If you’ve never had constipation, be thankful and pray never to have it. It’s a medical condition where you can’t poop at all or are having incomplete poops. While this may not cost so much to treat medically, you can take care of constipation by massaging the acupressure points for constipation.
Acupressure aids constipation by promoting bowel movement that encourages elimination. It provides the little push that needs to get your bowels moving. However, you must know the right pressure points to induce poop to get started. This article will reveal this and more to you.
Types Of Constipation
Constipation is of different types. It includes:
- Sluggish Constipation – this situation is more common in women and is caused by slow intestinal peristalsis. If you are prone to constipation from an early age, you are at risk of having this kind of constipation.
- Spastic Constipation – occurs mostly as a result of stress or abnormal autonomic nerves. This condition tightens the smooth muscles of the intestines thereby causing the feces to be shaped like rabbit feces. The amount of feces you can get out of your system is small, but you may have increased bowel movement.
- Rectal Constipation – mostly occurs when you abuse laxatives, or you’ve grown habits to tolerate bowel movements. Over time, any of these causes your defecation reflex to get dull. So, it is important to adjust your bowel habits or avoid abusing laxatives if you don’t want to have recta constipation.
Can Acupuncture Help Constipation?
Yes, acupuncture can help constipation. Research has shown that electroacupuncture, which involves electrical stimulation, helps improve severe constipation. This study, which spanned eight weeks, involved people with chronic constipation – they had infrequent bowel movements of no more than two per week.
These patients were grouped into two groups. One group received electroacupuncture with needles that pierced the muscle layer of the abdominal wall while the other half got fake treatments. At the end of the period, 31 percent of patients who received electroacupuncture had an average of three or more bowel movements in a week. In the control group, only 12 percent of patients achieved the same level of relief.
You can check out our other article on how acupuncture for IBS constipation works.
Where Is The Poop Button?
The name may sound funny, but yes, the poop button can make you poo. It is below your belly button. It is located three finger-widths directly below your belly button. Another name for the Poop button is the Sea of Energy. The name implies that the Poop button is connected to other areas of your body, such as your digestive system, colon, and even your sex organs. By applying the correct touch on the poop button, you can relieve yourself of issues like period cramps, tummy troubles, and constipation.
Acupoint: Ren-6 (Other Names: The Conception Vessel-6/Qi Hai/Sea of Qi)
If you’ve been wondering what the official name of the Poop button is, you now have it. It’s Ren-6 or CV-6. It can also be called Ren Mai or the Conception Vessel Channel. This acupressure point is responsible for women’s reproductive issues such as irregular menstrual periods, infertility, and uterine fibroids. As the sea of energy, Ren-6 is the reservoir of Qi for the whole body. You’ll find Ren-6 on the midline of the abdomen, 1.5 Cun below the belly button.
This is also one of the best acupressure points for weight loss.
The Common Acupressure Points For Constipation
#1. Acupoint: LU-5 (Other Names: Lung-5/Chi Ze/Cubit Marsh)
This acupressure point for constipation is also known as Chize or Foot Marsh. It is located on the cross side of the cubital crease, just on the radial side of the tendon of the muscle biceps brachii. The point is easy to find when you flex your elbow slightly.
This acupuncture point stimulates the descending action of the lung Qi, thus benefitting the bladder and relaxing the sinew. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the Chize is used for the treatment of cough, asthma, sore throat, infantile convulsions, and elbow pains.
Unknown to many people, this is one of the crucial eustachian tube pressure points.
#2. Acupoint: LI-11 (Other Names: Large Intestine-11/Qu Chi/Pool at the Crook)
This acupuncture point is of the Lung Meridian. It is also called Quchi or Pool at the Bend. Like the LU-5, LI-11 is located at the elbow. You find it easily when you bend your arm. It is at the end of the crease that forms when you bend your elbow – on the outer side of the crease of your bent elbow.
LI-11 is responsible for clearing heat in the body – whether that from sunburn or that of a fever. It also performs the function of releasing to the exterior. It is the “open door” via which a pathogen is forced to exit the body. Hence, LI-11 is useful in the treatment of illnesses accompanied by a fever or elevated temperature.
LI-11 is also a powerful acupoint for body heat reduction.
#3. Acupoint: Ren-12 (Other Names: The Conception Vessel-12/Zhong Wan/Middle Epigastrium)
Another acupressure point for constipation is the Ren 12 acupuncture point, also called Zhong Wan or Middle Cavity. Where it isn’t called any of the above, it is referred to as CV 12 or conception vessel. As the conception vessel, Ren-12 is located up the midline of the front of the body, which is the abdomen. It is at exactly 4 cun above the belly button.
Due to its location, Ren-12 has a direct impact on the stomach, easily making it a poop button acupressure point. This acupressure point tonifies the stomach and fortifies the spleen. Hence, it is suitable for the treatment of abdominal pain and fullness, nausea, acid reflux, diarrhea, frustration, and resentment.
#4. Acupoint: ST-25 (Other Names: Stomach-25/Tian Shu/Celestial Pivot)
This acupuncture point is of the stomach meridian. This is why it is sometimes referred to as Stomach 25. Its other names are Tian Shu or Heaven’s Pivot. This acupuncture point alone boasts of being the most important point for the treatment of the widest variety of intestinal disorders.
You can locate St-25 around the navel. It is level with the navel, positioned halfway from the border of the rectus abdominis muscle, on the middle of the abdomen, 2 cun lateral to the umbilicus. Situated on the abdomen, it is suitable for treating both diarrhea and constipation. It mostly helps to resolve dampness in the body. Meanwhile, this poop button acupressure point is also a pressure point for gas relief. It also takes care of other problems such as nausea & vomiting, undigested food in the stool, poor appetite, and abdominal pain.
