Pressure Points for Relieving Constipation

It’s possible to relieve constipation with acupressure, where physical pressure is applied to points on your body to support digestion and induce bowel movements.

Can Pressure Points Relieve Constipation?

It’s common to feel constipated every now and then. It can happen for many reasons, like dehydration or stress. Some medications and medical conditions can also cause constipation.

Fortunately, it’s possible to relieve constipation with natural remedies like acupressure.

Acupressure involves applying physical pressure to various points on your body to support digestion and induce bowel movements.

You can do acupressure on yourself or have it done by a trained professional. In either case, it’s important to understand how it works, as well as the potential side effects.

Preventable medical errors kill about 22,000 patients a year, according to research from the Yale School of Medicine. That’s much less than a previously reported number of 250,000 deaths a year where medical error is to blame.

Read on to learn how to use pressure points for relieving constipation.

Acupressure is type of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It’s a form of acupuncture, which is the practice of stimulating specific points on your body by inserting tiny needles into your skin. When pressure is used to activate these points, as in massage, it’s known as acupressure.

According to TCM, your body has a vital energy called qi. This energy flows through channels in your body, called meridians. These meridians are thought to be connected to your tissues and organs.

TCM practitioners maintain that a balanced Qi is necessary for good health. If your Qi is blocked or imbalanced, health issues can develop. This includes ailments such as:

Therapies like acupressure are used to balance qi.

In acupressure, a practitioner uses their fingers or hands to apply physical pressure on certain points along your body’s meridians. This is said to trigger a response that promotes healing and relief.

There are more than 2,000 pressure points in the body. The specific points used in acupressure depend on your ailment.

You can use acupressure for constipation by stimulating the following pressure points. According to TCM, these points are linked to various organs involved in constipation.

San Jiao 6: Branching Ditch

San Jiao 6 (SJ6) is commonly used for constipation. According to Peirano, this point stimulates the lower jiao, which includes the large and small intestines, kidneys, and bladder.

To use this point for acupressure:

  1. Find SJ6, three finger-widths away from your wrist crease on the outer side of your arm.
  2. Press on the point with your opposite thumb or index finger.
  3. Apply circular pressure for 1 to 3 minutes.
  4. Repeat on your other arm.

Stomach 25: Celestial Pivot

Stomach 25 (ST25) is used to balance your digestive system. It can help both constipation and diarrhea, says Peirano.

To use this point for acupressure:

  1. Locate ST25, two finger-widths to right of your belly button.
  2. Press on the point with your thumb or index finger.
  3. Apply circular pressure for 1 to 3 minutes.
  4. Repeat on the left side.
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Spleen 15: Great Horizontal

Spleen 15 (SP15) is located near ST25. It’s used to stimulate peristalsis and enhance the effects of ST25.

To use this point for acupressure:

  1. Find SP15, four finger-widths to the right of your belly button.
  2. Press on the point with your thumb or index finger.
  3. Apply circular pressure for 1 to 3 minutes.
  4. Repeat on the left side.

Liver 3: Great Surge

If stress could be the underlying cause of your constipation symptoms, Peirano recommends using Liver 3 (LV3) in your feet. This pressure point for constipation is said to regulate liver qi and relieve stress.

To use this point for acupressure:

  1. Locate the soft skin between your big toe and second toe.
  2. Press on the point with your thumb or index finger.
  3. Apply circular pressure for 1 to 3 minutes.
  4. Repeat on your other foot.

Large Intestine 4: Joining Valley

Like LV3, Large Intestine 4 (LI4) is used for stress. This may help constipation if your symptoms could be due to emotional stress.

To use this point for acupressure:

  1. Find the soft skin between your thumb and index finger on the top of your hand.
  2. Press on the point with your opposite thumb or index finger.
  3. Apply circular pressure and continue for 1 to 3 minutes.
  4. Repeat on your other hand.

Kidney 6: Shining Sea

Kidney 6 (KI6) is an acupressure point on the foot used to induce bowel movements. According to TCM, it can ease constipation by promoting fluid production.

To use this point for acupressure:

  1. Find the KI6 point below your inner ankle bone.
  2. Press on the point with your thumb or index finger.
  3. Apply circular pressure for 1 to 3 minutes.
  4. Repeat on your other foot.

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