Description:

Acupressure and acupuncture have been proven effective for relieving constipation. For preventing constipation, cause factors are analyzed, and prevention methods are recommended, especially for constipation in the elderly. These methods have been quite effective in Chinese history and are still used today. For healing of constipation, methods and time-tested acupoint prescriptions are provided, including those for acupressure, acupuncture, moxibustion, and auricular acupuncture. Different types of constipation and therapeutic principles are described. Acupoint prescriptions from some ancient traditional Chinese medicine classics are translated, such as the well-known classic Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (1601). In addition, scientific studies about acupuncture treatments for constipation are collected. For example, acupuncture has been effective for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome of the constipation type, for post-stroke constipation, and in constipated children.