Constipation is defined as a condition characterized by difficult or infrequent bowel movements, or the sensation of incomplete defecation. Constipation is difficult to characterize exactly because there are so many different normal bowel patterns. Most people have at least three bowel movements per week; however, the diagnosis of constipation is not solely based on low stool frequency. In Unani medicine, "Qabḍ" is precisely defined as a decline in the function of the large intestine. Some physicians believe that persistent constipation is caused by an overabundance of black bile (Sawdā) in the body. Therefore, treating constipation by reducing the excess Sawdā is regarded as crucial. Diagnosis primarily relies on clinical signs and symptoms, supplemented by the Rome II criteria, the Constipation Severity Index, and various constipation scoring systems. Additional specific investigations may also be employed as needed.
Keywords: Constipation; Qabd; Iḥtibāsal-Baṭn; Mullayin; Unani medicine.