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Some present with thirst, or with scanty, difficult, yellow, and foul-smelling urine. Insert a small bamboo tube into the anus to a depth of two cun. Mix pig bile (Suis Viscus) with a small amount of good vinegar and instill it through the tube; this yields miraculous effects. Additionally, the two formulas for treating deficiency-type fecal impaction mentioned earlier can also be used.

Another formula: Grind Semen Pharbitidis (Qian Niu Zi) into powder. Use Gleditsiae Sinensis Fructus (Zao Jia) decocted into a paste to bind the powder into pills the size of Sophora seeds (Wu Zi Da). Take seven or ten pills per dose to achieve bowel movement. There was a case of an obese patient with intestinal stagnation who had a bowel movement only once every ten days, suffering from complete obstruction unresponsive to various medicines. This formula proved highly effective later on. Do not disregard Semen Pharbitidis due to its potent nature.

Yet another formula: Combine Radix Sesami Nigri (Zhi Ma) 2 liang, Radix et Rhizoma Rhei (Da Huang) 2 qian, and Camelliae Sinensis Folium (Cha Ye) 5 qian. Grind them together into powder and take with warm water.

Yet another formula: Take a large handful of Prunus persica flos (Tao Hua Ban), brew with half a bowl of boiling water, and drink. Fresh flowers are better; alternatively, collect them, dry in the shade, and store for emergency use.

Yet another formula: Take Semen Armeniacae Amarum (Ba Da Xing Ren), Semen Pini (Song Zi Ren), Semen Cannabis (Huo Ma Zi Ren), and Semen Platycladi (Bai Zi Ren), each 3 qian. Pound them until pasty, brew with boiling water, cover for a moment, and drink as tea. Adding half a cup of Sacchari Sinarum Succus (Gan Zhe Zhi) is even better. This is most effective for the elderly or those with constipation due to carbuncles and toxins. This is an empirical formula by Linwu Shanshanren.

Burn Magnoliae Flos (Da Zao Jiao) until it retains its properties (Cun Xing), grind into powder, and take 3 qian with millet gruel liquid. Alternatively, mix with wine to make pills the size of Sophora seeds, and take 30 pills with wine. Or, have the patient sit on a bucket and fumigate with smoke from burning Zao Jia; the bowels will naturally open.

Yet another formula: Take Fructus Toosendan (Ku Lian Zi), Fructus Foeniculi (Hui Xiang), and Squama Manis (Chuan Shan Jia), each 8 fen, and Semen Pharbitidis (Qian Niu Zi) stir-fried with salt water 1.5 qian. Decoct and take. There was a case where a patient suffered from both urinary and fecal retention, unable to sit or lie down, weeping and groaning for seven days and nights, unresponsive to all medicines. After taking three doses of this formula, they were completely cured. The brilliance of this formula lies in the heavy use of Semen Pharbitidis, as it can reach the Mingmen (Gate of Life) of the right kidney and travel through the collaterals, thus producing miraculous results. Many people discard it because they consider it too potent, not realizing that when applied correctly, it is beneficial and harmless.

Yet another formula: In the sixth or seventh lunar month, find more than ten dung beetles (also known as Tui Che Chong or Tui Fen Chong) in cow dung. String them together, dry in the shade, and store. Use when needed.

Yet another formula: Use one Semen Cocos Nucifera (Tong You Zi - specifically from the oil-producing Tung tree, not Firmiana simplex). First, grind the stem end, or warm it with water or wine and drink it; the bowels will open immediately. If symptoms persist (or if diarrhea occurs), grind the pointed end, or warm it with water or wine and drink it; the condition will stop immediately, with instant and miraculous effect.

Yet another formula: Grind Mus Marmotae (Xiong Shu Fen - specifically the kind with pointed ends) into powder and apply into the umbilicus.

Yet another formula: Burn Vespa (Feng Wo) into powder, take 2-3 qian with wine, twice daily. It treats both adults and children.