In life, I often hear people around me complain: “I am constipated every day, it is too painful, what medication should I use to treat it?” When you open the search page of the web, you will see exclusive recipes for constipation. When you go to the pharmacy, there are all sorts of drugs, which makes people dazzled. I do not know, the public understanding of constipation there is a certain misunderstanding. Constipation is not an independent disease, poor diet and lifestyle habits, drug factors, intestinal and other systemic pathologies may lead to constipation. Therefore, without diagnosis, the direct use of drugs to relieve the symptoms is only to stop the boiling soup, to find the cause of constipation, in order to target, to do the bottom of the fire. First, after all, what exactly is constipation? If the natural bowel movement (not laxative bowel movement) less than three times a week or dry stool, or stool is not dry but difficult to discharge is called constipation. Under normal circumstances, the average interval between bowel movements is 18-37h, due to individual differences, there are also large differences in the interval between bowel movements, that is, as long as the stool is not dry, bowel movement is smooth, no accompanying pain, even if the bowel movement time is greater than 18-37h is not constipation. Second, what are the causes of constipation? 1, dietary factors If the diet is small and fine, less crude fiber food, the formation of feces for a long time, most of the water is absorbed, so the feces is dry and difficult to discharge. 2, poor defecation habits, no regular defecation habits often due to busy work, business trips, irregular life, even if you have the intention to stool, but because the surrounding environment does not allow the intention to hold back the stool, so that the rectum on the pressure of the stool perception is reduced, resulting in a lack of stool, which is often one of the most common complaints of patients with constipation. Some people squatting toilets when reading books and newspapers, which is not conducive to the continuous defecation reflex, so that the defecation time is too long. 3, the elderly and frail, bedridden people due to assist defecation of many muscle contraction force is weakened, although the stool is not dry, but difficult to discharge. Middle-aged and elderly women, due to perineal relaxation, the abdominal pressure increases during defecation, so that the anterior rectal wall tends to protrude forward, and the pressure during defecation is directed toward the vagina and not toward the anus, making the discharge of feces difficult. Some patients need to use their hands to put pressure around the anus or in the vagina, and even need to insert their hands into the anus to assist in defecation, and some people use hand paper rolls or soap bars to insert into the anus to assist in defecation, and some patients also have blood in the stool and anal pain. 4, intestinal lesions colorectal tumors, inflammatory bowel disease, post-surgical intestinal adhesions, etc. can make the intestinal cavity narrow, fecal discharge difficulties. Constipation caused by intestinal lesions have some manifestations of intestinal diseases, such as colorectal cancer, in addition to constipation, there will be mucus and blood stool, a sense of incomplete defecation and other symptoms. 5, neurological lesions Brain tumor, Parkinson’s disease, sacral nerve or spinal cord injury, spinal cord tumor, hemiplegia, etc. can lead to nerve conduction disorders and cause defecation difficulties. 6, abnormal colon movement caused by such as irritable bowel syndrome, one of the type called spastic constipation, that is, the lower abdomen, especially the left lower abdomen pain and constipation as prominent symptoms, but also some manifestations of diarrhea and constipation alternately. If a child has constipation after birth, later constipation rapidly aggravated, and accompanied by abdominal distension should be considered the possibility of congenital megacolon (congenital neuronal cell deficiency). 7, endocrine disorders and metabolic diseases diseases can cause constipation pituitary insufficiency, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus and other endocrine disorders, hypercalcemia, dehydration, lead poisoning, pheochromocytoma, etc. are also often caused by constipation. Late pregnancy, due to the role of progesterone, so that the smooth muscle power is reduced can also lead to constipation. 8, drug constipation Application of codeine, antidepressants, iron, anticholinergics, these drugs will affect intestinal motility and cause constipation. Long-term laxatives will make the rectum less sensitive to fecal stimulation and produce drug dependence, once the drug is stopped, it will cause constipation. Patients with constipation symptoms should go to the hospital for a comprehensive examination to find the cause of constipation. If it is an organic lesion of the intestine, surgery is needed, and if it is a functional lesion of the intestine, it needs to be treated with Chinese medicine, internal herbal medicine, together with acupuncture and massage to cure. Eat more vegetables and drink more water is only used for the prevention of constipation, or is an auxiliary treatment for constipation. Constipation should be adjusted and examined in a timely manner. After ruling out intestinal and other systemic pathologies, most people will be relieved of constipation symptoms through Chinese and Western medicine, together with dietary therapy, strengthening exercise, avoiding sedentary and prolonged lying, developing the habit of regular bowel movements every day, and maintaining a relaxed mood, will make the bowels flow smoothly.