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You’re not ‘stuck’ with constipation if you try this
Constipation is a serious matter…
Because when you’re constipated, your body is bogged down with extra wastes it should be releasing. And that puts you at risk for health problems like hemorrhoids, incontinence, rectal prolapse, diverticulosis or worse.
So what are you to do if you’ve been dealing with clogged pipes for months or even years? You’ve probably already tried laxatives only to discover they can make the problem worse because your body learns to depend on them to “go.” And dangerous diuretics can deplete your body of potassium.
Well, if you had clogged pipes at your house, you’d call a plumber, right? You may not realize this, but you can do that for your body too.
There’s a natural health practitioner that can act as your body’s plumber — an acupuncturist. And he or she comes with 5,000 years of Traditional Chinese Medicine in his back pocket. That’s how long acupuncture has been practiced and perfected.
Like many other researched benefits, an acupuncturist can clear out blockages in your pipes or other parts of your body. Want proof?
The latest study from researchers at 15 hospitals in China found that acupuncture significantly improves severe, chronic constipation.
This study included 1,075 participants who had difficult and infrequent bowel movements with no obvious cause like a disease or medication. These people were having two or fewer bowel movements per week, so their constipation was serious.
Researchers split participants into two groups. One group received electro-acupuncture — acupuncture that includes electrical stimulation. And the other group received sham acupuncture, where acupuncturists insert shallow needles at points that aren’t real acupuncture points.
After eight weeks, 31 percent of people in the electro-acupuncture group saw an improvement in their bowel movements — they were going three times or more per week. But only 12 percent of people in the sham acupuncture group saw any improvement.
And you know what’s even more amazing? Participants from the study were still experiencing the benefits of acupuncture on their bowels months after they stopped receiving it.
When researchers checked back with them after 12 weeks, 38 percent of the electro-acupuncture patients were now having three or more bowel movements per week. So the effects of the acupuncture grew even more powerful with time!
Dr. Jia Liu, a study author and research team coordinator, suspects this happened for two reasons:
- Electro-acupuncture is known for having a good sustained effect.
- Electro-acupuncture takes time to take effect. And the effect was just starting to peak when the eight-week study ended.
Of course, acupuncture isn’t a quick fix. It takes some time to work. And if your constipation is chronic and severe, I’m sure you’re eager to get your pipes flowing again ASAP. In that case, you should also try:
- Drinking plenty of water. Your mom probably told you it would help you go, and she was right.
- Eating more fiber. Get at least 50 grams of fiber with each 1,000 calories you eat. It sounds like a lot. But if you’re chronically constipated, there’s a good chance you’re getting way too little. If you’re having a hard time getting your fiber from your food, you can also try taking an organic psyllium supplement.
- Taking magnesium and aloe vera supplements. Both of these are potent natural laxatives that can get your pipes flowing in no time.
- If you feel you need to take something to help you “go,” look for a colon support supplement that contains natural gentle ingredients like slippery elm and senna leaf.
- Switching up your pooping posture. Some people believe the human body is designed to poop in a squatting rather than a sitting posture, which creates a kink in your colon and prevents you from eliminating completely. If you want to test this theory out for yourself, try a squatty potty to see if it provides relief. Or just keep a short footstool in your restroom.
For more on alleviating constipation, see what our doctors recommend:
- Don’t let constipation ruin your health
- Constipation: The other intestinal disease
- Escape constipation, naturally
- Eliminate constipation
Editor’s note: Did you know that when you take your body from acid to alkaline you can boost your energy, lose weight, soothe digestion, avoid illness and achieve wellness? Click here to discover The Alkaline Secret to Ultimate Vitality and revive your life today!
Sources:
- Zhishun, et al. “Acupuncture for Chronic Severe Functional Constipation: A Randomized, Controlled Trial.” — Annals of Internal Medicine, Sept. 2016.
- “Constipation May Lead to Other Problems.” — U.S. News & World Report. http://health.usnews.com. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
- “Natural Constipation Remedies You Should Know About.” — Mercola.com. http://articles.mercola.com.