Acupuncture Treatment for Constipation
Constipation refers to prolonged bowel movement intervals or difficult, dry stool passage caused by various diseases.
Primary Points: Tianshu (ST25), Zhigou (SJ6), Shangjuxu (ST37)
1. Heat Accumulation Constipation:
【Diagnostic Criteria】Hard, dry stools that are difficult to pass; flushed face, feverish body, abdominal distension and pain, dry mouth and bad breath, short red urine; red tongue with yellow or dry yellow coating, slippery or full pulse.
【Prescription】Dachangshu (BL25), Neiting (ST44), Dahuang (CV14), Quchi (LI11)
2. Qi Stagnation Constipation:
【Diagnostic Criteria】Severe constipation with urge to defecate but inability to do so, normal stool consistency; distension and fullness in the hypochondriac region, severe abdominal pain, frequent belching, reduced appetite; thin greasy coating, wiry pulse.
【Prescription】Taichong (LR3), Yanglingquan (GB34)
3. Qi Deficiency Constipation:
【Diagnostic Criteria】Stools not hard, but difficulty passing despite urge; sweating during straining, shortness of breath, even dyspnea, fatigue after defecation; pale complexion, lethargy, weak speech; pale or pale tender tongue, thin coating, weak pulse.
【Prescription】Feishu (BL13), Pishu (BL20), Zusanli (ST36)
4. Blood Deficiency Constipation
【Diagnostic Criteria】Dry, hard stools; pale complexion without luster, dizziness, blurred vision, palpitations, pale lips and tongue; pale tender tongue, fine sluggish or weak pulse.
【Prescription】Pishu (BL20), Zusanli (ST36), Geshu (BL17)
5. Yin Deficiency Constipation
【Diagnostic Criteria】Hard, dry stools difficult to pass, resembling sheep droppings; emaciated body, five-palm heat, dry mouth, flushed cheeks; red tongue with little coating, fine rapid pulse.
【Prescription】Daxi (KI16), Zhao Hai (KI6)
6. Yang Deficiency Constipation
【Diagnostic Criteria】Difficult, hard stool passage; clear long urination, frequent nocturnal urination, cold abdominal pain or lumbar-sacral soreness, cold extremities, pale complexion; pale tongue with white or moist coating, deep slow pulse.
【Prescription】Shenshu (BL23), Mingmen (GV4), Dahuang (CV14), (moxibustion) Shengque (CV8)
Other Therapies:
Auricular acupressure: Lower rectum, large intestine, constipation point, cortex suprarenalis, sympathetic.