Moist precipitation

Treating constipation with moist medicinals. Two forms exist:

1. Using moist oily slippery medicinals such as hemp seed (Cannabis Semen, 火麻仁 huǒ má rén), and honey (Mel, 蜜 mì) to treat dry stool in the elderly, habitual constipation, constipation in pregnancy, and postpartum constipation. Intestine-moistening formulas are based on high fat-content seeds such as hemp seed (Cannabis Semen, 火麻仁 huǒ má rén), apricot kernel (Armeniacae Semen, 杏仁 xìng rén), trichosanthes seed (Trichosanthis Semen, 栝楼子 guā lóu zǐ), and honey (Mel, 蜜 mì). Moist oily slippery medicinals that also have an enriching action, such as oily Chinese angelica (Angelicae Sinensis Radix Pinguis, 油当归 yóu dāng guī), fresh flowery knotweed (Polygoni Multiflori Radix Recens, 鲜首乌 xiān shǒu wū), and apricot kernel (Armeniacae Semen, 杏仁 xìng rén), are suitable for people with weak constitutions.

   Representative formulas include Hemp Seed Pill (麻子仁丸 má zǐ rén wán), Intestine-Moistening Pill (润肠丸 rùn cháng wán), and Five Kernels Pill (五仁丸 wǔ rén wán). Note that constipation in externally contracted febrile diseases other than yáng brightness (yáng míng) heat bind patterns can be treated with medicinals possessing both heat-clearing and intestine-moistening action such as trichosanthes (Trichosanthis Fructus, 栝楼 guā lóu) and scrophularia (Scrophulariae Radix, 玄参 xuán shēn). The use in recent years of an orally administered mixture of scallion juice and oil in the treatment of parasitic intestine obstruction is also a form of moist precipitation.

   To treat intestinal heat bind and desiccated fluid constipation using fluid-enriching medicinals such as scrophularia (Scrophulariae Radix, 玄参 xuán shēn), ophiopogon (Ophiopogonis Radix, 麦门冬 mài mén dōng) with the hearts left in, and dried/fresh rehmannia (Rehmanniae Radix, 生地黄 shēng dì huáng). This method is also called humor-increasing moist precipitation.