish + hydrate stools causing dryness resulting in constipation
(red w/ scanty coating, thready + rapid pulse, dry throat, dry mouth, w/ insomnia + restlessness)
What internal organs are most related to constipation?
Stomach
Large Intestine
Spleen
Liver
Kidneys
Constipation is mainly caused by the disturbed transmitting function of the _______.
Large Intestine
The following are patterns of _________?
Heat
Qi Stagnation
Qi Xu
Blood Xu
Body Fluids Xu
Cold Accumulation
Constipation
The following are S/sx of constipation due to ____________?
Infrequent + difficulty defection w/ dry + impacted stools, fullness + distending pain in abdomen, red face, maybe w/ acne, fever, thirst, foul breath, likes cold drinks, scanty yellow urine, eating unbalanced diet or alcohol use
T: Red w/ dry, yellow coating
P: Rapid + slippery
Heat
The following are S/sx of constipation due to ____________?
Infrequent + difficulty defection w/ dry + impacted stools, urge to defecate w/ difficulty, frequent belching, fullness + distending pain in abdomen + hypochondria region, aggravation by emotional, loss of appetite, bitter taste
T: thin, sticky coating
P: Wiry
Qi Stagnation
The following are S/sx of constipation due to ____________?
Infrequent + difficulty defection w/ dry + impacted stools, SOB, weakness after straining, or worse after exertion, dry stools, pale + lusterless face, lassitude
T: Pale w/ thin coating
P: Thready + Forceless
Qi Xu
The following are S/sx of constipation due to _____?
Infrequent + difficulty defection w/ dry + impacted stools, pale face, pale eyelids, dizziness, palpitations, poor memory, pale lips, pale nails, dry skin
T: Pale
P: Thready + Weak
Blood Xu
The following are S/sx of constipation due to _____?
Infrequent + difficulty defection w/ dry + impacted stools, clear + profuse urine, severe pain + cold feeling in the abdomen, pale + lusterless face, cold limbs, preference for warmth, aversion to cold
Excessive Cold tongue:
T: Pink maybe slightly purple w/ thicker, white coating
P: Tight
Deficient Empty Cold:
T: Pale + puffy w/ white coating
P: Deep + Slow + Weak
Cold Accumulation in LI (Excessive Cold or Yang Xu- Empty Cold)
The following are S/sx of constipation due to _____?
Infrequent + difficulty defection w/ dry + impacted stools, smaller pieces/rabbit poop, dryness in skin
T: normal, maybe dry coating
P: Weak + Slow
Body Fluids Xu
What are the main points of treating constipation?
ST-25: Front-mu of LI + promote flow of Qi
SJ-6: Promotes flow of Qi in SJ
ST-28: Local pt + ‘Water Passage’ + Regulates the lower jiao + dispels stagnation + treats edema (promote urination) + move local Qi
ST-29: Local pt + Warms the lower jiao + move local Qi
ST-40: luo connecting point + Regulate SP+ ST Qi + descends ST Qi + promotes BM
Alt. points: ST-37 (Lower He-sea of LI) + BL-25 (Back-shu of LI)
What 2 points are used to treat all types of constipation?
For all types of constipation, use
SJ-6 + KI-6
What are the main points for accompanying S/sx of patterns of constipation?
Heat-
LI-4 + ST-44
Qi Stagnation-
LR-3 + REN-12
Qi Xu-
REN-6 (tonify general Qi + local) + BL-20
Blood Xu-
ST-36 + SP-6 + SP-10 +/or BL-17
Cold Accumulation-
REN-8 + DU-4: Moxa
What are some alternative methods to treat constipation?
Ear Acu-
LI, Rectum, Sympathesis, + Subcortex
What is the treatment principle for Heat accumulation?
Clear Heat, drain Fire (of Large Intestine or Liver), moisten the Intestines.
What is the treatment principle for Stagnation of Liver-Qi?
Pacify the Liver, regulate Qi, make Qi descend, eliminate stagnation.
What is the treatment principle for Qi Deficiency?
Tonify Qi and moisten the Intestines.
What is the treatment principle for Blood Deficiency?
Nourish Blood, moisten the Intestines.
What is the treatment principle for Yang Deficiency?
Tonify the Kidneys, warm the Lower Burner and moisten the Intestines.
What is the treatment principle for Yin Deficiency?
Nourish Yin, tonify the Kidneys and moisten the Intestines.
What is the treatment principle for Cold in the Intestines?
Warm the Yang, scatter Cold, promote bowel movement.
