Abstract: Objective Study the role and mechanism of Du moxibustion in the treatment of functional constipation due to qi deficiency. Methods The cases were sourced from the Outpatient Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Health Care of Tai'an City Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital in Shandong Province. The treatment period was from September 2022 to September 2023, and 120 patients were diagnosed with Qi deficiency functional constipation. Divide patients into Du moxibustion group, Western medicine group, and Chinese medicine group according to a the random number table method. Du moxibustion group: Du moxibustion once every 10 days, 3 times per course, a total of 2 courses and 6 times of Du moxibustion. Western medicine group: Lactulose oral solution, 10 mL/time, 3 times/day, taken for 8 days with 2 days of interruption, a course of treatment per month for 2 months. Traditional Chinese Medicine Group: Take Sijunzi Tang orally, once in the morning and once in the evening, and take 200 mL warm after meals, using the same method as the Western Medicine Group.Observation indicators: Compare the clinical efficacy of three groups,before and after treatment, the conversion score of Qi deficiency in the three groups, the total score of the main and secondary symptoms of Qi deficiency constipation in patients with traditional Chinese medicine, and the laboratory observation indicators: serum motilin (MTL) and serum substance P (SP) levels. Results After the completion of two treatment courses, the total effective rate was 87.50% in the moxibustion group, 72.50% in the western medicine group, and 75.00% in the traditional Chinese medicine group. The score of Qi deficiency quality significantly decreased in the Du moxibustion group (P<0.05), while there was no statistical significant difference between the Western medicine group and the Chinese medicine group before and after treatment (P>0.05); The total scores of the main and secondary symptoms of traditional Chinese medicine constipation in the Du moxibustion group, Western medicine group, and Chinese medicine group were significantly reduced compared to before treatment (P<0.05), and the levels of serum motilin (MTL) and substance P (SP) were significantly increased compared to before treatment (P<0.05); Compared between groups, the conversion score of Qi deficiency and substance, as well as the total score of main and secondary symptoms of traditional Chinese medicine constipation in the Du moxibustion group were significantly lower than those in the Western medicine group and the Chinese medicine group (P<0.05), and the serum levels of motilin (MTL) and substance P (SP) were higher than those in the Western medicine group and the Chinese medicine group; There was no statistical significant difference between the Western medicine group and the Chinese medicine group in terms of the transformation score of Qi deficiency and substance, the total score of the main and secondary symptoms of traditional Chinese medicine constipation, and the changes in serum motilin (MTL) and substance P (SP) levels. Conclusion The Du moxibustion group, the Western medicine group, and the Chinese medicine group all have therapeutic effects on Qi deficiency functional constipation. However, the Du moxibustion group can also correct the constitutional bias of patients with Qi deficiency functional constipation, improve the internal environment of the human body, and further increase serum levels of motilin (MTL) and substance P (SP). Correcting the biased state of qi deficiency is the target for curing qi deficiency constipation from the root cause.

Key words: du moxibustion, qi deficiency constitution, constipation, MTL, SP