An External Formula for Acute Intestinal Obstruction

Take 2 liang of Zhuyazao (Chinese honey locust tooth), break it open, place it over a low heat until it smokes, and fumigate the anus for about 10-15 minutes; bowel sounds will ensue. If ineffective, repeat the fumigation 1-2 times. One report describes 10 cases of acute intestinal obstruction treated this way, with effect in 9. The penetrating odor of honey locust tooth stimulates the intestine, causing hyperperistalsis and producing a laxative and gas-expelling effect.

Acute intestinal obstruction is a common clinical acute abdomen. Once obstruction occurs, oral medication is difficult to administer; if an external method can be used, it avoids adding to the patient's suffering.

This method was seen by the author while reading literature; he has not used it himself in practice. Today's acute intestinal obstruction patients are mostly hospitalized with fasting and water restriction. Many hope for TCM treatment, but in fact oral Chinese medicine carries some risk for acute obstruction patients; if it fails, it instead increases suffering. External methods are relatively safer, hence recommended.

The acute intestinal obstruction patients the author has encountered in clinic are mostly late-stage cancer patients. Although such obstruction can be temporarily relieved, sustained efficacy is hard to achieve while the tumor remains uncontrolled. So this symptom-relieving method can only be temporary for obstruction patients; it must be combined with appropriate anti-tumor treatment or palliative surgery.