How to Use Chinese Medicine for Constipation: 5 Steps to Treat Constipation with Chinese Medicine

Constipation is a hidden devil that affects you without even knowing it. It may appear as just a delay in evacuation but it goes far beyond that.

If you are tired of having to rely on drugs and pills to deal with your constipation then stick around to learn how to use Chinese Medicine for Constipation.

You will learn how to use Acupressure points to help you go to the toilet more efficiently and how to add Chinese herbs for constipation to your daily life. What’s more, I’m going to tell you about a powerful Chinese herbal formula that competes with pharmaceuticals in treating constipation.

To make sure you don’t lose your progress and fall back into constipation, you will learn valuable exercises and life hacks to make sure your gut is protected and works how it is supposed to.

Are you ready?

Let’s get into it!

​Quick Overview of Constipation

How many times do you think you should go to the toilet? Once a day, twice a day?

Or maybe once every other day?

Your answer will tell you if you are experiencing constipation or not.

Constipation is defined as having infrequent and difficult bowel movements, usually less than three times a week. This condition goes beyond the discomfort of not being able to evacuate or feeling strained when going to the bathroom, but it is also linked to impaired kidney function, and increased risk of colon cancer and overall mortality.

Constipation is also assessed using the Bristol Stool Charts. According to the type of stool you are passing, it will tell you if you are constipated or not.

You can get the pdf for the chart here.

Having as little as three bowel movements a week is seen as normal. There are some who don’t share this view, and according to this study in Cell Reports Medicine, there are better health outcomes linked to having bowel movements once or more than once a day.

Overall, you want to have at least one bowel movement per day or once every other day to prevent toxin buildup and keep your gut healthy.

Approximately 10 to 15% of the world’s population suffers from chronic constipation. In America, around 15% of the population suffers from it, and Europe and Asia share a similar percentage. So it is fair to say 1 in 10 people in the world suffer from constipation and I’d argue that this number is higher.

But have you been taught how to deal with constipation without relying on pharmaceuticals and vague tips like increasing your fiber?

Here is where Chinese Medicine can help you greatly. Let’s see how the ancient Chinese saw constipation and how they approached it.

​How Chinese Medicine Views Constipation

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, constipation is seen as a primarily Large Intestine problem although, of course, it has many factors that influence its onset.

Among the main classifications of the causes of Constipation are Excess and Deficiency/Void patterns.

• Excess patterns can be due to Excess Heat (mainly internal Heat), or Qi Stagnation.
• Deficiency patterns can be due to Qi deficiency, Blood deficiency, or a Cold pattern.

Heat consumes the organs moisture that is needed for their proper functioning, it can be associated with dehydration and dry stools.

Qi stagnation points to the difficulty of the bowels to squeeze their contents adequately.

Deficient Qi means the metabolic rate and functioning of the organ are diminished, so peristalsis is slowed down due to a weak organ.

A Cold pattern freezes the Qi and Blood flow, this can be understood as a slowed metabolic rate.

The focus when treating Constipation is to restore the energetic balance of the Large Intestine and the body by combining Acupressure points and herbal formulas that energize the digestive system, unclog peristalsis, expel the Pathogenic Factors, and improve evacuation.

Now let’s see how you can use Chinese medicine for your constipation:

​How to Use Chinese Medicine for Constipation: Acupressure Points for Constipation

Acupuncture and Acupressure focus on stimulating specific points in the body to restore the flow of Qi. In this case, you are aiming at restoring the physiological Qi flow of the intestines and supporting the Digestive System overall.

These are some of the best Acupressure points for constipation you can use regularly. They are aimed at restoring the energy of the Large Intestine, boosting digestion, and getting rid of any stagnation that may be present.

Other points are used in the treatment of constipation like Bladder 25 but given they are located in the back, it is more difficult for you to use them.

Here are the points:

Large Intestine 4

This point is located between your thumb and index finger. In the midpoint of the second metacarpal bone on its radial side.

