There are always people around complaining, "I haven't had a bowel movement for several days, and my stomach is uncomfortably bloated!" Some others have tried many methods, but they never seem to address the root cause, and the problem often recurs before long.What is going on here? Take stomach heat constipation and intestinal dryness constipation as examples. Although they sound similar, the underlying root causes and treatment methods are poles apart.

Let's start with constipation due to stomach heat

The cause of stomach heat constipation is usually due to an inability to control one's diet, often indulging in spicy, stimulating, fried, or warming and nourishing foods, which leads to stomach heat. Such individuals often also experience symptoms such as dry mouth, bad breath, swollen and painful gums, abdominal distension and pain, a red tongue with a yellow coating, and so on.

Think about it, when there is heat in the stomach, it's like water boiling in a pot, where the moisture is evaporated dry. This causes the food that enters the stomach to have its fluids dried up before it can even be digested. As a result, the stool naturally becomes dry and hard, making it difficult to pass, and sometimes it even comes with a burning sensation in the anus.

At this point, if you simply take some laxatives casually, it's like adding a little water to a small stove—it may appear slightly damp, but the fire underneath is not extinguished at all. In no more than two days, constipation will return. To deal with it, you must first clear the heat in the stomach, and you can refer to the modified Da Cheng Qi Decoction.

Now let's talk about intestinal dryness and constipation

Intestinal dryness and constipation are not a matter of "fire" but rather a lack of "water." It is like crops in a field without water; when there is insufficient fluid in the intestines, intestinal motility decreases, leading to constipation. However, this type of constipation is usually not accompanied by a burning sensation in the anus.

This type of person should avoid using heat-clearing medicine. You see, the intestines are already dry enough. Using cold medicine is like pouring cold water on dry, cracked land—it not only fails to moisturize but also weakens the "motility" of the intestines. Therefore, at this time, the focus should be on "replenishing water" and restoring the body fluids in the intestines. The Modified Zengye Decoction can be considered as a reference.

So, when constipated, don't rush to take medicine. First, understand your own constitution, and then use medication based on the specific situation. If you are unsure about your condition, you can seek professional advice from a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner for diagnosis and treatment. The above content is for reference only.