Constipation
Do you know that acupuncture help provide relief from constipation? Acupuncture is a therapeutic method used in many Asian countries to treat various health conditions. It involves the insertion of fine needles into certain parts of the body. This helps in stimulating some points on the ‘energy-channel meridians/lines’ along the body.
A study was conducted to observe the effects of acupuncture on gastrointestinal disorders. The study found acupuncture to be effective in treating gastrointestinal disorders (constipation-predominant IBS). It does so by causing muscle contractions. Eventually, it relieves visceral pain.
The factors which influenced the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating chronic constipation include:
A study showed that five treatments per week or undergoing acupuncture every alternate day was effective for constipation. Some acupuncturists also believe that the treatment can be supported by the use of herbal tea. The medicinal properties of herbal tea help in stimulate the bowels and help relieve constipation’s.
If you are wondering how useful this therapy is, here are the results of some studies conducted:
To conclude, if you are suffering from constipation, there’s no harm in trying this traditional therapy for relief. Unlike medications for constipation, it does not have any known side effects and can provide lasting relief.
Takahashi T. Acupuncture for functional gastrointestinal disorders. J Gastroenterol. 2006 May;41(5):408-17. Review. PubMed PMID: 16799881.
Wang, X., & Yin, J. (2015). Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Chronic Constipation. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : eCAM, 2015, 396396. http://doi.org/10.1155/2015/396396
Zhang T, Chon TY, Liu B, Do A, Li G, Bauer B, Wang L, Liu Z. Efficacy of acupuncture for chronic constipation: a systematic review. Am J Chin Med. 2013;41(4):717-42. doi: 10.1142/S0192415X13500493. Review. PubMed PMID: 23895148.
Liu Z, Yan S, Wu J, He L, Li N, Dong G, et al. Acupuncture for Chronic Severe Functional Constipation: A Randomized Trial. Ann Intern Med. 2016;165:761-769. doi: 10.7326/M15-3118
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences. (2014, November 19). Suffering from constipation? Self-acupressure can help. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 15, 2017 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141119101852.htm
Wong, W. K., Chien, W. T., & Lee, W. M. (2015). Self-administered acupressure for treating adult psychiatric patients with constipation: a randomized controlled trial. Chinese Medicine, 10, 32. http://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-015-0064-7
https://nccih.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/chinesemed.htm
http://www.nuhs.edu/news/2014/8/korean,-japanese-and-chinese-acupuncture-what%E2%80%99s-the-difference/