#5. Acupoint: SP-15 (Other Names: Spleen-15/Da Heng/Great Horizontal)
This acupressure point is also called Da Heng or Great Horizontal in English. It is located at the intersection of the nipple line and belly button line, exactly on the middle of the abdomen, 4 cun lateral to the center of the body.
You can use this acupressure point to relieve yourself of lower abdominal pain, cold, and pain of the lower abdomen by applying firm pressure on the point for one to two minutes. The pressure on this acupoint should be so firm that it hurts a little. When you begin to feel extreme pain in the region, gradually decrease the pressure to the point where it’s a balance between pain and pleasure.
#6. Acupoint: TE-6 (Other Names: Triple Energizer-6/Zhi Gou/Branch Ditch)
TE-6 is of the Triple Burner Meridian and is one of the main acupressure points for constipation. Also known as Jing-River Point or Zhigou in Chinese, this acupoint is located 3 cun proximal to the dorsal crease of the wrist. It is right on the line connecting Yangchi (TE 4) and the tip of the olecranon, between the radius and ulna, on the radial side of the extensor digitorum muscle.
TE-6 is effective in the opening of the intestines. That is to say that it circulates Qi in the intestines and relieves constipation. It also clears heat and expels wind. Therefore, it can be used to treat tinnitus, deafness, and pain in the hypochondriac region.
Also, TE-6 is often used in acupressure for tennis elbow.
Acupressure Points For Slow Transit Constipation
The set of acupuncture points in this list promote bowel movement.
#1. Acupoint: Bl-22 (Other Names: Urinary Bladder-22/San Jiao Shu/Sanjiao Transporter)
BL-22 is of the bladder meridian and is referred to as Sanjiaoshu in China. This means Sanjiao Transporter in English. You can find this acupressure point on the lower back. It is located at 1.5 cun, or two fingers width, lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the 1st lumbar vertebra.
As the Sanjiao Transporter, BL-22 works to regulate and move the San Jiao, thus opening and regulating water passages in the body. It is used to treat edema, dysuria, abdominal distention, borborygmus, diarrhea, and dysentery. Research shows that BL-23 can also prevent bone loss and structural changes by suppressing bone resorption.
#2. Acupoint: Bl-23 (Other Names: Urinary Bladder-23/Shen Shu/Kidney Transporter)
Bladder 23, is the 23rd acupressure point of the bladder meridian and brother to BL-22. It is also referred to as the Sea of Vitality. It is located at the waist, on the lower back, between the second and third lumbar vertebrae, just two finger widths from the spine. It is on the same level as your belly button.
Pressing down lightly with your index or middle finger on this acupressure point for constipation and rubbing gently in a circular motion can help strengthen the core and reduce lower back pain.
Together with kidney 9 acupuncture point, TCM practitioners often recommend using them to rejuvenate your hair.
#3. Acupoint: Bl-25 (Other Names: Urinary Bladder-25/Da Chang/Large Intestine Transporter)
This is another bladder meridian acupoint that is effective for relieving constipation. Its other name is Dachangshu, which translates to Large Intestine Shu in English. This acupoint is located 1.5 cun lateral to the spine, at about the junction of the 4th and 5th lumbar vertebrae. It is the point tucked into space above the sacrum and inside the ileum.
To activate this acupressure point to treat abdominal distention, diarrhea, and constipation, apply direct pressure on the acupoint.
#4. Acupoint: Bl-32 (Other Names: Urinary Bladder-32/Ci Liao/Second Crevice)
BL-32 is yet another bladder points meridian acupressure point for constipation. Its English name is Second Bone Hole, and it is located midway between the dimples above the buttocks and the lumbar spine. It is not the dimple.
Bladder 32, also called the Ciliao (second crevice), when press firmly on the point and massaged, solves local low back or sacrum problems. It also solves most genital and urinary-related disorders as well as irregular cycles, painful menstruation, and blood stagnation.
#5. Acupoint: ST-25 (Other Names: Stomach-25/Tian Shu/Celestial Pivot)
Again, I have the St-25 on my list, which goes to solidify its place as one of the most important acupressure points for constipation. Tianshu or Celestial Pivot, as it is called in English, is located in the middle of the abdomen, 2 cun lateral to the umbilicus.
It is a Front-Mu point of the Large Intestine Meridian, which makes it effective for the treatment of diseases of the affected Zang-Fu organ and those of Yang meridians and collaterals. These diseases include abdominal distention, borborygmus, pain around the umbilicus, constipation, diarrhea, and dysentery.
#6. Acupoint: ST-27 (Other Names: Stomach-27/Da Ju/Great Bulge)
Still of the stomach meridian, St-27 is another of the poop button acupressure points. It is called Daju or Great Bulge in English. It is located on the lower abdomen, 2 cun below the center of the umbilicus. It is 2 cun lateral to the anterior median line and level with Shimen REN-5.
The Great Bulge strengthens the kidney and essence and thus regulates stomach Qi. For this reason, this acupressure point is suitable for treating lower abdominal distention and pain, dysuria, hernia, premature ejaculation, and impotence. You can also refer to these Top 10 Acupressure Points To Relieve Body Pains And Aches.
#7. Acupoint: SP-14 (Other Names: Spleen-14/Fu Jie/Abdomen Stagnation)
This acupoint is called Fujie, which translates to Abdominal Knot in English. To satisfy its name, SP-14 is located on the lower abdomen, 1.3 cun below SP 15 and 4 cun from the anterior midline of the body. Its position alone sets it up as the poo button acupoint.
This acupuncture point when activated is effective in the treatment of pains around the umbilical region, abdominal distention, diarrhea, constipation, and hernia.
