Acupressure Points for Constipation – Our Little Secret Home Remedies

Acupressure Points for Constipation Our Little Secret:

When it comes to constipation many of us have experienced it at some point in our lives, however, it is not something that we like to talk about and is a little secret. Many people have constant constipation which causes great pain. There are some natural ways that one can use to help with constipation relief and that is by using certain acupressure points for constipation relief.

Many people need to take regular medication to keep their bowels moving and in many cases, constipation is caused by the foods they eat. Constipation many characterized as missing a bowel movement less than 3 times a week, in actuality, it has dissimilar meanings for diverse people.

Acupressure Points for Constipation:

Some refer to it as difficulty passing a stool while others associate it with an irregular bowel movement. For others, they know it as Irritable Bowel Syndrome or the more common word diarrhea. Constipation one can find in both young and old and one can use acupressure therapy as an effectual way to get the bowels moving naturally.

Acupressure Points for Constipation Infographic:

How One Can Prevent Constipation:

There are some key factors one can do in combination with acupressure therapy to help prevent constipation and they are:

• Drinking at least six to eight glasses of water a day and a good rule for staying hydrated when adding fiber to your diet
• Get in enough fiber while eating foods from fruits, grains to vegetables as it is critical for a bowel movement, providing better bowel movement remember to add fiber gradually as it could cause a gassy or bloated feeling
• Exercise regularly
• Add those veggies and make sandwiches with roasted veggies or add a salad instead of eating fries with your meal
• Replace your white bread, white pasta, and white rice with grains
• Replace your meat with bean dishes at least once or twice a week

The Best Acupressure Points for Constipation:

The following acupressure points for constipation help you to get better and one does not need to use them all simultaneously. One can only use one or two of these pressure points when one has a free hand and effective.

Joining the Valley or Large Intestine 4 (LI4)

The Joining the Valley or Large Intestine 4 pressure points need, avoided by a pregnant woman as it could cause premature contractions in the uterus. One finds this acupressure point at the highest spot on the muscle on the back of your hand when the thumb and index fingers are brought close together.

Here one can apply pressure for one to two minutes while taking deep breaths. One needs to apply pressure to both hands. In addition, helps with constipation relief, toothaches, arthritis, labor pain, headaches, eye problems, allergies, and chronic pain.

The Crooked Pond or Large Intestine 11 (LI11)

For a quick cure to constipation, one can apply pressure to the Crooked Pond or LI11 which is a powerful trigger point. One finds this pressure point on the outer side of the elbow crease. One needs to apply firm pressure to this point for one minute while breathing deeply.

Switch your hands and stimulate the same point found on the other arm. It helps with reducing fever, indigestion, skin diseases, heat stroke, and constipation.

Center of Power or the Conception Vessel 12 (CV12)

The Center of Power or CV 12 is another important point for curing digestive problems. One finds this reflexology point on the midline of your body, situated halfway between the base of the breastbone and your belly button. One should stimulate this pressure point with care for only two minutes and not more.

One needs to apply pressure to this point on an empty stomach and people who are suffering from cancer, heart disease, or hypertension should avoid this acupressure point. It helps ease abdominal spasms, indigestion, emotional stress, jaundice, vomiting, insomnia, heartburn, and constipation.

The Sea of Qi or Conception Vessel 6 (CV6)

One can find the Sea of Qi points three-finger-width below your belly button. Here one needs to stimulate this pressure point by using your fingertips. Do not press more than one inch deep and will feel a firm object when pressing. Maintain this pressure for only 30 seconds while breathing deeply and best to close your eyes. This Acupoint is great for relieving:

• Pain in the abdomen
• Constipation
• Gas
• Hernia treatment
• Menstruation that is irregular
• Fatigue
• Digestive disorders
• And impotence in men

The Three Mile Point or Stomach 36 (ST36)

Another beneficial point is the Three Mile Point or ST36 to help relieve constipation, and intestinal disorders strengthen the whole body, and promote indigestion. One finds this acupressure point situated 4 finger widths below your kneecap and one finger width towards the outside of your shinbone. When applying pressure to the correct spot you will feel some flexing of your muscles as you move your foot up and down. Here you need to apply pressure by using your palms and doing a brisk rub for one minute on both of your legs.

This point is useful as it helps with:

• Pre-Menstrual Stress
• Nervousness
• Insomnia
• Strengthens the whole body
• Relieves intestinal disorders
• Aids digestion
• Constipation

The Inner Gate Point or Pericardium 6 (PC6):

One can find the Inner Gate Point or PC6 on the medial portion of your hand by using 4 finger widths below your wrist and found in the hollow between the tendons. One needs to stimulate this point by pressing it for one minute and switching over to the opposite arm. This pressure point one also used for treating motion sickness, nausea, headache, upset stomach, asthma, chest tightness, angina, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Use these acupressure Points for Constipation and Live Healthy:

By using these acupressure points for constipation relief and applying healthy eating habits while doing enough exercise, relieving constipation will go a long way. It may just help to rid your body of using medicines and laxatives to keep your bowels moving in a healthy natural way!

Home Remedies for Constipation

What causes constipation? Interesting question as most people suffers from constipation in their life. To answer the question, it is when you do not have frequent bowel movements, that the feces become hard and difficult to pass. Sometimes it can cause bleeding or a sensation of feeling full.

In some cases, constipation can alternate with diarrhea followed by abdominal cramps. In severe cases, it can lead to rectal problems and hemorrhoids. The colon function varies from one person to another. You can have a bowel movement three times a day to twice a week and is normal as long as the stool passes through the system.

A fact is that there are different reasons you can suffer from constipation and first is due to the lack of fiber. You need to get in 30 grams per day. Another reason is that you are not getting enough fluids. Further, stress, medication, digestive disease, and colon cancer can also play a role.

