Chinese Medicine
and Acupuncture
for CONSTIPATION
Written by Matt Boyle • Melbourne, Australia • July 10, 2025
What is constipation?
Constipation is the infrequent passage of stools or difficulty with evacuation of stools. It can encompass a variety of symptoms including hard or dry stools, straining, a sensation of blockage, incomplete evacuation, and abdominal discomfort and bloating. Medically speaking, constipation is typically defined as fewer than three bowel motions per week, with severe constipation being defined as less than one bowel motion per week.
Occasional constipation is quite common and can arise in response to changes in routine, changes in diet, acute illness, or medications. Chronic constipation occurs when two or more of the above symptoms have persisted for longer than three months.
In Chinese medicine, ‘normal’ constitutes having at least one unforced bowel motion per day with stools that are formed, roughly cyclindrical, light-brown in colour, and a few inches long.
Chinese medicine for constipation
This article looks at how constipation is viewed and treated through a Chinese medical lens. While the following list is not exhaustive of the full range of Chinese medical diagnoses, the following represents the more common broad pathologies encountered in clinical practise. A concise example of a potential acupuncture point combination and representative herb for the given pathomechanism are also provided.
The differing acupuncture points and herbs described for the same condition (constipation) emphasise the importance of understanding the Chinese medicine pathomechanism involved when treating constipation in Chinese medicine. In clinical practise however things are typically not so clear cut, and the role of the Chinese medical physician is to ascertain the relative importance and interplay between these pathomechanisms.
HEAT
Da Huang
CHINESE MEDICINE DIAGNOSIS
Excess heat scorches the fluids and dries out the large intestine, with insufficient moisture inhibiting the movement and descent of the stool. The key feature of this type of constipation is dry and hard stools (which are often pellet-like).
ACUPUNCTURE FOR CONSTIPATION
Large Intestine 11 + Stomach 37
LI11, the he-sea point of the Large Intestine, is one of the principal points in the body to clear heat and fire, and in combination with the lower he-sea point of the Large Intestine (ST37), the two have a powerful affect on clearing heat from, and regulating, the bowel.
CHINESE MEDICINE FOR CONSTIPATION
Da Huang
Da Huang is regarded as a strong purgative in Chinese medicine, and strongly drains heat and descends qi through the bowels. It serves as a key constituent in the well known constipation formulas Da Cheng Qi Tang and Ma Zi Ren Wan. The strength of this herb’s purgative action mean that it must be prescribed with care and caution for deficient patients; it is not a herb to trial on your own.
Qi stagnation
Zhi Shi
CHINESE MEDICINE DIAGNOSIS
This type of constipation is characterised by compromised peristaltic movement through the intestines. The genesis of this type of constipation gets a little more nuanced to Chinese doctors, however the key clinical feature is the desire to defecate but difficulty in doing so, with a feeling of incomplete (or not satisfying) evacuation, and pebble-like stools.
ACUPUNCTURE FOR CONSTIPATION
Sanjiao 6 + Gallbladder 34
SJ6 is a major point for moving qi in the intestines, and together with GB34, these points free the flow of qi (course the shaoyang) to address constipation.
CHINESE MEDICINE FOR CONSTIPATION
Zhi Shi
Zhi Shi is the dried fruit of the immature (unripe) bitter orange. It enters the Large Intestine, Spleen, and Stomach channels, and strongly moves and regulates qi, directs qi downward, and unblocks the bowels. It is used in the two formulas mentioned above for heat constipation, as an assistant herb to help the propulsion of the stool by moving qi.
Phlegm
Bai Zhu (Sheng)
CHINESE MEDICINE DIAGNOSIS
Phlegm causes constipation by blocking the qi dynamic (and the descent of large intestine qi). This type of constipation tends to be quite chronic, with sluggish stools that may contain mucus, and a feeling of lightness or clear-headedness after evacuation.
ACUPUNCTURE FOR CONSTIPATION
Stomach 40 + Spleen 15
ST40, the luo-connecting point of the Stomach, is one of the principal acupuncture points in the body to transform phlegm. SP15, which lies at the lateral border of the rectus abdominis level with the navel, moves qi and regulates the intestines, being used principally for constipation in clinical practise. Together they transform phlegm to unblock the bowels.
CHINESE MEDICINE FOR CONSTIPATION
Bai Zhu (Sheng)
Bai Zhu is one of the principal herbs in the Chinese pharmacopoeia to strengthen the Spleen and dry dampness (and phlegm). Dry-frying Bai Zhu enhances its ability to strengthen the Spleen and tonify qi, and can actually be used in this form to treat loose stools and diarrhoea. In its raw variety however (Sheng) it can be used, even by itself, for constipation due to Spleen deficiency and phlegm-dampness.
