Constipation
What's constipation?
Constipation, also known as constipation or constipation, means that the stools are difficult or less frequent than is normal to you. It is not just about the number of toilet visits. Also hard or dry stools, need to squeeze strongly, the feeling that the bowel is not completely empty or has an urge but cannot get rid of the stool properly can be heard by constipation.
The symptoms may vary greatly. In one case, the stool is mainly dry and hard, while another has soft or normally shaped stools that are difficult to come out. Constipation can also be associated with a bloated abdomen, abdominal pain, flatulence or haemorrhoids.
Sometimes constipation is temporary, for example during a trip or after changes in diet or daily routine. When the symptoms return regularly or are present for a long time, several factors may play a role.
Western disorders and other causes
Constipation can occur when the stool moves too slowly through the large intestine, becomes too dry or difficult to secrete. Many common factors are insufficient fiber or moisture, little movement, changes in diet and rhythm of life and regular delay of toilet visit.
Medicinal products may also cause constipation, including certain painkillers such as opioids, iron supplements and some antidepressants. In addition, constipation may occur in among others:
- irritable bowel syndrome (PDS);
- slow-transit constipation;
- pelvic floor or stool problems;
- a slow-acting thyroid gland;
- neurological disorders;
- anus or rectum disorders which delay stool due to pain.
Stress and emotional stress can also affect intestinal function.
In the event of sudden or strongly altered constipation, blood loss, unexplained weight loss or other notable symptoms medical examination is important.
Possible causes
Nutrition and lifestyle often play an important role in constipation. Too few dietary fibers, insufficient drinking and little exercise can slow down the bowel movement. Also long-term sitting and suppressing urge can contribute.
However, the cause does not always have to be a lack of fiber or moisture. In some people, the large intestine of itself moves slowly, while in others the stool can hardly be excreted due to problems with the pelvic floor. Stress can also affect the intestinal movement.
In chronic constipation, multiple factors can be present at the same time. Therefore, it is important to look not only at how often a person has stool, but also at the form of stool, urge, pressing, abdominal discomfort and other symptoms.
How can acupuncture help with constipation?
Within Chinese medicine, constipation looks at the way the complaint develops. Is the stool dry and hard or soft? Is there enough pressure? Do you need a lot of pressing? Do you have abdominal pain or a bloating feeling? And play with stress, fatigue, cold or a feeling of heat and dryness?
On this basis, the treatment is personalized. Acupuncture, for example, can focus on:
- support the movement and function of the intestines
- improve Qi flow when tension and stress affect bowel movement
- reduce accumulation and bloating
- support digestion when Dampness or Phlegm interferes with bowel function
- Increase Qi when there is insufficient strength to move the stool
- regulate heat, cold or dryness when these are part of the pattern
This allows two people who both have constipation to receive a different acupuncture treatment.
How can Chinese herbal medicine help with constipation?
Chinese herbs are also tuned to the type of constipation. The goal is not automatic to stimulate the intestine as strongly as possible. Especially when chronic constipation is examined why the normal intestinal movement does not function properly.
Depending on the pattern, treatment may, for example:
- moisten the Intestines in case of dry and hard stools
- Reduce heat when these body fluids dries out
- Support Qi movement in case of stress, abdominal pain and bloating
- reduce food accumulation when fullness and digestive problems are at the forefront
- Dampness and Phlegm reduce when these interfere with normal bowel movement
- Increase Qi when there is insufficient strength to move the stool
- Feeding blood or Yin when insufficient moistening contributes to dryness
- Yang heating when cold and weak bowel movement are central
In chronic constipation, treatment may change during the course. For example, a treatment that is initially needed to initiate bowel movement does not have to be the same as the treatment that is then used to support regular bowel function.
How does Chinese medicine view constipation?
Within the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), constipation is not seen as one fixed problem. The western complaint may be the same, while the underlying imbalance differs.
The Large Intestine is central to the transport and separation of the stool. This requires sufficient movement as well as adequate moisturisation.
According to TCM, the Spleen and Stomach support the processing of food and the formation and movement of Qi. Qi can be seen here as the functional activity needed to move along among other things the intestinal contents. When this function is weakened, stools are difficult to pass even when it is not dry.
The Liver helps with free flow of Qi. As a result, this system can be important when stress, frustration or tension clearly affect the bowel movement. The Lung also plays a role in downward motion within TCM and is functionally connected to the Large Intestine.
In addition, the kidneyies may be involved in long-term complaints, old age or obvious cold or dryness symptoms.
Adequate moistening is also important. Deficiencies of Blood or Yin — TCM concepts that refer, among other things, to the body’s nourishing and moistening functions — may cause the contents of the intestines to become too dry.
A recognizable combination of complaints and physical characteristics is called a TCM pattern. The most common patterns are described below. Other patterns are possible and multiple patterns may be present at the same time. This allows you to recognize yourself in several descriptions. Also, not everyone with the same pattern has all the symptoms mentioned. The pattern is determined based on the overall picture of complaints.
What is a TCM organ system?
Within TCM, an organ name refers not only to the anatomical organ, but to a broader set of functions and relationships within the body. Read more about this at TCM basics .
What is a TCM pattern?
A TCM pattern describes a recognizable combination of complaints and physical characteristics that indicates which functions are off balance. It forms the basis for the choice of treatment. Read more about this at TCM basics .
Most common TCM patterns
Heat and droogte in the Intestines
Brief explanation
Within TCM, heat can dry out body fluids. When this happens in the Intestines, the stool becomes dry and hard and can hardly pass through it. This pattern may be related to nutrition, insufficient moisture or long-lasting internal Heat.
