Chinese Medicine for Constipation

In Chinese medicine, constipation is not simply a digestive issue—it reflects disharmony within the body’s organs and internal energy flow. Depending on the cause, it can result from heat, cold, weakness, dryness, or stagnation. Each pattern presents its own signs, treatment focus, and recommended foods.

Large Intestine Heat

Common Signs

  • Hard, dry stools with difficulty passing

  • Bad breath and dry mouth

  • Swollen, painful gums and lips that feel scorched

  • Pain or burning around the anus

  • Bright red blood from the anus

  • Short, reddish urine streams

  • Yellow, foul-smelling stools

Treatment Principle
Clear heat, moisten dryness, and lubricate the intestines to promote easy bowel movements.

Herbal Formula: Ma-Zi-Ren-Wan or Zeng-Yi-Cheng-Qi-Tang

Helpful Foods: Preserved duck egg, flour, banana, bitter endive, black fungus, salt, spinach, strawberry, bamboo shoot, cucumber, Job’s tears, laver, beet leaf, mung bean, peppermint, purslane, sesame oil, apple

Energy Congestion (Qi Stagnation)

Common Signs

  • Abdominal or chest pain that feels tight or full

  • Desire to pass stool but difficulty doing so

  • Pain under the ribs or in the upper abdomen

  • Swelling and fullness after eating

  • Retained urine or ringing in the ears

  • Lump sensation in the throat

  • Emotional tension or irritability

Treatment Principle
Promote the smooth flow of energy and relieve stagnation to restore bowel movement.

Herbal Formula: Liu-Mo-Yin

Helpful Foods: Beef, chicken, mutton, goose, bird’s nest, coconut meat, tofu, sweet rice, butterfish, cherry, jackfruit, squash, sweet potato, rice, caraway seed, spearmint, oregano, red bean, dill seed, garlic, sweet basil, saffron

Cold in the Large Intestine

Common Signs

  • Abdominal pain that improves with warmth

  • Rumbling sounds in the abdomen

  • Cold hands and feet

  • Difficulty passing stool

  • Sticky, muddy stools resembling goose droppings

  • Clear, long urine streams

Treatment Principle
Warm the intestines, dispel cold, and promote bowel movement.

Herbal Formula: Ji-Chuan-Jian

Helpful Foods: Capers, cayenne pepper, fresh ginger, prickly ash, star anise, mustard seed, mustard, wine, chicken, clove, herring, nutmeg, black and white pepper

Energy Deficiency

Common Signs

  • Weak bowel movements requiring effort

  • Soft but incomplete stools

  • Fatigue or dizziness after defecation

  • Cold hands, pale complexion, or weak voice

  • Palpitations or shortness of breath

  • Numb limbs or misty vision

  • Dry skin and underweight body type

Treatment Principle
Strengthen energy, support the spleen and stomach, and promote bowel movement.

Herbal Formula: Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang

Helpful Foods: Grape, longan nut, maltose, mandarin fish, Irish potato, sweet rice, apple cucumber, bog bean, gold carp, carrot, chestnut, ham, horse bean, hyacinth bean, Job’s tears, royal jelly, string bean, whitefish, yam, red and black dates, mutton, squash, rock sugar

Blood Deficiency

Common Signs

  • Dry, hard stools and difficult bowel movements

  • Dizziness and fatigue

  • Pale or white complexion

  • Dry lips, mouth, and skin

  • Night sweats and muscle twitching

  • Palpitations and sleeplessness

  • Weakness or spasms in limbs

  • Underweight body and lack of vitality

Treatment Principle
Nourish and build blood, moisten dryness, and lubricate the intestines.

Herbal Formula: Run-Chang-Wan

Helpful Foods: Abalone, asparagus, cuttlefish, chicken egg, duck egg, white fungus, beef liver, grape, mandarin fish, oyster, milk, beef, cherry, blood clam, longan nut

Constipation in Chinese medicine is a reflection of internal imbalance—whether from excess heat, cold stagnation, lack of energy, or deficiency of blood and fluids. Restoring harmony through herbs, warm or cooling foods, and proper hydration helps the body regain smooth, natural elimination and digestive health.