Clarification on Kidney-deficiency Constipation Treated by Classic Prescription Jichuanjian / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Jichuanjian， from the Jing Yue’s Collected Works by Zhang Jingyue， a famous doctor of Ming Dynasty， is composed of Angelica， Achyranthes bidentata， Cistanche deserticola， Alismatis Rhizoma， Shengma and Fructus Aurantii. It is one of the first 100 classic prescriptions published by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The original book states that where the disease is related to deficiency， with impacted stool， medicines such as Xiaohuang prescription cannot be used. If the treatment is needed， Jichuanjian should be applied. Through the textual research of ancient and modern literature， it is found that the efficacy of Jichuanjian has changed from ancient to modern times. In the medical books of the Ming and Qing Dynasties and the modern ones， the treatment is mostly carried out based on the constipation due to deficiency recorded in the original book， while in contemporary times， the treatment of Jichuanjian focuses on kidney （yang）-deficiency constipation and yin-deficiency constipation. Especially since modern times， Jichuanjian is frequently used to treat kidney-deficiency constipation according to the description in the planning textbooks of traditional Chinese medicine colleges and universities， which causes doubts among the authors. To actively respond to the call of General Secretary Xi Jinping that we should strengthen the sorting and excavation of the essence of classical medical books， this paper analyzed and demonstrated the original text and the drug composition， traceability and application by future generations of Jichuanjian based on the Jing Yue’s Collected Works. It was concluded that Jichuanjian was prepared for the treatment of constipation due to weak constitution， fluid deficiency， and emergent purgation， aiming for constipation due to weak constitution and fluid consumption rather than kidney-deficiency constipation described in modern textbooks. As Jichuanjian was developed for similar syndromes， it was reasonable that it was understood by later generations of doctors from the perspective of liver and kidney as well as earth dampness and wood stagnation， which however remains to be further explored and verified in clinic. By combing and discussing the efficacy of Jichuanjian， this paper could provide theoretical basis for the clinical application and modern development of Jichuanjian.