Constipation is one of the most common chronic gastrointestinal disorders in adults. Medically, it is defined as having 3 or fewer bowel movements in a week.
In some cases, the cause might be medication use or a medical disorder such as IBS, which is known as secondary constipation; however, some people experience what is known as functional constipation, which has no known cause.
Some additional symptoms of constipation include:
Hard stools
Straining when moving bowels
Bloating
Abdominal pain
Incomplete bowel movement
With acupuncture, it's possible to restore regular bowel function and ease the discomfort of constipation!
Acupuncture for Constipation
Acupuncture is more effective than drugs in improving chronic constipation and has the least side effects. In studies, acupuncture had an 82.56% effective rate at treating constipation, without the unpleasant side effects of laxatives such as stomach cramps, bloating, and diarrhea. 20 treatments were required for maximum effect.
According to a 2018 study, electro-acupuncture (acupuncture where a weak electrical current is passed through the needles) at specific points can improve intestinal motility and relieve constipation by altering the enteric nervous system (ENS) and affecting excitatory and inhibitory neurons. This restores the coordination between contraction and relaxation muscles, working in tandem with the central nervous system.
Acupuncture is also proven to open blood vessels and improve circulation, helping to heal the stomach and intestines to promote proper digestive function.
If you have difficulty with constipation, acupuncture can help get you back on track! Call us at (321) 972-2940 to schedule your initial health consultation today.
Sources:
HealthCMI. "Acupuncture Moves Stool, Relieves Constipation." (June 16, 2016). Retrieved from http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1648-acupuncture-moves-stool-relieves-constipation
Jamshed N, Lee ZE, Olden K. "Diagnostic Approach to Chronic Constipation in Adults."
(August 1, 2011). Retrieved from https://www.aafp.org/afp/2011/0801/p299.html
Lang C, Wang KY, Gong MR, Li Q, Yu Z, Xu B."Electro-acupuncture at ST37 and ST25 induce different effects on colonic motility via the enteric nervous system by affecting excitatory and inhibitory neurons."(February 28, 2018). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29488287
Zhu L, Ma Y, Deng X. "Comparison of acupuncture and other drugs for chronic constipation: A network meta-analysis." (April 25, 2018). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29694378