Constipation due to vacuity of right. Vacuity constipation due to qì vacuity and yáng qì vacuity is discussed under qì constipation and cold constipation. Vacuity constipation is otherwise due to insufficiency of essence-blood in the elderly and due to postpartum blood vacuity and reduced liquid.
Medicinal therapy: Treat constipation in elderly and postpartum patients by boosting yīn and nourishing the blood, and by engendering liquid and moistening the intestine. Use Four Agents Decoction (四物汤sì wù tāng) combined with Five Kernels Pill (五仁丸wǔ rén wán), and by applying Honey Enema (蜜煎导法mì jiān dǎo fǎ).
Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment on alarm, back transport, and lower uniting points of LI, on CV, ST, and SP, and on other back transport points. Select BL-25 (Large Intestine Transport, 大肠俞 dà cháng shù), ST-25 (Celestial Pivot, 天枢 tiān shū), ST-37 (Upper Great Hollow, 上巨虚 shàng jù xū), BL-20 (Spleen Transport, 脾俞 pí shù), BL-21 (Stomach Transport, 胃俞 wèi shù), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport, 膈俞 gé shù), KI-6 (Shining Sea, 照海 zhào hǎi), SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), and ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ); needle with supplementation.