INGREDIENTS

Each pill contains the equiv. to dry:

 

Snakegourd, fruit 56.3mg

Bitter Orange, peel 45.0mg

Biota, seed 45.0mg

Hemp, seed 45.0mg

Dong Quai, root 45.0mg

Mulberry, fruit 37.5mg

Prune, seed 33.8mg

Rhubarb, root 33.8mg

Chinese Knotweed, root 33.8mg

 

Store below 30°C

Contains 200 x 200mg pills.

AUSTL 479526

Manufactured In Australia.

 

Indications: constipation, slow to poop, not pooping for days.

Actions: moisten the intestines, promote bowel movements.

Dosage: 10 pills 3 times per day until you poop. 

Find you happy medium with the dosage. 

If your pooping becomes way too loose, stop for a while.

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Run Chang Tang – "Constipation"

A classical Chinese herbal formula traditionally used to gently relieve constipation by nourishing and lubricating the intestines rather than forcing the bowels to empty.

 

What is Run Chang Tang?

Constipation is one of the most common digestive complaints, affecting people of all ages.

For some, it develops after travel or dietary changes.

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For others, it becomes a long-term problem associated with ageing, illness, stress or medication.

Many people rely on stimulant laxatives that force the bowel to contract.

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These can provide short-term relief, but they do not always address why constipation developed in the first place.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) takes a different approach.

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Run Chang Tang (润肠汤) was developed to moisten the intestines, nourish the body's fluids and restore healthy bowel function.

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At Chiron Medical we call it "Constipation", because it directly describes the symptom the formula was designed to address.

Rather than acting like a harsh purgative, Run Chang Tang helps the bowel return to its natural rhythm.

 

A Formula with Centuries of Clinical History

Run Chang Tang (1773) has its origins in the classical Chinese medical tradition of treating intestinal dryness and Blood deficiency, particularly in older adults, women after childbirth and patients recovering from prolonged illness.

Unlike formulas that purge excess Heat or aggressively stimulate bowel contractions, Run Chang Tang was designed for chronic, dry constipation caused by a lack of lubrication.

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It remains one of Chinese medicine's most widely prescribed formulas for gentle bowel support.

 

Why We Call It "Constipation"

Not all constipation has the same cause.

Some people simply eat too much rich food.

Others have sluggish digestion.

Some develop dry, hard stools because the bowel has lost its natural moisture.

 

Typical symptoms include:

• dry hard stools

• infrequent bowel motions

• straining

• incomplete evacuation

• bloating

• abdominal discomfort

• dry skin

• fatigue

• constipation in older age

Chinese medicine recognises this as a pattern of intestinal dryness, often associated with deficiency of Blood and body fluids.

 

What Is It Traditionally Used For?

Traditionally, Run Chang Tang is prescribed for Dry Intestines due to Blood and Yin Deficiency.

 

Constipation

• chronic constipation

• dry hard stools

• constipation in older adults

• postpartum constipation

• constipation during recovery from illness

 

Age-Related Digestive Changes

Frequently prescribed when bowel function slows with:

• ageing

• chronic illness

• poor nutrition

• dehydration

 

Associated Symptoms

Patients may also experience:

• dry skin

• dry mouth

• fatigue

• dizziness

• pale complexion

• reduced vitality

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Understanding the Ingredients

 

Trichosanthes Fruit (Gua Lou)

 

Traditional role

Trichosanthes moistens dryness, clears Heat and lubricates the intestines. It softens dry stools while gently promoting bowel movement, making it particularly valuable for constipation associated with dryness and depleted body fluids.

 

Biomedical role

Research suggests Trichosanthes possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and gastroprotective properties. It promotes intestinal lubrication, supports healthy gastrointestinal motility and may reduce inflammatory irritation within the digestive tract.

 

Bitter Orange (Zhi Ke)

 

Traditional role

Bitter Orange regulates Qi and relieves abdominal fullness. It helps restore the normal movement of the intestines, reducing bloating, abdominal distension and constipation caused by sluggish bowel activity.

 

Biomedical role

Studies suggest Bitter Orange enhances gastrointestinal motility, stimulates gastric emptying and improves intestinal transit while reducing abdominal discomfort associated with functional constipation.

