便秘

便秘是指排便周期延長，或大便排出艱難。從中醫的角度，便秘的原因不外乎熱、實、冷、虛四種。

1. 熱秘

為胃腸積熱所致，即平常所說「熱氣」，患者多有口乾口臭，小便短赤，面紅身熱，糞質乾硬。

2. 實秘

氣機鬱滯所致，中醫認為氣的運行有助排便，如久坐少動或情緒抑鬱惱怒，令氣機鬱滯則成實秘，患者多覺腹脹痛，腸鳴矢氣多。

3. 冷秘

由於恣食生冷食物，或因外感寒邪未及時治療，以致陰寒積滯阻於腸道，患者多有手足不溫，腹痛。

4. 虛秘

腸道水液不足，或氣虛令大腸傳導乏力所致，患者多見大便乾結，面色蒼白，倦怠乏力，精神欠佳。

Constipation refers to the extension of defecation cycle or hard stool. The 4 major reasons are: heat, excess, cold or deficiency.

Heat is caused by the gastrointestinal system. Patients will have dry mouth, bad breath, scanty and dark urine, fever, dry hard fecal matter.

Excess is caused by the stagnation of Chi in the body, due to the lack of movement or emotional stress. Patients will have belly pain, bloating and hard stool.

Cold is caused by the intake of too much cold food, or catching a cold and not treated properly. Patients will have cold limbs, belly pain.

Deficiency is caused by the lack of large intestinal fluid, or lacking vital energy. Patients will have dry stool, pale look. They easily feel lack of strength and fatigue.

TCM practitioner will find out the root cause of constipation of each patient and tailor make prescription to tackle individual problem.