Common symptoms: hard, dry or tickle-shaped stools, difficult to relieve, thirst, dry mouth, sometimes feeling warm, bad breath or dark urine. The abdomen may feel tense and the stool can hardly pass despite obvious urge.
Examples of Western disorders: functional constipation and constipation in which dry and hard stools are at the forefront.
Qi-stagnation
Brief explanation
With Qi-stagnation, the problem is not so much a lack of moisture, but the normal movement through the Intestines is not sufficiently flexible. Stress and emotional tension can play an important role in this.
Common symptoms: urge without easy relief, feeling not completely empty, bloated or tense abdomen, abdominal pain or cramps, flatulence, sighs or peasants and symptoms that clearly worsen during stress. The stool doesn't need to be particularly dry.
Examples of Western disorders: functional constipation and PDS with constipation or a varying bowel pattern.
Food stagnation
Brief explanation
Food stagnation keeps food in the digestive system for too long according to TCM. This can be caused, for example, by eating too much, eating irregularly or when digestion has difficulty processing the quantity offered properly.
Common symptoms: constipation or slow bowel movement, a full or strong bloating sensation, especially after eating, belching, flatulence, nausea, acidic recesses, bad breath and sometimes strong smelling feces. The symptoms may be reduced after stool has come.
Examples of Western disorders: functional constipation, indigestion and some forms of PDS.
Phlegm-Dampness
Brief explanation
Dampness and Phlegm are TCM concepts for a situation where the processing and distribution of moisture and nutrition is not efficient enough. If this accumulation impedes the normal movement of Qi in the Intestines, the bowel movement can become slow.
Common symptoms: chronic slow bowel movement or constipation where the stool is not necessarily dry, a bloated abdomen, feeling heavy in the body, tiredness, sleepiness, feeling blurred or heavy in the head and sometimes mucus problems. After bowel movements someone may feel clearly lighter.
Examples of Western disorders: chronic functional constipation and some forms of PDS.
Qi-deficiency
Brief explanation
At Qi deficiency, according to TCM, there is insufficient functional strength to move the stool well through the Intestines. There can be enough stool and it does not need to be hard, but lacks the power to separate it.
Common symptoms: low urge, difficult to relieve, need to push a lot, tiredness or shortness of breath during or after bowel movements, general fatigue and bloated abdomen without pronounced pain. The stool can be normally formed or even soft. haemorrhoids are easier to prevent.
Examples of Western disorders: slow-transit constipation, chronic atonic constipation and constipation during recovery after illness.
Blood deficiency and droogte
Brief explanation
Blood has a nourishing and moistening function within TCM. In case of insufficient blood, the Intestines can be less well moistened, causing the stool to dry out.
Common symptoms: dry or petulant stools, urge but difficulty with relief, dry skin, hair or eyes, paleness, dizziness, palpitations, poor sleep or forgetfulness. This pattern may occur after blood loss or childbirth.
Examples of Western disorders: chronic functional constipation, constipation after childbirth and constipation after blood loss.
Yang-deficiency
Brief explanation
Yang stands within TCM for heat and functional activity. Yang deficiency weakens the propulsive movement of the Intestines. The stool does not need to be dry and can even be soft or relatively humid.
Common symptoms: low pressure, slow and difficult bowel movement, exhaustion after relief, rapid coldness, cold hands and feet and a belly that responds comfortably to warmth. In the case of involvement of the Kidneys, low back pain, frequent urination or nocturnal urination may also occur.
Examples of Western disorders: chronic or atonic constipation, constipation in the elderly and constipation that may occur in hypothyroidism.
Yin-deficiency and droogte
Brief explanation
Within TCM, Yin covers the nourishing and moistening aspects of the body. When Yin and body fluids are insufficient, the Intestines may dry out. This pattern is more common with long-term complaints and at an older age.
Common symptoms: dry, hard or petulant feces, dry mouth and throat, dry skin or eyes and thirst. Further developed Yin deficiency may also prevent night sweats, warmness in the evening or night, warm palms and soles of the feet, dizziness, ringing in the ears and low back discomfort.
Examples of Western disorders: chronic functional constipation, constipation in the elderly and constipation around or after menopause.
Blood stasis
Brief explanation
Blood stasis, according to TCM, has disturbed the local circulation of Blood. In the case of constipation, this is usually a secondary pattern that occurs with long-term complaints or after surgery, for example.
Common symptoms: chronic constipation with clearly localised or stabbing abdominal pain, pain unpleasant by pressure, tense abdomen and sometimes dark or purple discolorations. The bowel movement may alternate periods of constipation with periods in which it progresses better.
Examples of Western situations: prolonged constipation and persistent bowel problems after abdominal surgery.
Outlook
How fast constipation improves depends on the cause, duration of the symptoms and underlying pattern. A temporary constipation can recover relatively quickly when the triggering factor disappears. In case of chronic constipation, slow-transit constipation or obvious Qi-, Blood-, Yin- or Yang deficiency, more time is usually needed.
In the initial phase, once a week treatment is a common guideline. In case of persistent complaints more frequent treatment may be appropriate. When bowel movements become more regular, the frequency can usually be reduced. In case of chronic deficiency patterns a longer treatment pathway may be needed not only to stimulate stool but also to support the underlying function.
Nutrition, sufficient moisture, daily exercise and regular toilet patterns are important for a sustainable result. Long-term use of stimulant laxatives also deserves attention; change prescribed medication or long-term use of laxatives in consultation with doctor or pharmacist.
Contact
Do you suffer from constipation regularly and want to know if acupuncture and/or Chinese herbal medicine fit your symptoms? During a first appointment we will discuss your bowel movements, digestion and other relevant complaints and see which TCM pattern best suits your situation. On this basis, a personal treatment plan will be drawn up.