 

Biota Seed (Bai Zi Ren)

 

Traditional role

Biota Seed nourishes Yin, moistens the intestines and gently relieves constipation caused by dryness. Traditionally it also calms the Spirit, making it useful when stress contributes to sluggish bowel function.

 

Biomedical role

Biota Seed is rich in fixed oils that naturally lubricate the bowel. Experimental studies demonstrate antioxidant, neuroprotective and mild anxiolytic effects while supporting normal bowel function through increased stool lubrication.

 

Flaxseed (Hu Ma Ren)

 

Traditional role

Flaxseed is one of Chinese medicine's classic herbs for dry constipation. It nourishes Blood and Yin while lubricating the intestines, making stools softer and easier to pass without harsh stimulation.

 

Biomedical role

Flaxseed provides soluble fibre, mucilage and omega-3 fatty acids that increase stool bulk, improve hydration of the bowel contents and support healthy intestinal microbiota. Numerous clinical studies support its effectiveness in improving chronic constipation.

 

Dong Quai (Dang Gui)

 

Traditional role

Dong Quai nourishes and moves Blood while moistening the intestines. It is particularly useful when constipation develops in people with Blood deficiency, such as the elderly, postpartum women or those recovering from chronic illness.

 

Biomedical role

Research has demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and vasodilatory actions. Dong Quai supports healthy circulation to the intestinal wall and may improve gastrointestinal function through smooth muscle regulation.

 

Mulberry Fruit (Sang Shen Zi)

 

Traditional role

Mulberry Fruit nourishes Yin and Blood while generating body fluids. Its moistening nature helps relieve constipation associated with dryness, particularly in older adults or people recovering from prolonged illness.

 

Biomedical role

Mulberry contains abundant polyphenols, anthocyanins and dietary fibre with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. It supports intestinal health, hydration and healthy bowel function while contributing to overall metabolic health.

 

Peach Kernel (Tao Ren)

 

Traditional role

Peach Kernel invigorates Blood and moistens the intestines. It is included to improve circulation throughout the bowel while helping soften stools and relieve constipation associated with Blood Stasis.

 

Biomedical role

Modern studies suggest Peach Kernel possesses anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic and microcirculatory effects. Improved blood flow to intestinal tissues may support normal bowel function and tissue repair.

 

Rhubarb Root (Da Huang)

 

Traditional role

Rhubarb is the principal purgative herb within the formula. It clears accumulated Heat and strongly moves the bowels when stool has become impacted or excessively dry. In this balanced formula it works together with the moistening herbs to promote complete evacuation without excessive harshness.

 

Biomedical role

Rhubarb contains anthraquinones, including emodin and rhein, which stimulate colonic motility and increase water secretion into the bowel. It is one of the best studied botanical laxatives in both traditional and modern medicine.

 

Prepared Fleeceflower Root (He Shou Wu)

 

Traditional role

Prepared Fleeceflower Root nourishes Liver and Kidney Blood while moistening the intestines. It is particularly valuable for chronic constipation occurring in elderly or constitutionally weakened patients where bowel dryness reflects long-term depletion rather than acute disease.

 

Biomedical role

Research suggests He Shou Wu possesses antioxidant, neuroprotective, immunomodulatory and gastrointestinal protective properties. It may improve bowel function indirectly by supporting healthy tissue repair and maintaining intestinal hydration.

 

Why These Herbs Work Together

One of the strengths of Constipation (Run Chang Tang) is that it treats the cause of dry constipation rather than simply forcing a bowel motion.

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Each herb contributes a different therapeutic action:

• Trichosanthes (Gua Lou) moistens dry intestines and softens stools.

• Bitter Orange (Zhi Ke) restores normal intestinal movement.

• Biota Seed (Bai Zi Ren) lubricates the bowel while calming stress-related constipation.

• Flaxseed (Hu Ma Ren) provides natural lubrication and fibre.

• Dong Quai (Dang Gui) nourishes Blood and supports intestinal circulation.

• Mulberry Fruit (Sang Shen Zi) replenishes fluids and relieves dryness.

