Rated Acupoints
Acupuncture treatment for Constipation
Constipation refers to bowel movements that are infrequent or hard to pass. Thus, the stool is often hard and dry. In detail, if a person experiences fewer than three bowel movements during one week, he/she might have constipation. However, it should be noted that the normal frequency of bowel movements in adults is between three per day and three per week.1
CONTENTS
SYMPTOMS
CAUSES
TREATMENTS
SYMPTOMS
Although it is not the same for everyone, there are some common symptoms that come along with the disorder. The common symptoms are fewer bowel movements, difficulty having a bowel movement, hard or small stools, swollen abdomen or abdominal pain, and vomiting. Other symptoms may include bloating and once again feeling as if one has not completely passed the bowel movement.2
CAUSES
The causes of constipation can be divided into congenital, primary, and secondary. The most common cause is primary and not life-threatening. It can also be divided by the age group affected such as children and adults. In the elderly, common causes include: insufficient dietary fiber intake, inadequate fluid intake, decreased physical activity, side effects of medications, hypothyroidism, and obstruction by colorectal cancer. Primary or functional constipation is defined by ongoing symptoms for greater than six months. In adults, such primary causes include: dietary choices such as insufficient dietary fiber or fluid intake, anxiety, depression, or behavioral causes such as decreased physical activity. Secondary causes include side effects of medications such as opiates, endocrine and metabolic disorders such as hypothyroidism, and obstruction such as from colorectal cancer.3
TREATMENTS
Related Acupuncture Points :
CV-6, CV-12, KD-6, ST-36, LI-4, LI-11, PC-6, LV-3, SP-15, SP-16, ST-25.
There are different types of constipations as described in traditional chinese medicine:
Hot Constipation (Maciocia Cold). Signs & Symptoms: Hard, dry stools, likely to feel warm or thirsty, foul breath, irritability, mouth ulcers possible. Tongue: Red, yellow coat. Pulse: Rapid w/strength (if heat is beginning to damage fluids Rapid w/o strength). Treatment Points:
TH-6 – clear heat and conduct qi downwards
LI-11 – cools heat in intestines
KD-6 – nourish fluids, moisten stools
Plus, common points:
ST-25 – LI Mu
BL-25 – LI Shu
SP-15 – augments ST-25
ST-44 – ST Water Point, cools heat in the ST & Intestines and moves the stools.4
Qi Constipation. Signs & Symptoms: Distention, costal pain a/or tenderness, belching, emotional involvement. Tongue: Normal or purplish. Pulse: Deep, wiry. Treatment Points:
CV-6 – moves Qi in the lower abdomen
GB-34 – w/CV 6 moves Qi in the lower abdomen
LV-1 – move Qi in the genital area (LV related constipation)
Plus, common points:
ST-25 – LI Mu
BL-25 – LI Shu
SP-15 – augments ST-25
ST-44 – ST Water Point, cools heat in the ST & Intestines and moves the stools.
Wind Constipation. Signs & Symptoms: Not seen very often. Acute onset, fever, dry cough, sore throat, dry skin. Tongue: Red tip a/or thin, yellow coat. Pulse: Floating. Treatment Points:
LI-4 – release the exterior
LU-7 – release the exterior
BL-12 – expel wind
Plus, common points:
ST-25 – LI Mu
BL-25 – LI Shu
SP-15 – augments ST-25
ST-44 – ST Water Point, cools heat in the ST & Intestines and moves the stools.
Food Constipation. Signs & Symptoms:
Etiology – poor dietary habits (eating too much, too little, too fast, etc.) Pain and distention in the abdomen (more distention than pain), dry mouth/lips, stuffy sensation in the chest, flatulence, nausea, desire to vomit. Tongue: Thick, greasy coat. Pulse: Slippery, tight. Treatment Points:
CV-12 – conduct Qi downwards
ST-36 – conduct Qi downwards
LV-13 – SP Mu – good for masses in the abdomen a/or constipation
Plus, common points:
ST-25 – LI Mu
BL-25 – LI Shu
SP-15 – augments ST-25
ST-44 – ST Water Point, cools heat in the ST & Intestines and moves the stools.5
Cold Constipation (not in CAM or Maciocia but seen clinically). Signs & Symptoms: Deficiency leading to cold in the lower warmer and stagnation. Abdominal pain, pain is better with the application of heat, pale face, objective sensation of cold. Tongue: Pale. Pulse: Slow, deep. Treatment Points:
CV-4 – with moxa, warm the lower abdomen
SP-6 – with moxa, warm the lower abdomen
Plus, common points:
ST-25 – LI Mu
BL-25 – LI Shu
SP-15 – augments ST-25
ST-44 – ST Water Point, cools heat in the ST & Intestines and moves the stools.
Blood Deficient Constipation. Signs & Symptoms: Dizziness, palpitations, insomnia, dry mouth, weakness. Tongue: Pale, dry possibly peeled (peel more red – moving towards yin def, more pale – blood def). Pulse: Thin, choppy. Treatment Points:
BL-17 – Hui Meeting of the Blood
BL-18 – LV Shu, tonify LV Blood
BL-20 – SP Shu, tonify SP
Plus, common points:
ST-25 – LI Mu
BL-25 – LI Shu
SP-15 – augments ST-25
ST-44 – ST Water Point, cools heat in the ST & Intestines and moves the stools.
