This is the first in a series of blog posts about the most common problems people tell us about when they come for acupuncture
The first most common problem is constipation.
Forty two million Americans report having constipation, so it’s no surprise we hear about it as often as we do. Constipation is a condition where someone has “difficulty emptying the bowels.” Simply put, constipation is struggling to poop. If you’re not pooping at least once every 3 days, you’re constipated. And whether it be having no urgency to go, or difficulty passing stool, having pain and straining when you do, or even insufficient output, constipation is also linked to other discomforts. Things like headaches, back pain, bad breath, abdominal pain, loss of appeitite, hemorrhoids, a host of intestinal conditions like diverticulosis, and even tight shoulders are caused by constipation.
Self Care Tips
There’s a lot of self help tips out there. Here’s some of our favorites for getting things moving:
- Get regular acupuncture
- Drink water
- Eat enough soluble fiber: Oatmeal has the highest soluble fiber of any food. Really!
- Breathe deeply
- Try to relieve stress
- Eat lacto-fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchi, or take a probiotic
- Rub your belly: it’s called “Abdominal Massage”
- Poop in the proper posture. Yes! there’s a structural, and thus postural, component to effective elimination! Here’s more info
Squatty Potties are special designed stools that position the user into optimal squatting posture. (And when not in use they tuck out of the way.) Intrigued? You can order a Squatty Potty stool through our website. To get the best discounts, select one of the “Buy It Now” products below. Want a different look for your loo? There’s more products to see and choose from on the Squatty Potty website.
More Info
Belly Rubs: Nursing Article on Abdominal Massage
Home Remedies for Constipation Relief
Medical Studies on Pooping Posture and Constipation
Biomechanics of Poop Posture. What?
And the infamous video with more than 130 million views...