• Peach Kernel (Tao Ren) improves microcirculation throughout the bowel.

• Rhubarb (Da Huang) gently stimulates bowel evacuation when stool has become impacted.

• Prepared Fleeceflower Root (He Shou Wu) nourishes long-term constitutional weakness contributing to chronic constipation.

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Together these herbs soften the stool, restore intestinal lubrication, improve bowel motility, enhance circulation to the intestinal wall and replenish the body fluids required for healthy bowel function. Rather than acting as a harsh laxative, Run Chang Tang is designed to restore the bowel's natural ability to empty comfortably and regularly, making it particularly suitable for chronic dry constipation, older adults and people recovering from prolonged illness where dehydration and tissue depletion are major contributors.

 

What Does Modern Research Say?

Research into the constituent herbs has investigated:

Chronic Constipation

• bowel motility

• stool consistency

• intestinal transit time

Gut Health

Studies suggest:

• improved intestinal lubrication

• anti-inflammatory effects

• support for the intestinal mucosal barrier

• microbiome regulation

Healthy Ageing

Several herbs have demonstrated antioxidant and tissue-protective effects that may contribute to healthier bowel function in older adults.

Although larger clinical trials on the complete formula remain limited, the pharmacological properties of its ingredients strongly support its traditional use.

 

Constipation Is Often the End of the Story

Chinese medicine teaches that constipation is frequently the final symptom, not the original problem.

 

Poor digestion...

leads to food stagnation.

Food stagnation...

slows the bowel.

A weakened digestive system...

fails to move food efficiently.

Eventually constipation develops.

 

This is why practitioners rarely look at constipation in isolation.

 

How Run Chang Tang Works with Jian Pi Tang and Bao He Tang

 

These three formulas form one of the most logical digestive treatment sequences in Chinese medicine.

Rather than competing with each other, they treat different stages of digestive dysfunction.

 

Bao He Tang ("Bloating")

The Clean-Up Formula

Best when the digestive system has become overloaded.

Typical symptoms:

• overeating

• bloating

• burping

• food sitting in the stomach

• foul-smelling wind

• abdominal fullness

Its job is to remove the backlog.

 

Jian Pi Tang ("Indigestion")

The Rebuilding Formula

Once the digestive system has been cleared, it may still remain weak.

Typical symptoms:

• poor appetite

• fatigue after meals

• loose stools

• chronic indigestion

• poor nutrient absorption

Its job is to strengthen digestion.

 

Run Chang Tang ("Constipation")

The Lubricating Formula

When digestion is functioning but the bowel has become dry or sluggish.

Typical symptoms:

• dry hard stools

• straining

• constipation

• ageing bowel

• lack of intestinal moisture

Its job is to restore healthy bowel movements.

 

How They Work Together

Think of the digestive system like a river.

Step 1

Too much debris blocks the river.

Bao He Tang removes the blockage.

↓

Step 2

The river still flows poorly because the current is weak.

Jian Pi Tang strengthens the current.

↓

Step 3

The riverbed has become dry.

Run Chang Tang restores the moisture needed for smooth flow.

 

This progression reflects one of the great strengths of Chinese medicine:

Clear what is excessive.

Strengthen what is weak.

Lubricate what is dry.

 

Beyond Constipation

Healthy bowel function influences much more than digestion.

Modern research increasingly links constipation with:

• altered gut microbiome

• inflammation

• reduced quality of life

• metabolic health

• neurological health

Chinese medicine recognised long ago that regular bowel function is essential for maintaining overall wellbeing.

 

For Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners

 

Classical Pattern

Dry Intestines due to Blood and Yin Deficiency

Typical presentation:

• dry hard stools

• constipation

• pale complexion

• dry skin

• dizziness

• thin pulse

• dry tongue

 

Formula Strategy

Run Chang Tang:

• Nourishes Blood.

• Nourishes Yin.

• Moistens the intestines.

• Regulates Qi.

• Promotes gentle bowel movement.