Qi Deficient Constipation (Maciocia). Signs & Symptoms: Thin, long stools, difficult defecation, pale complexion, tiredness. Tongue: Pale. Pulse: Empty. Treatment Points:
BL-25 – LI Shu
SP-15 – move bowels
ST-36 – tonify Qi
SP-6 – tonify Qi
CV-6 – tonify Qi
BL-21 – ST Shu.
Yin Deficient Constipation (Maciocia). Signs & Symptoms: Dry stools, thirst, dry mouth/throat, night sweats. Tongue: Red w/o coat, cracks. Pulse: Floating, empty. Treatment Points:
BL-25 – LI Shu
SP-15 – move bowels
ST-36 – tonify Qi
SP-6 – tonify Qi
CV-6 – tonify Qi
BL-23 – KD Shu, tonify KD Yin.6
Footnotes
- What is Constipation? – webmd.com – 2017, http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/digestive-diseases-constipation#1
- Definition and Facts for Constipation – niddk.nih.gov – 2017, https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/digestive-diseases/constipation/Pages/definition-facts.aspx
- Constipation – Causes – nhs.uk – 2017, http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Constipation/Pages/Causes.aspx
- Acupuncture for Constipation – Treatment Protocols – theory.yinyanghouse.com – 2017, https://theory.yinyanghouse.com/treatments/acupuncture_for_constipation
- A Simple Acupuncture Protocol for Habitual Constipation – goldenneedleonline.com – 2017, https://www.goldenneedleonline.com/library/2009/05/26/a-simple-acupuncture-protocol-for-habitual-constipation/
- Use acupuncture to treat functional constipation: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov -2017, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3414758/
LU01
LU02
LU03
LU04
LU05
LU06
LU07
LU08
LU09
LU10
LU11
LI01
LI02
LI03
LI04
LI05
LI06
LI07
LI08
LI09
LI10
LI11
LI12
LI13
LI14
LI15
LI16
LI17
LI18
LI19
LI20
ST01
ST02
ST03
ST04
ST05
ST06
ST07
ST08
ST09
ST10
ST11
ST12
ST13
ST14
ST15
ST16
ST17
ST18
ST19
ST20
ST21
ST22
ST23
ST24
ST25
ST26
ST27
ST28
ST29
ST30
ST31
ST32
ST33
ST34
ST35
ST36
ST37
ST38
ST39
ST40
ST41
ST42
ST43
ST44
ST45
SP01
SP02
SP03
SP04
SP05
SP06
SP07
SP08
SP09
SP10
SP11
SP12
SP13
SP14
SP15
SP16
SP17
SP18
SP19
SP20
SP21
HT01
HT02
HT03
HT04
HT05
HT06
HT07
HT08
HT09
SI01
SI02
SI03
SI04
SI05
SI06
SI07
SI08
SI09
SI10
SI11
SI12
SI13
SI14
SI15
SI16
SI17
SI18
SI19
BL01
BL02
BL03
BL04
BL05
BL06
BL07
BL08
BL09
BL10
BL11
BL12
BL13
BL14
BL15
BL16
BL17
BL18
BL19
BL20
BL21
BL22
BL23
BL24
BL25
BL26
BL27
BL28
BL29
BL30
BL31
BL32
BL33
BL34
BL35
BL36
BL37
BL38
BL39
BL40
BL41
BL42
BL43
BL44
BL45
BL46
BL47
BL48
BL49
BL50
BL51
BL52
BL53
BL54
BL55
BL56
BL57
BL58
BL59
BL60
BL61
BL62
BL63
BL64
BL65
BL66
BL67
KD01
KD02
KD03
KD04
KD05
KD06
KD07
KD08
KD09
KD10
KD11
KD12
KD13
KD14
KD15
KD16
KD17
KD18
KD19
KD20
KD21
KD22
KD23
KD24
KD25
KD26
KD27
PC01
PC02
PC03
PC04
PC05
PC06
PC07
PC08
PC09
TB01
TB02
TB03
TB04
TB05
TB06
TB07
TB08
TB09
TB10
TB11
TB12
TB13
TB14
TB15
TB16
TB17
TB18
TB19
TB20
TB21
TB22
TB23
GB01
GB02
GB03
GB04
GB05
GB06
GB07
GB08
GB09
GB10
GB11
GB12
GB13
GB14
GB15
GB16
GB17
GB18
GB19
GB20
GB21
GB22
GB23
GB24
GB25
GB26
GB27
GB28
GB29
GB30
GB31
GB32
GB33
GB34
GB35
GB36
GB37
GB38
GB39
GB40
GB41
GB42
GB43
GB44
LV01
LV02
LV03
LV04
LV05
LV06
LV07
LV08
LV09
LV10
LV11
LV12
LV13
LV14
GV01
GV02
GV03
GV04
GV05
GV06
GV07
GV08
GV09
GV10
GV11
GV12
GV13
GV14
GV15
GV16
GV17
GV18
GV19
GV20
GV21
GV22
GV23
GV24
GV25
GV26
GV27
GV28
CV01
CV02
CV03
CV04
CV05
CV06
CV07
CV08
CV09
CV10
CV11
CV12
CV13
CV14
CV15
CV16
CV17
CV18
CV19
CV20
CV21
CV22
CV23
CV24