Acupuncture Can Help Treat Digestion Issues Such as Constipation
Scientific research and clinical trials have shown that acupuncture offers a more effective and sustainable solution for chronic constipation than pharmaceutical drugs.
For many individuals, constipation can be a persistent and perplexing issue. When someone experiences less than three bowel movements per week without any underlying medical condition or medication as the cause, it is classified as chronic severe functional constipation (CSFC).
Chronic constipation is a prevalent concern, particularly among the elderly, and can lead to both acute and chronic stress. About 60% of the elderly population faces some degree of constipation, often due to sluggish peristaltic movements that result in prolonged stool retention and hardened stools caused by excessive water absorption. Straining during bowel movements in the elderly can potentially lead to changes in coronary and cerebral vascular flow, increasing the risk of serious conditions like arrhythmias, angina, high blood pressure, acute myocardial infarction, cerebral vascular damage, or even death. Long-term medication use to alleviate constipation may lead to side effects such as stomachaches, diarrhea, and electrolyte imbalances, making the need for a safe and effective constipation treatment paramount.
Eastern medicine takes a holistic approach to the patient, employing four diagnostic methods: observation, listening, questioning, and pulse examination. Gathering information through patient questioning is crucial and should encompass details about stool-related issues (such as sensation, consistency, interval time, color, odor, and quantity), the onset of symptoms (such as after childbirth, postpartum, menopause, or old age), the progression of symptoms, factors that alleviate or exacerbate the problem, and accompanying symptoms like abdominal distension, loss of appetite, fatigue, depression, and insomnia.
Scientific Studies Support Acupuncture as and Effective Treatment for Constipation
Studies conducted at the Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine reveal the effectiveness of acupuncture in providing relief from constipation. In fact, the combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine has proven to be more beneficial for elderly constipation patients compared to pharmaceutical drugs, showing low relapse rates. Chronic constipation often includes infrequent and hard stools, straining during bowel movements, and incomplete evacuation, with secondary symptoms like stomach cramps, pain, and abdominal bloating or distention.
The research involved 72 volunteers from the gastrointestinal department at Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and randomly divided them into two groups: a true acupuncture treatment group and a sham control group. The patients’ average age was 44, with 9 males and 27 females in the treatment group and 11 males and 25 females in the control group.
The research findings indicate that acupuncture effectively addresses the root causes of constipation and results in lower relapse rates compared to those who used mosapride, a medication designed to facilitate bowel movements. Mosapride, while effective, demonstrates a relatively high relapse rate (54.2%) upon discontinuation, along with potential side effects like abdominal pain, loose stools, insomnia, dizziness, and headaches. The active sham control group exhibited a total effective rate of 67.65%, whereas the true acupuncture group achieved an impressive 82.56% total effective rate. Notably, the sham points were needled 1 cm laterally to the true acupuncture points, possibly contributing to the clinical success in the sham group. However, the true acupuncture group significantly outperformed the sham control group, showing improved scores for the frequency of bowel movements, the difficulty of bowel movements, and a higher total effective rate.
The treatment regimen consisted of one 30-minute session per day for five consecutive days, completing four treatment cycles for a total of 20 acupuncture treatments. Patients were evaluated before and after the treatment to assess its efficacy.
In another study published by the Annals of Internal Medicine in 2016, acupuncture was identified as a treatment option for people with chronic severe functional constipation (CSFC). This therapy involves using acupuncture needles and small electrical currents to stimulate specific points on the body. Researchers randomly assigned approximately 1,000 individuals with CSFC to either electroacupuncture sessions or sham acupuncture sessions, resulting in 31% of the treatment group achieving three or more bowel movements per week, compared to 12% in the sham group after 28 sessions spanning eight weeks. The effects were found to last an additional 12 weeks for both groups.
Professor Han Jing Xuan from Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine developed a treatment protocol using the Sanjiao acupuncture method and the traditional herbal decoction Huang Di San. This combination was found to be a more effective treatment for elderly constipation than cisapride, a conventional pharmaceutical medication. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) attributes chronic constipation in the elderly to a weak liver and kidneys, poor qi and blood circulation, and subsequent malnourishment of the large intestine. TCM also emphasizes that prolonged consumption of bitter and cold foods damages the spleen and stomach, resulting in slowed qi and blood replenishment and weakened peristaltic movements, ultimately affecting the ability to evacuate feces. Acupuncture has been proven as a safe and effective treatment for patients suffering from functional constipation.
Contact Urban Acupuncture Center in Columbus, OH For More Information
For more information about how acupuncture, massage therapy and other alternative healing treatments can help you, please contact the Urban Acupuncture Center Board Certified Licensed Acupuncturist’s team at Indianola Ave, Columbus, Ohio (Clintonville) (614) 725-2488 or click here. Taking new patients in and around greater Columbus, Ohio.