Qi deficiency
Huang Qi
CHINESE MEDICINE DIAGNOSIS
Unlike the qi stagnation type of constipation where there is a compromised, or hesitant, peristaltic movement through the intestines, in the qi deficiency type of constipation there is a weakness in the body’s ability to promote downward movement through the intestines (i.e. to push). The key feature of this type of constipation is a weakness in the propulsion of the stool through the intestines, with much straining required, and often a feeling of fatigue or breathlessness afterwards.
ACUPUNCTURE FOR CONSTIPATION
Stomach 36 + Stomach 25
ST36 is arguably the strongest point in the body to tonify the qi and fortify the Spleen (strengthen weakness). ST25 is the front mu point of the Large Intestine and plays an important role in regulating the intestines. Combining ST36 with ST25 provides the large intestine with the strength it needs to propel downward movement through the bowels.
CHINESE MEDICINE FOR CONSTIPATION
Huang Qi
Huang Qi, astragalus, is the second most powerful qi tonic in the Chinese materia medica after the different varieties of ginseng. As relates to constipation Huang Qi is used to strongly build qi so that the body has sufficient strength to propel movement through the Large Intestine. It is not a go-to herb for constipation in and of itself, but can be used effectively when used in a formula with other herbs that specifically target the bowels.
Yang deficiency
Rou Cong Rong
CHINESE MEDICINE DIAGNOSIS
This pathology is somewhat of an extension of the qi deficiency type of constipation, with the addition of greater feelings of exhaustion following defecation and generalised symptoms of coldness.
ACUPUNCTURE FOR CONSTIPATION
Du 4 + Bladder 25
DU4, known as Mingmen, plays an important role in tonifying and warming the ministerial fire and yang qi of the body (particularly when treated with moxa). Combining this yang qi fortifying point with the back-shu point of the Large Intestine (BL25) provides the necessary warmth and motive force to activate the bowels.
CHINESE MEDICINE FOR CONSTIPATION
Rou Cong Rong
Rou Cong Rong enters the Kidney and Large Intestine channel and is regarded as a herb that tonifies the Kidney yang. It has the unique ability to warm the yang without being drying, and to moisten the intestines without purging. It is an extremely useful herb for deficiency constipation.
Blood deficiency
Dang Gui
CHINESE MEDICINE DIAGNOSIS
When blood is deficient the intestines lose the necessary moisture to maintain sufficient lubrication, leading to dry pellet-like stools. This type of constipation is typically found in postpartum women, following haemorrhage/blood loss, or long-term illness that has damaged the blood.
ACUPUNCTURE FOR CONSTIPATION
Bladder 17 + Spleen 6
BL17 is known as the Hui-meeting point of Blood and plays a role in the regulation and production of Blood in the body. SP6 is also an often used point to strengthen the Spleen and its production of Blood. Together they reinforce the Blood to provide moisture and lubrication to the bowel.
CHINESE MEDICINE FOR CONSTIPATION
Dang Gui
Dang Gui is one of the most important herbs in the entire Chinese pharmacopoeia for nourishing and moving the blood. Its Blood nourishing properties allow it to moisten the large intestine to combat dry constipation. Dang Gui is a commonly used herb after childbirth to replenish depleted Blood, and is often used in formulas for postpartum constipation.
Yin deficiency
Hei Zhi Ma
CHINESE MEDICINE DIAGNOSIS
Constipation in the case of yin deficiency involves a dryness of the intestines from a lack of yin fluids. This type of constipation is colloquially referred to in Chinese medicine as a case of not enough water to float the boat. Yin deficiency stools are dry, like sheep or rabbit droppings. This type of constipation is often associated with ageing and is commonly seen in the elderly.
ACUPUNCTURE FOR CONSTIPATION
Kidney 6 + Bladder 23
KD6 nourishes the source of the body’s yin in the Kidneys. BL23 is the back-shu point of the Kidney and is one of the principal points in the body to strengthen the Kidneys, nourish the yin, and fortify the essence.
Together they nourish the yin of the body to provide adequate yin fluids to the intestines to prevent constipation related to dryness.
CHINESE MEDICINE FOR CONSTIPATION
Hei Zhi Ma
Hei Zhi Ma, black sesame seeds, are considered a yin tonic which also support the blood and jing. Hei Zhi Ma’s blood and yin nourishing qualities give it the ability to moisten the intestines and promote bowel movements. Hei Zhi Ma is quite gentle and well suited for constipation in the elderly.