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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 10, 2026

Acupoint Application Combined with Acupoint Massage for Treating Constipation in a Patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
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Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Chronic Constipation.

Xinjun Wang1, Jieyun Yin2

  • 1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA ; 2nd Clinic Medical School, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China.

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : Ecam
|June 12, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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This review suggests acupuncture and herbal medicine effectively treat chronic constipation. More research is needed to confirm the efficacy of massage and moxibustion for constipation relief.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Integrative Medicine
  • Traditional Chinese Medicine

Background:

  • Chronic constipation is a widespread and costly condition affecting many individuals.
  • Complementary and alternative therapies are commonly sought for constipation management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and evaluate various complementary and alternative therapies for chronic constipation.
  • To assess the efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of these interventions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of complementary and alternative therapies including acupuncture, moxibustion, massage, and herbal medicine.
  • Evaluation of study quality, efficacy, safety, and proposed mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Acupuncture or electroacupuncture and herbal medicine show promising efficacy for constipation.

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  • Findings for massage and moxibustion remain inconclusive.
  • Acupuncture/electroacupuncture is the most frequently used therapy among those reviewed.

    • Conclusions:

    • Acupuncture/electroacupuncture and herbal medicine appear effective for chronic constipation.
    • Further high-quality clinical trials are necessary to validate these findings and explore mechanisms.
    • Massage and moxibustion require more investigation.