 

Common Clinical Modifications

Frequently adapted for:

• elderly constipation

• postpartum constipation

• chronic constipation

• opioid-associated constipation (adjunctive care)

• constipation after prolonged illness

 

For Medical Doctors

 

Proposed Biomedical Actions

Current research suggests the constituent herbs influence:

• intestinal motility

• stool hydration

• mucosal barrier integrity

• inflammatory cytokines

• gut microbiota

• smooth muscle function

Major bioactive compounds include:

• essential fatty acids

• catalpol

• ferulic acid

• amygdalin

• polysaccharides

Collectively these compounds demonstrate bowel-lubricating, anti-inflammatory and mucosal-protective properties.

 

Potential Herb–Drug Considerations

Clinical monitoring is advisable in patients taking:

• prescription laxatives

• opioid medications

• anticoagulants (general botanical precaution)

• antihypertensives

• medications affecting bowel motility

 

Persistent constipation associated with unexplained weight loss, rectal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, vomiting, iron deficiency anaemia or a sudden change in bowel habits should always be medically investigated to exclude bowel obstruction, colorectal cancer or other significant pathology.

 

Healthy Digestion Is a Journey

Good digestion doesn't begin in the bowel.

It begins with healthy appetite.

Healthy stomach function.

Efficient digestion.

Proper absorption.

Only then can healthy bowel movements naturally follow.

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Run Chang Tang reminds us that constipation is often the last link in a much longer chain.

That is why we call it "Constipation."

Not because it simply forces the bowel to empty, but because it gently restores the moisture and nourishment that allow the bowel to work as nature intended.

 

Key Takeaways

• Run Chang Tang is a classical Chinese herbal formula traditionally prescribed for dry constipation caused by intestinal dryness, Blood deficiency or age-related depletion.

• At Chiron Medical it is called "Constipation" because it gently restores healthy bowel function by nourishing and lubricating the intestines rather than acting as a harsh stimulant laxative.

• It works naturally alongside Bao He Tang ("Bloating"), which clears food stagnation, and Jian Pi Tang ("Indigestion"), which rebuilds digestive strength.

• Modern research supports bowel-lubricating, anti-inflammatory, microbiome-supportive and intestinal barrier-protective actions of its constituent herbs.

• Run Chang Tang should be prescribed by a qualified Chinese medicine practitioner after individual assessment and used alongside appropriate medical care. Persistent constipation, rectal bleeding, severe pain or unexplained changes in bowel habits require prompt medical evaluation.

 

Clinical Perspective

Within the Chiron Medical digestive collection, Bao He Tang ("Bloating"), Jian Pi Tang ("Indigestion") and Run Chang Tang ("Constipation") represent three consecutive stages of digestive care. Bao He Tang clears digestive overload after excess food or poor dietary choices. Jian Pi Tang rebuilds digestive strength when the stomach and intestines have become weak. Run Chang Tang completes the sequence by restoring moisture and healthy bowel function when constipation develops as a result of dryness or long-standing digestive depletion. Together they form a logical, systems-based approach to digestive health that reflects one of Traditional Chinese Medicine's guiding principles: remove obstruction, restore function and maintain healthy flow.

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Clinical Insights

 

Chronic Dry Constipation

Constipation is designed for people whose bowels have become dry, sluggish and difficult to empty naturally.

Typical symptoms include:

• dry, hard stools

• infrequent bowel motions

• excessive straining

• bloating

• abdominal fullness

• incomplete evacuation

• constipation associated with ageing

• constipation following illness

Rather than acting as a harsh laxative, the formula restores the bowel's natural lubrication, improves intestinal movement and supports healthy bowel function over the long term.

 

Chronic Constipation with Digestive Weakness

Some people become constipated because their digestive system lacks the energy to move the bowel effectively.

Typical features include:

• chronic constipation

• fatigue

• bloating

• poor appetite

• abdominal heaviness

• weak digestive function

Practitioners frequently combine:

• Indigestion (Jian Pi Tang)

• Energy Pills (Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang)

This combination strengthens digestive function while Constipation moistens and lubricates the bowel, helping restore normal intestinal movement rather than relying on stimulant laxatives.

 

Stress-Related Constipation

The bowel is highly sensitive to emotional stress.

