Table 1.

Scale to assess the Yin deficiency intestine heat pattern of constipation

	Definitions of item categories
	0	1	2	3
1. Dry and hard stool	Negative	Slightly	Moderately	Extremely
2. Prolonged interval of spontaneous defecation	Negative	Interval ≥ 72 h	Interval ≥ 96 h	Interval ≥ 120 h
3. Sensation of incomplete evacuation	Negative	Slightly; occasionally	Moderately; sometimes	Severely; usually
4. Defecation pain	Negative	Slightly; occasionally	Moderately; sometimes; no obvious impact on defecation	Severely; always; afraid of defecation because of pain
5. Difficult bowel movement	Negative	Slightly	Moderately; arduously	Extremely difficult; need assistance
6. Abdominal distension	Negative	Slightly	Moderately; tolerable	Severely; intolerable
7. Reduced appetite	Negative	Slightly	Moderately; reduced food intake ≥ 1/3	Severely; reduced food intake ≥ 1/2
8. Dry mouth and throat	Negative	Slightly; occasionally	Moderately; sometimes	Severely; usually; increased water intake
9. Sweaty palm and planta; distracted feeling	Negative	Slightly; occasionally	Moderately; sometimes	Severely; feel distracted all the day
10. Tea-colored urine, reduced urine volume	Negative	Slightly	Moderately tea-colored; reduced urine volume ≥ 1/4	Extremely tea-colored; reduced urine volume ≥ 1/3