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Constipation is a disease of the Hand-Yangming and Foot-Yangming meridians. In Shanghan (Cold Damage) diseases, constipation in the Yangming stage indeed belongs purely to dryness-heat in the stomach and intestines. However, ordinary constipation often involves dampness in the stomach and dryness in the intestines. Yang governs opening, and Yin governs closing; when Yang is excessive, orifices and tunnels open, and when Yin is excessive, the gates close. Stools resembling sheep droppings are all due to Yin excess causing intestinal binding, not related to fire hyperactivity. Moreover, the Kidney governs the opening and closing of the two lower orifices. Cold, heat, deficiency, or dryness can all lead to constipation, so treatment should primarily focus on regulating the Kidney. If Yang is excessive and Spleen-earth is dry with hard stools, Aojiao Mahuang Decoction is used as the principal formula. If Yang is deficient and Spleen-earth is damp with stools resembling sheep droppings, Rongcongrou Tang is used as the principal formula. If stools are hard and the Spleen's function of distributing essence is constrained, Maren Wan is used as the principal formula.

Aojiao Mahuang Decoction
Shengdi (3 qian), Danggui (3 qian), Ejiao (3 qian), Mahuang (3 qian, ground). Decoct in water to obtain one cup, remove dregs, add Ejiao and melt over fire, take warm. For severe binding, add half a cup of white honey; for Stomach heat, add Mangxiao and Dahuang; for exhaustion of essence and fluids, add Tiandong and Guijiao.

Rongcongrou Tang
Rongcongrou (3 qian), Mahuang (3 qian), Fuling (3 qian), Banxia (3 qian), Gancao (2 qian), Guizhi (3 qian). Decoct in water to obtain one cup, take warm.

Maren Wan
Houpo (8 liang, processed with ginger), Zhishi (8 liang, stir-fried with flour), Shaoyao (8 liang), Dahuang (1 jin, steamed and baked), Mahuang (8 liang, separately ground), Xingren (5.5 liang, skin and tips removed, stir-fried). Grind the above into powder, mix with refined honey to form pills the size of wutong seeds. Take 20 pills each time, with warm water before bed. Stop when bowel movement becomes smooth.

Lingbing (Strangury) refers to short, frequent urination, dripping continuously, and pain in the urethra. Longbi (Retention of Urine) refers to inability to pass even drops of urine, with distension and closure causing extreme suffering. Although these two conditions belong to heat binding in the Bladder, they are actually caused by the failure of Qi transformation in the Sanjiao. The Liver governs free flow; if Wood fails to vent, the Shengqi (generating energy) becomes depressed and generates heat, leading to difficult and obstructed urination. The Kidney governs storage; if Water fails to store, the root of Yang leaks and generates cold, leading to the overflow of essence and blood. This is the origin of these two conditions. For the initial stage of Wulin (Five Stranguries), Wulin Tang with modifications is used as the principal formula. For Longbi where Yin fails to transform Yang, Zishen Wan is used as the principal formula. Where Yang fails to transform Yin, Baitong Tang is used as the principal formula. Where both Yin and Yang fail to transform, Jisheng Shenqi Wan is used as the principal formula. If diuretic herbs are ineffective, Buzhong Yiqi Tang is administered, followed by inducing vomiting by probing the throat with fingers. This is the method of opening the upper orifice to unblock the lower orifice. These two conditions may sometimes be treated uniformly with Guizhi Lingze Tang.

Wulin Tang
Chifuling (3 qian), Baishao (2 qian), Sheng Shanzhi (2 qian), Danggui (1.4 qian), Xi Gancao (1.4 qian). Decoct in water and take.
If caused by moving Qi, with distension and pain below the umbilicus, it is Qiling (Qi Strangury); add Jingjie, Xiangfu, and Sheng Maiya. If hematuria with cutting pain in the urethra, it is Xueling (Blood Strangury); add Niuxi, Taoren, Honghua, Shengdi, and a small amount of Shexiang. If urine passes like sand and stones, it is Shiling (Stone Strangury); administer Liuyisan (3 qian) with water. If urine passes like paste, it is Gaoling (Paste Strangury); combine with Bixie Fenqing Yin. If caused by labor, it is Laoling (Labor Strangury); combine with Buzhong Yiqi Tang. If excessive use of mineral drugs, or in elderly men with depleted Yang who indulge in sexual desire to release essence, causing internal corruption of essence leading to strangury, add Bixie, Shichangpu, and Tusizi to guide it out. If due to excessive sexual desire, resembling strangury but not quite, with short, frequent urination and severe urethral pain,酌情 (discretionarily) add Rongcongrou, Yinyanghuo, Sheng Duzhong, white honey, and Yangzhi.

Zishen Wan
Huangbai (1 liang), Zhimu (1 liang), Rougui (1 qian). Grind into powder, mix with honey to form pills. Take 3 qian each time, with boiled water.

Baitong Tang
Congbai (2 stalks, each 1.5 cun), Ganjiang (3 qian), Fuzi (3 qian). Decoct in water to obtain more than half a cup, take warm. Note: Congbai should be increased in quantity; adding one cup of human urine is especially effective.

Jisheng Shenqi Wan
Shudi, Shanyurou, Shanyao, Danpi, Fuling, Zexie, Rougui, Fuzi, Niuxi, Cheqianzi. Mix with refined honey to form pills the size of wutong seeds. Can also be taken as a decoction.

Buzhong Yiqi Tang
Huangqi (2 qian, honey-fried), Renshen, Baizhu, Danggui, Chenpi, Gancao (each 1 qian), Shengma, Chaihu (each 0.3 qian). Decoct in water and take. After about two shichen (4 hours), take the second decoction, then induce vomiting by probing the throat with fingers.

Guizhi Lingze Tang
Fuling (3 qian), Zexie (3 qian), Zhuling (3 qian), Guizhi (3 qian), Ejiao (3 qian, stir-fried). Decoct in water to obtain more than half a cup, take hot.