This is a major point in the Large Intestine meridian, it has many effects like painkilling properties and boosts immunity, and it is also a major point used to help you evacuate your bowels more easily. You can use this point in conjunction with others to make the passing easier.

Pericardium 6

This point is located in the midline of your forearm, three fingers width below your wrist. Right between the tendons.

You know you are in the right spot when you press the point and your fingers curl.

This is a point that is usually associated with relaxing effects. But this point is also a great point used to boost digestion and help evacuation.

Sanjiao 6

Sanjiao 6 is also found on your forearm but on the dorsum. Four fingers width below the wrist, between the radius and ulna.

This is a frequently used point for triggering bowel movements, so you can keep this one in mind if you are feeling constipated.

Stomach 25

Stomach 25 is an interesting point. This is a point that can be used for both Constipation and Diarrhea.

Why is that? Because it works by regulating the flow of Qi in the Large Intestine, this means that if the Intestine is overacting i.e. diarrhea, it counters it to restore balance whereas if the intestine is slowed down like in constipation, it increases its activity.

This point is located level with your navel, three fingers width to the sides of the center of your belly button.

Stomach 36

This point is a must-have. Labeled as the ‘’Point of the Two Hundred Prescriptions’’, Stomach 36 is a major point that influences the Digestive System.

Apart from being an immunity booster, a major painkiller point, and an aid in asthma treatment; Stomach 36 is shown to increase blood flow of the Superior Mesenteric Artery and is one of the main points for gastrointestinal diseases.

You can find it by placing four fingers below your kneecap and then going one thumb width to the outside of the edge of the shin.

​How to Use the Points and Design an Acupressure Routine

Now that you know what are the best Acupressure points for constipation, let’s design an Acupressure routine together.

Follow these steps and you will have designed a flawless routine:

1. Sit in a quiet area wearing comfortable clothing: Avoid tight clothing and look for a place where you can be for 10 minutes uninterrupted.
2. Select the points you are going to use this time: Take 3 points if your constipation is mild or all of them if it’s more severe.
3. Stimulate the points from top to bottom: Press the points and do circles clockwise and counterclockwise, about 40 times in total.
4. Breathe calmly while doing this: No need for deep breathing, but calm your breathing, this helps you stay mindful.

Once you are done you can move on to the self-massage which you will learn in a bit.

Now let’s take a look at some herbs that can help you.

​Chinese Medicine for Constipation: Chinese Herbs for Constipation

Herbal medicine is among the most effective when it comes to dealing with constipation and is a great complement to Acupressure ensuring you get even better results from your treatment.

There are both single herbs you can make tea with and elaborate herbal formulas that tackle the issue of constipation. For this case, let’s see some of the best Chinese herbs for constipation based on their effectiveness and how easy they are to prepare.

• Aloe Vera.
• Ginger tea.
• Liquorice.
• Dandelion root.
• Senna.
• Ma Zi Ren Wan (Hemp Seed Pill)

The last one mentioned Ma Zi Ren Wan or Hemp Seed Pill is a herbal formula first described in the Treatise on Cold Damage (Shanghan Lun) written circa 220 AD. It is a pill made with six herbs including hemp seeds, white peony root, rhubarb, and others.

This herbal formula has been used for 1800 years with amazing results in dealing with functional constipation and even some research shows evidence of it being effective in dealing with chemotherapy-induced or opioid-induced constipation.

Even superior to Senna.

Now let’s go over some Qi Gong routines and self-massage for your constipation.

​Chinese Medicine for Constipation: Qi Gong and Self-Massage for Constipation

If you thought Acupressure and Herbal medicine were it, then you are up for a surprise. Traditional Chinese Medicine covers every aspect of human health, and exercise is crucial. There is always an exercise for a condition.

And constipation is no exception.

Here are my two picks for Self-massage and Qi Gong for constipation:

5 Animals Play/Wu Qin Xi

This is an ancient exercise routine created by the legendary doctor Hua Tuo. It consists of a series of exercises based on the behavior and movement of five different animals: the Tiger, the Deer, the Bear, the Monkey, and the Crane.

