洁古云∶脏腑之秘，不可一概论治。有虚秘，有实秘，有风秘，有冷秘，有气秘，有热
秘，
有老人津液干燥，妇人分产亡血，及发汗利小便，病后血气未复，皆能作闭。不可一例用硝
、黄利药，巴豆、牵牛尤在所禁。按∶仲景云，脉浮而数，能食不大便者，为实，名曰阳结
，期十七当剧。脉沉而尽，不能食，身体重，大便反硬，名曰阴结，期十四日当剧。东垣云
∶阳结者散之，阴结者热之。前所云实闭、热闭，即阳结。所云冷闭、虚闭，即阴结也。
虚闭有二，一以阴虚，一以阳虚也。凡下焦阳虚，则阳气不行，阳气不行，则不能传送
而阴
凝于下。下焦阴虚，则精血枯燥，精血枯燥，则津液不到，而肠脏干槁。治阳虚者，但益其
火，则阴凝自化。治阴虚者，但壮其水，则泾渭自通。
苁蓉润肠丸
肉苁蓉（酒浸，焙，二两） 沉香（另研，一两）
为末，用麻子仁汁打糊为丸，梧子大，每服七十丸，空心服。
益血润肠丸
熟地（六两） 杏仁（炒去皮尖） 麻仁（各三两，以上三味各杵膏） 枳壳 橘红（各二两
半） 阿胶（炒） 肉苁蓉（各一两半） 苏子 荆芥（各一两） 当归（三两）
末之，以前三味膏同杵千余下，加炼蜜为丸如梧子大，每服五六十丸，空心白汤下。
五仁丸
柏子仁（半两） 松子仁 桃仁 杏仁（各一两） 郁李仁（一钱） 陈皮（四两，另为末）
上将五仁另研如膏，入陈皮末研匀，炼蜜丸梧子大，每服五十丸，空心米饮下。
黄 汤 治老人虚闭。
绵黄 陈皮（去白，各半两）
上为末，每服三钱，用大麻仁一合研烂，以水投取浆水一盏，滤去滓，于银石器内煎，
后有乳起，即入白蜜一大匙，再煎令沸，调药末，空心食前服。闭甚者不过两服愈。
Jiegou stated: Constipation of the zang-fu organs cannot be treated uniformly. There is deficiency constipation, excess constipation, wind constipation, cold constipation, qi constipation, and heat constipation. Additionally, dryness of body fluids in the elderly, blood loss during childbirth in women, as well as conditions following sweating or diuresis, and incomplete recovery of qi and blood after illness, can all lead to constipation. One must not indiscriminately use purgative drugs such as Mirabilite (Natrii Sulfas) and Rhubarb (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma); Croton Seed (Crotonis Fructus) and Morning Glory Seed (Pharbitidis Semen) are especially contraindicated.
Commentary: Zhongjing stated that if the pulse is floating and rapid, and the patient can eat but has no bowel movement, it is an excess pattern named Yang Jie (Yang-type constipation), which is expected to worsen on the seventeenth day. If the pulse is deep and slow, the patient cannot eat, feels heavy in the body, and the stool is conversely hard, it is a deficiency pattern named Yin Jie (Yin-type constipation), which is expected to worsen on the fourteenth day. Dongyuan stated: For Yang Jie, disperse it; for Yin Jie, warm it. The previously mentioned excess constipation and heat constipation correspond to Yang Jie; the cold constipation and deficiency constipation correspond to Yin Jie.
Deficiency constipation has two types: one due to yin deficiency, and one due to yang deficiency. When yang qi of the lower jiao is deficient, the movement of yang qi is obstructed; when yang qi fails to move, it cannot transport and transform, leading to the coagulation of yin-cold in the lower jiao. When yin essence and blood of the lower jiao are deficient, the essence and blood become dry and withered; when essence and blood are dry, body fluids cannot reach the intestines, causing the intestinal organs to become dry and brittle. To treat yang deficiency, simply tonify its fire (kidney-yang), and the yin-cold coagulation will naturally resolve. To treat yin deficiency, simply strengthen its water (kidney-yin), and the waterways will naturally flow smoothly.
Congrong Runchang Wan (Cistanche Pill to Moisten the Intestines)
Cistanche Herba (Cistanche Herba, soaked in wine, dried, two liang) Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum (Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum, ground separately, one liang)
Grind into fine powder, make pills using juice of Cannabis Fructus as a binder, size of Sophora japonica seeds. Take seventy pills per dose, on an empty stomach.
Yixue Runchang Wan (Benefit Blood Pill to Moisten the Intestines)
Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata, six liang) Armeniacae Semen (Armeniacae Semen, stir-fried, skin and tip removed) Cannabis Fructus (Cannabis Fructus, each three liang; the above three ingredients are pounded into paste separately) Aurantii Fructus (Aurantii Fructus, two and a half liang) Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Rubrum (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Rubrum, two and a half liang) Asini Corii Colla (Asini Corii Colla, stir-fried) Cistanche Herba (Cistanche Herba, each one and a half liang) Perillae Fructus (Perillae Fructus) Schizonepetae Herba (Schizonepetae Herba, each one liang) Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, three liang)
Grind into fine powder. Pounded together with the paste of the first three ingredients for over a thousand times, add refined honey to make pills size of Sophora japonica seeds. Take fifty to sixty pills per dose, with plain boiled water on an empty stomach.
Wuren Wan (Five Seeds Pill)
Platycladi Semen (Platycladi Semen) Pini Semen (Pini Semen) Persicae Semen (Persicae Semen) Armeniacae Semen (Armeniacae Semen, each one liang) Prunellae Semen (Prunellae Semen) Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, four liang, ground into powder separately)
First, grind the five seeds separately into a paste. Mix evenly with the powder of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium. Make pills with refined honey, size of Sophora japonica seeds. Take fifty pills per dose, with rice drink on an empty stomach.
Huangqi Tang (Astragalus Decoction) Treats deficiency constipation in the elderly.
Astragali Radix (Astragali Radix) Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, white part removed, each half liang)
Grind into fine powder. Take three qian per dose. Grind one he of Cannabis Fructus until mushy. Add water to extract one cup of liquid. Filter out the dregs. Decoct in a silver or earthenware vessel. When milky foam rises, add one large spoonful of white honey. Boil again. Mix with the medicine powder. Take before meals on an empty stomach. Severe constipation will be cured in no more than two doses.