Constipation Could Signal a Deeper Bodily Imbalance–Natural Self-Care Strategies

Sep 16, 2025 - 09:58 Updated: Sep 15, 2025 - 17:20

Constipation Could Signal a Deeper Bodily Imbalance–Natural Self-Care Strategies

For years, Lin (a pseudonym), in her 70s, struggled with chronic constipation, at times going four or five days without a bowel movement. She also noticed an unusual symptom: occasional abdominal twitching that felt like her muscles were pulsing. When she sought help at a Western medical clinic, tests showed no abnormalities. Doctors told her that surgery would only be considered if an aneurysm developed, leaving her confused and without answers.

Frustrated, she turned to Dr. Li Chia-Lin, director of Taiwan’s Fuqian Chinese Medicine Clinic. Using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnostics, Li found that her issues stemmed from weakened abdominal muscles and impaired flow of vital energy (“qi”) and blood.

In TCM, “blood” refers not only to circulation but also to nourishment for tissues and organs. After a course of herbal remedies and acupressure, Lin’s constipation improved, and the unusual abdominal twitching disappeared.

Constipation is more than occasional difficulty with bowel movements—it can also signal deeper bodily imbalances.

Recognizing Constipation

In an episode of “Health 1+1,” on NTD, sister outlet of The Epoch Times, Li noted that constipation presents through symptoms such as dry, hard stools, excessive straining, prolonged bathroom time, infrequent bowel movements (fewer than three times weekly), or a feeling of incomplete or blocked evacuation.

Key contributing factors include:

Chronic stress or irritability: Disrupts the autonomic nervous system, hindering intestinal motility.
Eating spicy or greasy foods: Causes sticky, sluggish stools.
Eating cold foods or drinking cold beverages: Impairs digestion, leading to stools that are initially hard but later soft.
Nutritional deficiencies: Reduce the muscular strength needed for bowel movements.
Menopause or chronic sleep deprivation: Alter hormonal and energy balance and increase the risk of constipation.

Treatment Principles

Conventional medicine often treats constipation by focusing on the immediate problem—such as stimulating bowel movements with laxatives, increasing fiber intake, or adjusting medications.

In TCM, the goal is not just to get things moving but to restore harmony so the problem doesn’t recur.

The following are four main approaches, with practical self-care strategies:

1. Restoring Moisture and Nourishment

In TCM, “yin“ represents the body’s cooling, moistening, and restorative forces, while ”blood” includes both physical blood and its nourishing functions for tissues and organs.

Why it matters for constipation: When yin and blood are depleted—due to aging, illness, or chronic stress—the intestines become dry, making stools hard and difficult to pass.

TCM approach: Moisturizing herbal formulas, foods rich in oils such as sesame, walnuts, and flax, and rest.

Self-care approach:

Acupressure: Massage the Central Venter (“Zhongwan”), located about five finger-widths above the navel, to strengthen digestion and relieve dryness-related constipation.

Essential oils: Apply two to three drops of petitgrain, diluted in one teaspoon (5 milliliters) of carrier oil, to the abdomen in gentle clockwise circles once or twice daily to calm the body and restore hydration balance.

2. Balancing Excess Internal Heat

The “liver” system (not just the anatomical liver) governs the smooth flow of vital energy and emotions. “Liver fire” describes a state of excess internal heat, often triggered by stress, frustration, or anger.

Why it matters for constipation: When liver fire flares up, it can dry out the intestines and disrupt their rhythm, leading to dry stools and difficulty passing them.

TCM approach: Calming herbs, stress reduction, and relaxation breathing.

Self-care approach:

Acupressure: Massage the Celestial Pivot (“Tianshu”), three finger-widths to the left and right of the navel, to stimulate intestinal movement and reduce bloating.

Essential oils: Use two drops of sweet orange or mandarin diluted in carrier oil and massage over the lower abdomen before bedtime to ease nervous tension and help restore the smooth flow of qi.