This routine emphasizes balance, stretching, and rotation movements, particularly during the Deer sequence.

These rotation movements serve as an external stimulation for the bowels that trigger their movement.

If you want you can do the whole routine or do the Deer sequence only. Do it until you feel less bloated or you pass gas.

Now if you don’t have that much time or space, here’s another exercise you can do even sitting in your office:

Massaging the abdomen in a circular motion

Take your hands and rub your abdomen doing circles, make sure to apply some pressure so the bowels can be stimulated.

Traditionally, if you want to get rid of constipation you would do the massage along the pathway of the large intestine. So you would do a counterclockwise circle.

Do this until you pass gas or feel the need to go to the toilet.

You can do different variations of this exercise depending on your available time. You can do small circles at first around the belly button and then gradually expand, or you can do both clockwise and counterclockwise circles.

My advice is for you to favor more counterclockwise circles so going along the Large Intestine pathway.

Do this after you have done your Acupressure routine to get even better results.

Now let’s go to some changes you can make to ensure you keep your constipation in check and don’t allow it to flourish:

​Chinese Medicine for Constipation: Lifestyle Modifications

Let’s see some life hacks you can do every day to keep your constipation at bay or significantly reduce it:

Drink warm water

Right off the bat, this is a game-changer for you. And something, not many people talk about unless they are into TCM. Drinking water that is warmer than room temperature is going to moisten your digestive system better than cold water and will help in the digestive process. Including this habit will solve many digestive problems you may have, not because it is a magic pill but because it works with your physiology to thrive. Begin by doing it two to three times a day to get acquainted, and then increase. Your bloating and constipation will go away easier.

Reduce sitting time:

Sitting is seen as the new smoking due to the health impact it has so you can have a good idea of how much it can wreck you. Excessive sitting leads to food stagnation, and impaired circulation, and can even increase the risk of type-2 diabetes due to reduced glucose intake by the muscles. In TCM, excessive sitting leads to the buildup of Dampness and stagnation, Dampness is related to bloating and impaired digestion which can lead to constipation. While at work, do 10 squats every hour or so to offset these effects.

Respect your body’s organ clock:

Just as there is a circadian rhythm for hormones, there is also a rhythm for your organs. Traditional Chinese Medicine describes an organ clock that shows when your organs are at their energy peak and lowest points. In the case of the digestive organs like the Spleen, Stomach, and intestines, their time of peak energy is earlier in the day, so if you want to experience less discomfort and impaired digestion, favor eating earlier and no later than 7 pm.

Have more warm, cooked meals and include stews:

Instead of eating out too much or choosing colder and raw foods, choose instead more warm and cooked foods. Maybe a hearty soup or a stew. Make sure your meals are warm enough that you feel your body’s temperature rise for a bit. In the summertime, you can go for colder foods but avoid going all cold foods. Your body needs warmth to function properly. By doing this not only you will nourish yourself better, but you will also reduce the likelihood of experiencing or worsening your constipation.

Avoid dairy, greasy foods, raw foods:

This advice is tied to the advice of avoiding too much sitting as they both can pave the way to the onset of Dampness and Phlegm. Raw foods are cold in nature and your body needs to spend Qi to warm it back up. Greasy foods in excess make your body prone to Dampness accumulation with its consequences.

Increase fiber intake:

This is a piece of advice usually thrown at you but with little elaboration so here are my two cents. Invest in foods like cucumber, cabbage, and beans (black, red, lentils, and so on) which will serve as a good source of vegetable protein and will also increase the amount of fiber which increases bowel movements and helps with constipation.

Keep in mind some of these foods have a cooling nature so don’t use them too often.

​Final Remarks

So there you have it!

Now you have the right tools to fight constipation using Chinese Medicine!

If you keep a steady habit of regular Acupressure and Self-massage coupled with the life hacks and herbs you just learned. You will be well on your way to living a life where constipation is no longer a problem for you.

Do you have any questions for me?

Leave a comment below!

See you in the next post!