So if you want to prevent living this painful experience make sure to read on.

Which Foods Cause Constipation

As mentioned before to prevent being constipated you need to get in your daily fiber and fluids. However, certain foods can cause constipation. The best is to avoid eating them if you suffer from the condition on a regular basis.

• Unripe Bananas – while eating a ripe banana prevents constipation an unripe one causes the opposite effect. The problem is the fruit contains starch and is harder for the body to digest. The resistant starch converts to natural sugar during the ripening process making it easier to take in. Further, it contains tannins that reduce the speed at which food moves through your gut.
• Alcohol – who would have thought it, could cause an irregular bowel movement? When consuming large amounts of it the alcohol increases the fluids, you lose through urinating, and you become dehydrated. Losing too much water increases the risk of you suffering from constipation. The effects vary from one person to another as some people find they get diarrhea.
• Gluten – the nutrients found in grains, barley, rye, and more. Some people are sensitive to foods containing gluten as their immune system attacks their gut and need to follow a gluten-free diet. If you find that gluten irritates your bowels, visit your doctor to check if you may have celiac disease.
• Processed Grains – white bread, white rice, and white pasta contains processed grains. What happens are the bran and germ parts removed during the process? The fibers found in the bran offer you what you need to prevent constipation. Try to reduce your intake of processed grain and replace it gradually with whole grains.
• Dairy Products – is another culprit causing constipation for some people. Recent studies show that kids aged one to twelve suffer from chronic constipation as they drink a lot of cow’s milk. Once you replace the milk with soymilk, constipation
• Red Meat – the meat contains little fiber and reduces your daily intake of fiber. Further, beef comprises more fat and takes longer for your body to digest.

Which Foods Cause Constipation in Babies

If your child is on formula and eating solids, they should have a regular bowel movement once a day. However, if your babies are breastfed, bowel movements can vary from once a day to once a week. However, what causes constipation in babies? The chance is that your baby is on formula and something in it is causing them to become constipated.

As babies who breastfeed get a perfect balance of protein and fat their stools are softer even when they have not had one for days. You can try to switch out the brand to see if it makes a difference. Another cause is when they start eating solid foods. The rice cereal can cause constipation, as it is low in fiber.

One more reason is when you start weaning them off breast milk and leads to dehydration. As with adults, infants need to get in the correct amount of fluids and not overeat on processed grains, red meat, dairy products, and gluten. To help relieve the problem you can add some prune, apple, and pear juice to their diet.

Foods to Avoid:

• Too much rice
• Bananas
• Cooked carrots

Frequently Questions Asked About Constipation

1. Can constipation cause back pain?

If you are suffering from constipation and have lower back pain, the two can go hand-in-hand. However, if you have a spinal cord injury or irritable bowel syndrome, it is best to have it checked out.

2. Can constipation cause fever?

In normal circumstances, it cannot cause fever, but the reason for getting it can. Some underlying causes related to constipation are bacterial, parasitic, and viral infections.

3. Can constipation cause headaches?

When you have a straining bowel movement, it can result in a headache. Further, not eating right and low blood sugar also leads to head pain. If you suffer from both simultaneously, it is best to have it checked. Other conditions may cause the problem.

4. Does constipation cause heartburn?

Heartburn is an acid reflux known as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease.) When you are on medication to treat the problem, it could cause constipation. However, it does not cause heartburn.

Does Constipation Cause Weight Gain

Not having regular bowel movements can cause belly fat, love handles, and wobbly bits. The reason is that constipation causes inflammation and toxins in your system. With these two together, it affects weight loss in different ways.

• Garbage Makes Toxic –the waste materials are reabsorbed into the body and lead to toxic build-up if you do not have a regular bowel movement
• Bacteria Overgrowth – when you strain to push out poop bowel pockets develop in the colon. The reduced muscle contraction in the walls causes a food buildup that rots. This ferment causes the growth of pathogens that produce toxins and lead to inflammation in the gut.
• Leaky Gut & Inflammation – the intestinal lining becomes leaky and food, toxins, and proteins that are undigested pass through into your bloodstream. In turn, your immune system cranks up inflammation and affects the health of organs in the body. By doing this, it leads to insulin resistance and obesity.
• Blood Sugar Imbalance – if you have inflammation it blocks the insulin receptors and becomes resistant to insulin. This makes it challenging to convert the calories into energy and accumulate fat. Common signs are weight gain and belly fat.
• Thyroid Health – the problem is with constipation causing inflammation in the body not cleared of hormones such as estrogen. The levels of estrogen rise and decrease the thyroid hormone in the body. For your thyroid to be healthy, you need a healthy gut which leads to slow metabolism, constipation, and weight gain.

When is Constipation Dangerous

Constipation is uncomfortable and a short-term problem you can resolve at home. However, it can become dangerous when the feces become hard and lodged in your rectum. It can lead to bleeding and obstruct the bowel. If you experience the following, you need to get immediate help:

• You have unbearable abdominal pain and can be a more significant issue such as your appendices or the bowel being obstructed.
• When you start vomiting because of constipation is a sign of feces impaction as it blocks the colon and causes vomiting. You need to get medical attention immediately.
• Your stomach is bloated and painful for more than a couple of days.
• When you notice blood in your stool, something is causing the rectal bleeding—another notable thing is if your feces is maroon and tarry in color.
• You remain constipated for longer than two weeks.

Final Thoughts

The important thing is to keep an eye on your constipation, as it may be the result of something bigger. However, by following a healthy diet and cutting out certain foods can help relieve the problem. Make sure to drink loads of fluid to prevent dehydration and get proper exercise. If you do find that you continuously have the problem make sure to visit the doctor and have it checked out.