Abstract: Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of the electro-heating bian-stone warming and ironing technique in elderly patients with functional constipation due to spleen-kidney yang deficiency. Methods: From July 2023 to February 2024, 58 patients with functional constipation due to spleen-kidney yang deficiency who were admitted to a tertiary grade A Traditional Chinese Medicine hospital in Beijing were recruited as the study participants. They were randomized into either an experimental group (n=29) or a control group (n=29). Patients in the control group received abdominal massages on the basis of health guidance. On the other hand, patients in the experimental group received electro-heating bian-stone warming and ironing therapy on the basis of health guidance. The improvement in patients' constipation was evaluated using the Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptom (PAC-SYM), Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS), Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL), and records of weekly defecation frequency before and after the intervention. Results: The PAC-SYM, BSFS, and PAC-QOL scores for both the experimental and control groups were compared before and after the intervention, showing statistically significant differences (P<0.05). After the intervention, there were notable differences in PAC-SYM, BSFS, PAC-QOL, the weekly defecation frequency significantly between the experimental and control groups (P<0.01). Conclusion: The electro-heating bian-stone warming and ironing technique can significantly improve functional constipation symptoms in elderly patients with functional constipation due to spleen-kidney yang deficiency, increase defecation frequency, and enhance the patient's quality of life.

Key words: electro-heating; bian-stone warming and ironing technique; abdominal massage; functional constipation; elderly patient; spleen-kidney yang deficiency