When constipation develops during periods of:

• emotional tension

• anxiety

• overwork

• frustration

• irregular bowel habits associated with stress

practitioners commonly combine:

• DeStress (Xiao Yao San)

This combination recognises the important connection between the brain and the digestive system. While Stress relaxes the nervous system and restores normal digestive regulation, Constipation improves bowel lubrication and intestinal movement.

 

Postpartum Constipation

Constipation commonly develops after childbirth due to:

• fluid loss

• blood loss

• exhaustion

• reduced bowel activity

Depending on the patient's constitution, practitioners frequently combine:

• Women's Tonic (Ba Zhen Tang) — where recovery from childbirth requires rebuilding Blood and Qi.

• Ultimate Recovery (Shi Quan Da Bu Tang) — where significant fatigue, weakness and constitutional depletion are present.

These combinations nourish the body while Constipation restores comfortable bowel function during recovery.

 

Stubborn or Recurrent Constipation

Some patients experience constipation that repeatedly returns despite adequate diet and fluid intake.

Where constipation becomes:

• persistent

• recurrent

• difficult to resolve

• associated with sluggish metabolism

practitioners may combine:

• Fatty Liver Detox (Yin Chen Hao Tang)

• Dissolve Gallstones (Li Dan Pai Shi Tang)

This reflects the close relationship between healthy liver function, bile secretion, intestinal motility and normal bowel function. Improving digestive metabolism may help restore more regular bowel activity in selected patients.

 

Constipation in Older Adults

Constipation becomes increasingly common with ageing as:

• intestinal motility slows

• body fluids decline

• physical activity reduces

• medications accumulate

Constipation (Run Chang Tang) is particularly well suited to this stage because it nourishes the bowel while encouraging gentle, natural evacuation rather than forcing bowel movements through aggressive stimulation.

 

Understanding the Chiron Medical Digestive Network

One of the strengths of the Chiron Formula Network is recognising that constipation develops through several different mechanisms rather than being a single disease.

 

Digestive Overload

Bloating (Bao He Tang)

Overeating temporarily overwhelms an otherwise healthy digestive system.

↓

Indigestion (Jian Pi Tang)

Digestive function weakens, producing bloating, poor appetite and sluggish digestion.

↓

Control Sugar (Shen Ling Bai Zhu San)

Long-standing digestive weakness begins affecting nutrient absorption and bowel regulation.

↓

Constipation (Run Chang Tang)

The bowel becomes dry, sluggish and poorly lubricated, resulting in chronic difficult bowel motions.

↓

Watery Bowels (Li Zhong Tang)

At the opposite end of the spectrum, digestive energy becomes too weak to retain fluids, resulting in chronic diarrhoea.

 

Functional Constipation Pathway

Stress, ageing, illness or poor digestion reduce normal bowel movement.

↓

The bowel absorbs excessive water from the stool.

↓

Stools become progressively harder.

↓

Straining increases.

↓

The bowel becomes increasingly sluggish.

↓

Constipation (Run Chang Tang) restores lubrication, healthy intestinal movement and comfortable bowel function.

 

Constipation Is More Than a Bowel Problem

Modern medicine recognises that chronic constipation affects far more than bowel frequency. Slow intestinal transit alters the gut microbiome, increases abdominal discomfort, impairs quality of life and may influence immune function, metabolism and the gut-brain axis.

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Chinese medicine recognised this centuries ago. It understood that healthy bowel function depends on adequate body fluids, efficient digestive energy and coordinated intestinal movement. When any of these factors become impaired, constipation develops—not simply because the bowel is blocked, but because it has lost its ability to move and lubricate itself naturally.

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Constipation (Run Chang Tang) is designed to restore these fundamental physiological processes. Rather than forcing bowel evacuation through strong purgation, it replenishes intestinal moisture, supports healthy circulation, improves bowel motility and encourages regular, comfortable bowel movements.

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Within the Chiron Medical Digestive Network, Constipation represents the stage where digestive dysfunction has progressed beyond simple indigestion but remains highly reversible. By addressing the underlying causes rather than only the symptom, it reinforces one of the core principles of the Chiron Formula Network:

 

A healthy bowel is not one that is forced to empty—it is one that has regained the strength, lubrication and coordinated movement to empty itself naturally, comfortably and consistently.