Constipation

The natural treatment of constipation is carried out, first and foremost, by identifying its cause.

Among the most common functional causes, we find:

• Chronic stress: It reduces intestinal motility and is the most frequent cause of constipation.
• Imbalance in gut flora
• Dehydration
• A diet low in fiber
• Lack of physical activity

The main symptoms of chronic constipation include infrequent bowel movements, excessive straining, hard stools, and/or a sensation of incomplete evacuation.

Patients with severe chronic constipation have complete spontaneous bowel movements no more than twice a week.

For the treatment of chronic constipation of functional origin, it is important to start with a diet that provides energy to the digestive system. Additionally, it is necessary to balance the autonomic nervous system (sympathetic-parasympathetic), which is often altered in people suffering from stress. The regulation of the autonomic nervous system responds very well to acupuncture treatment.

Most cases of functional chronic stress resolve with diet and acupuncture. If the condition is more severe, Chinese herbal formulas specifically aimed at treating constipation may be necessary.

Scientific studies on the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of functional chronic stress.

• Zhu D, Hu J et al. (2021) Effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic severe functional constipation: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 Feb 19;100(7):e24589. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000024589. PMID: 33607791; PMCID: PMC7899879.
• Xu M, Wang L et al (2021) Positive effects of electroacupuncture treatment on gut motility in constipated mice is related to rebalancing the gut microbiota. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. (2021) 2021:6652017. 10.1155/2021/6652017