The techniques used in TCM or Traditional Chinese Medicine discussed below are applicable provided the person has no major health issues such as obstruction or tumor.

Acupressure is the most convenient and versatile way to manage constipation at home. All a person suffering from constipation needs to do is to use his fingers to stimulate a number of specific acupressure points on his body. Some people say they have located of a “poop button” which is three finger widths under the bellybutton although for practicality’s sake, it would be better for a constipated person to undergo regular acupressure treatment for longer sessions.

Here are a few commonly used acupressure points to help treat constipation:

At the back – On the pelvic bone, the point is located a couple of fingers width from the backbone; with crooked arms, use thumbs to feel below the lowest rib bone.

Around the navel – Three fingers width right and left from the navel.

On the arms – Between the fleshy region of the index finger and thumb, between the bony area of the index finger and thumb, below the pinkie, on the wrist, and, when the arm is folded, on the end of the elbow’s crease.

Not Sure About Acupressure?

Both acupuncture and acupressure follow the same TCM principles. People who may not see results from acupressure will probably respond to acupuncture. Needles are stuck to the four acupuncture points around the bellybutton. Acupuncture’s efficacy on postsurgical constipation was recorded on a fluoroscope where the needles stuck on the limbs generated movements in the intestines. Despite the failure of modern science to explain TCM, experienced practitioners in the field of electro medicine have observed that acupressure points and meridians have certain levels of electromagnetic energy in them that non-acupressure points don’t possess.

Gua sha therapy is also another option worth considering. It is a more intense form of constipation treatment at home but not as painful as acupuncture. Gua sha basically means to scrape the skin until petechiae, which are tiny red spots that resemble sand, appear. Gua sha is a popular form of treatment among the homes of people living in Indonesia and Vietnam and in other countries of East Asia. When it comes to treating constipation, the practitioner uses a smooth edge instrument like a porcelain spoon emolliated with herbal oil or rice wine to scrape acupoints in the backbone and around the bellybutton in downward strokes.

In treating constipation, a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine will first observe the patient’s tongue and pulse. He will determine whether the patient’s illness is due to a deficiency of chi in the body, or whether it is due to excess cold or excess warmth. He then rectifies the imbalanced yin and yang appropriately, usually prescribing herbs to reestablish harmony in the body.

In the case of excess heat, for instance, the practitioner will not only prescribe herbs to treat the intestines but to also strengthen or tonify the kidneys and lungs which, in TCM, are deemed sources of fluids for normal bowel movements. Does TCM have a good track record in treating constipation? There are several clinical case studies that will attest to its effectiveness.