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Treats retained food stagnating in the intestines, unable to descend, resulting in constipation for many days. The syndrome may arise from overeating, excessive consumption of raw and cold foods, condensation of cold and fire pathogens, or prolonged vomiting causing both Stomach Qi (Stomach Energy) and Chong Qi (Penetrating Vessel Energy) to rebel upward instead of descending.

Raw Hematite (Ochre Stone) [Sheng Zhe Shi] (2 liang, finely crushed) Mirabilite [Pu Xiao] (5 qian) Dried Ginger [Gan Jiang] (2 qian) Kansui Root [Gan Sui] (1.5 qian, administered as powder with decoction liquid).

If heat predominates, remove Dried Ginger. If cold predominates, add several qian of Dried Ginger as appropriate. If vomiting is frequent, first decoct 1 liang of Raw Hematite and half a qian of Dried Ginger to stop the vomiting. After vomiting ceases, decoct the original prescription and administer Kansui Root powder with it.

Although Mirabilite can soften hardness, when fecal dryness is extremely severe and there is no intestinal fluid, its softening power will be ineffective. Kansui Root has a pungent and penetrating nature, best at promoting water movement; it can guide fluids from the Stomach directly to the site of dryness. Subsequently, Mirabilite utilizes this flowing fluid to fully exert its softening effect. Even if the dryness persists for a long time, it can transform into loose stool and flow down smoothly. However, Kansui Root is very potent and fierce, acting by breaking through obstructions; it can move downward and upward. Without something to control it, ingestion often leads to simultaneous vomiting and diarrhea. Moreover, this condition often arises after violent vomiting, or because Qi mechanism fails to descend and rebels upward, causing expulsion before the breaking-through power can take effect. Therefore, the rebellious-nature-suppressing property of Raw Hematite and the rebellious-nature-descending property of Dried Ginger work together to assist Kansui Root in achieving success. Furthermore, Dried Ginger is hot in nature, while Mirabilite is cold; using them together effectively opens up stagnation caused by cold-fire condensation. Once the cold-fire condensation in the intestines is resolved, the retained matter stagnating in the intestines also becomes easier to disperse. I have used this formula to save many people; even when food stagnation occurs in the Zhongwan (CV12) and Xiawan areas, it invariably produces immediate results.

In the year Yimao (1915), residing temporarily in Guangping, a patient was suddenly brought by cart to my residence for consultation. He was over fifty years old, groaning incessantly, stating that he felt food stuck in his Xiawan area, causing severe pain. Several doctors had treated him; one prescription contained up to 1.5 liang of Rhubarb [Da Huang], yet it failed to produce bowel movements. Furthermore, any medicine taken would rebel upward and be vomited once it reached the site of stagnation, including food and drink. At this time, he felt extreme irritability in the upper Jiao (Upper Burner), and had been constipated for ten days. His pulse was weak but not rapid in rate, and firm upon deep pressure. Knowing he could still tolerate purgation, I told him: "This disease is easy to treat, but since the medication contains potent ingredients, I must personally supervise the administration to ensure safety. However, it need not drag on; within four hours here, the obstruction should clear." Thus, I prescribed this decoction without Dried Ginger, increasing Raw Hematite to 3 liang and Mirabilite to 8 qian. Shortly after ingestion, rumbling sounds were heard in the abdomen. Two and a half hours later, a bowel movement occurred, and he recovered. A month later, he suffered from similar stagnation again and recovered using the same formula.

Appendix:
Letter from Lu XX of Dezhou, Shandong:
My clan nephew's grandson suffered from Intestinal Obstruction Syndrome for over two months. Dozens of doctors were consulted, and over a hundred doses of medicine were taken, but with no effect; the condition worsened significantly. He believed no one could cure him and no medicine could help. His breath was faint, and burial clothes were already prepared. Later, he received a letter from you (which recommended taking Zhe Sui Gong Jie Tang from *Records of Medicine Integrating Chinese and Western*). He brought the book to check, fortunately, his mind was still clear. He found the prescription for Zhe Sui Gong Jie Tang and showed it to me. Being knowledgeable about medicine himself, he observed it lying down for an hour, then suddenly sat up, slapped his abdomen, and said, "My illness is cured; luckily I won't die." He immediately sent someone to fetch the medicine. Moments after ingestion, loud noises erupted in his abdomen. He felt the obstruction had opened, followed by massive diarrhea of two or three basins. After resting for about two hours, he defecated several more times, and the illness was completely cured. He then consumed two teacups of thin millet porridge made with Chinese Yam [Shan Yao] powder, followed by several doses of tonifying and moistening herbs to conclude treatment.