While people still remain in doubt on whether acupuncture is an effective way of handling diseases and other bodily complications, the National Health Service of the United Kingdom, the United States National Institutes of Health, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and the World Health Organization, have endorsed acupuncture as one of the most effective forms of alternative medicine used in curing a number of ailments. Apparently, acupuncture, the most popular and famous Chinese medicine is among the most widely used remedies globally Anders, E. F., (Findeisen et al, 2012). Considering that the remedy emphasizes on the use of Qi, a Chinese belief that there are some balances and flow of energies that keep the body in good shape, health wise, it may be difficult to understand just how the concept is applicable to constipation, a problem involving bowel movements.
Acupuncture as a remedy, involves the use of needles and Chinese herbs. The needles are pierced into the skin of an individual and it is believed that when the skin is thus pierced, in the manner described by the experts of the same, the body balances are restored, and the energies flow well in what the Chinese medicine experts refer to as body meridians. Apparently, talking of constipation, the experts of acupuncture think and argue that it is an easy ailment to deal with. According to the Chinese medicine experts, acupuncture is the indisputable cure for constipation as such a remedy works in a few hours (Broide et al, 2007). Unlike the allopathic medicine which may take up to a day to relief one from the pain, acupuncture work fast. The effectiveness of acupuncture can be explained by the fact that correcting the energy flow in the colon and lung meridian is simple as the region is not a complicated one.
According to the Chinese experts, constipation is caused by improper flow of the natural energies and balances. While they may not explain how exactly this comes about, they understand that such things as Chinese herbs, taken in water and massaged into the body of an individual will always restore the balances through affecting the central nervous system and other energy channels of the body. It is important to mention that the central nervous system is connected to the entire body (Findeisen et al, 2012). Essentially, therefore, the pain of the pin pricking affects all parts of the body through a series of transmissions in the central nervous system. Perhaps this is an explanation of how acupuncture helps heal the problem of constipation. The effectiveness of acupuncture in constipation is something that has been tried in a number of studies and found valid. The studies indicated that the method was helpful in solving constipation in people of all ages.
In sampling the participants, the researchers picked children with chronic constipation, majorly those with a condition referred to as hospital induced constipation. Such children were subjected to over-the-counter drugs and after twenty four hours, not much change had been observed. As a control experiment, other children with the same condition were subjected to acupuncture at the same time. After six hours, the children under the acupuncture remedy were found to be fine. The bowel movements were in order and the swelling of the stomach was not there anymore. Talking of effectiveness, it does not just refer to the fact that the remedy can heal, but also to the actuality that the patient gets better fast. Apparently, the acupuncture treatment has been found to be effective in healing very many ailments, especially those associated with bodily pain.
According to the experts in the field of offering acupuncture, the main causes of constipation revolve around lifestyle – in the case of chronic constipation. What this means is that constipation is caused by certain radical changes in the life of an individual. For instance, the Chinese acupuncture experts argue that constipation is most chronic in pregnant women, aged individuals, and those people that travel more often. According to the experts, travelling and constant movements can cause a disturbance to Qi. Such disturbance brings about imbalances or blockage in energy flow. Energy flow can be blocked at any of the body meridians. When such blockage occurs, the individual’s whole body fails to function properly as the body fluids, which control the energies, fail to follow the right channels (Broide et al, 2007).
Further effectiveness of the remedy has been associated with the actuality that acupuncture impacts on the way the body changes with respect to emotional changes. The connection between depression and constipation has been one of the most complicated things for allopathic doctors to understand. On the contrary, acupuncture doctors find it easy to understand that there is a correlation between emotional imbalances and the hormonal balances in the human body (Findeisen et al, 2012). The manner in which the body functions can be likened to a network. In a network, failure in one part of the network causes failure or defects in other parts of the network. Essentially, this means that when the emotional state of a person is not in order, the brain may not be in a position to stimulate the relevant organs to release enzymes that are necessary for digestion to take place. Failure to release enzymes causes the individual to develop bowel problems due to difficulties in movement of food as it undergoes digestion.
Apparently, the allopathic drugs cannot stimulate the body to release gastric juices that can help the body break down the food easily. This is because, in order for the body to release such fluids, the brain must be stimulated well through the central nervous system. The pin pricking practice embrace by acupuncture helps the body act fast in releasing such enzymes. It as well stimulates the brain to be active in coordinating all body functions (Yelland, 2005). This causes what acupuncture experts refer to as the balance of Qi. Prior to the piercing, the experts of acupuncture massage a person’s body using some Chinese herbs. While there still is no explanation behind the effectiveness of the herbs, there is adequate scientific evidence that massaging alone can help the bowels of an individual adjust in such a manner that there is adequate space for the much needed fluids and fiber.
Despite that fact that acupuncture is an alternative method of treatment associated with unverified claims of body balances and Chinese myths, it is substantially effective in relieving the pains caused by blockage in internal systems. Despite the differences between the way in which allopathic medicine and acupuncture work, all professionals from both sides unanimously agree to the fact that constipation is caused by lack of fiber in a diet, lack of adequate water, over eating and changes in lifestyle (Yelland, 2005). Pregnant mothers and children are the most vulnerable groups as far as constipation is concerned. The fact that they do not engage in many physical activities could be the explanation behind the phenomenon.
Research indicates that, apart from healing constipation independently, acupuncture can as well be used as a way of enhancing the effectiveness of pharmaceutical drugs. This is to say that all pharmaceutical drugs used in healing constipation will be more effective when used together with acupuncture (Xiaoming, 2006). Scientifically proven, acupuncture is a way of enhancing the effectiveness of allopathic medicine. Additionally, acupuncture has many other benefits, top on the list being the fact that it brings about mental clarity. The remedy is associated with relieving stress hence eliminating blurred thinking and unclear reasoning that may cause poor judgment. Apparently, this is a way of eliminating problems related to depression. Another primary advantage of the remedy is that, besides being effective, it is cheaper than pharmaceuticals. The method does not cost much as it does not require sophisticated material.
The effectiveness of acupuncture in healing constipation extends to reducing burning stomach. Apparently, constipation is as well associated with a burning stomach. Burning stomach can cause such serious conditions as stomach ulcers. The Chinese method cools down the burning and reduces blockages in the gut. Worth mentioning at this point is the actuality that acupuncture is not only curative but also preventive (Takahashi, 2006). This is a very important property because, fundamentally, people are more concerned about preventing pain than healing the pain. Trying to cure something can be frustrating at times, especially considering that curing is more costly and inconveniencing than healing. Summarily, therefore, acupuncture is considerably effective in healing chronic constipation.
References
Anders, E. F., Findeisen, A., Nowak, A., Rüdiger, M., & Usichenko, T. I. (2012). Acupuncture for treatment of hospital-induced constipation in children: a retrospective case series study. Acupuncture in Medicine, 30(4), 258-260.
Broide, E., Pintov, S., Portnoy, S., Barg, J., Klinowski, E., & Scapa, E. (2007). Effectiveness of acupuncture for treatment of childhood constipation. Digestive diseases and sciences, 46(6), 1270-1275.
Takahashi, T. (2006). Acupuncture for functional gastrointestinal disorders. Journal of gastroenterology, 41(5), 408-417.
Xiaoming, C. (2006). Acupuncture & moxibustion: A clinical desk reference. Cheng Xiaoming.
Yelland, S. (2005). Acupuncture in midwifery. Edinburgh: Elsevier/Books for Midwives.