3. Strengthening the Spleen and Clearing Excess Metabolic Waste

The “spleen” system (different from the physical spleen) is central to digestion and nutrient transport. “Dampness” refers to excess fluid and metabolic waste the body can’t properly process, creating heaviness and sluggishness.

Why it matters for constipation: A weak spleen system struggles to extract nutrients and move waste efficiently, leading to bloating, sticky stools, and slow bowel transit.

TCM approach: Strengthening herbs, warm cooked foods, and avoiding greasy or raw foods.

Self-care approach:

Acupressure: Stimulate the Three Miles of the Foot (“Zusanli”), four finger-widths below the outer knee, to boost digestion and gut motility.

Essential oils: Apply two to three drops of bergamot diluted in carrier oil to the abdomen in clockwise circles once daily to calm the autonomic nervous system and regulate gut rhythm.

4. Reigniting the Body’s Metabolic Spark

“Yang” is the body’s warming, activating force—like its metabolic spark. Qi is vital energy that powers all bodily functions, including intestinal movement.

Why it matters for constipation: If yang and qi are weak, metabolism slows, gut muscles lose strength, and bowel movements become infrequent and incomplete. This is common in people with cold hands and feet, fatigue, or a preference for warm drinks.

TCM approach: Warming herbs, gentle exercise, and heat therapy.

Self-care approach:

Acupressure: Massage the Gate of the Origin (“Guanyuan”), four finger-widths below the navel, to warm the body’s core energy and support regular elimination.

Essential oils: Use two to three drops of frankincense or helichrysum, diluted in carrier oil, and massage over the lower abdomen once daily to promote circulation, reduce inflammation, and support tissue repair.

Why Acupressure and Essential Oils Work

Acupressure restores vital energy and blood flow through meridians, directly improving intestinal rhythm. From a biomedical view, stimulating abdominal acupoints activates the body’s “rest and digest” system, which helps the intestines move more smoothly.

Importantly, these acupoints can be massaged together in one session, each for one to two minutes, to improve efficiency and achieve a more comprehensive rebalancing effect.

Essential oils, absorbed through the skin and inhaled through their aroma, provide both local benefits such as relaxing abdominal muscles and boosting circulation, as well as whole-body benefits like calming the nervous system and balancing hormones.

How to Apply Essential Oils Safely

Using essential oils the right way is key to getting their benefits without irritation. Follow these simple steps to apply them safely and effectively.

Dilute two to three drops of essential oil in one teaspoon (5 milliliters) of carrier oil such as jojoba, almond, or coconut oil.
Massage the oil clockwise on the abdomen for three to five minutes.
Repeat once or twice daily as needed.
Test a small patch first if you have sensitive skin.

Studies suggest that aromatherapy massage with blended essential oils can strengthen abdominal muscles, enhance gut motility, and shorten colon transit time, increasing bowel movement frequency, particularly in older people with constipation.

Common Constipation Myths

Li clarified the following common misconceptions about constipation:

1. Can drinking more water cure constipation?

While hydration supports gut health, drinking too much water may disrupt electrolyte balance, potentially worsening constipation. Li advised a tailored intake. To find your daily water needs, multiply your weight by 30 to 35 if using kilograms, or by 0.5 to 0.6 if using pounds. For example, a person weighing 60 kilograms (132 pounds) would need about 1,800 to 2,100 milliliters, or 64 to 80 ounces, of water a day.

2. Is constipation purely a gut issue?

Constipation often arises from multiple factors, including diet, lifestyle, emotional stress, muscle strength, and underlying health conditions.

3. Do probiotics resolve all constipation issues?

Probiotics may help certain types of constipation, but can worsen symptoms in those with a cold abdomen (yang deficiency).

Daily bowel movements do not always indicate the absence of constipation—stool quality and ease of passage are crucial. If symptoms persist or worsen, seek medical advice for personalized care—because, as Lin’s story shows, the real solution may lie beyond the gut.