Research Progress on Acupuncture Treatment for Chronic Constipation

Abstract

The prevalence of chronic constipation is on the rise, significantly impacting patients' quality of life and work efficiency. Acupuncture therapy, with its advantages of convenience, safety, and holistic regulation, has become an important clinical intervention for this condition and is increasingly widely applied. This paper systematically reviews clinical research literature on acupuncture treatment for chronic constipation over the past decade, focusing on acupoint combination patterns, distinctive acupuncture and moxibustion techniques (such as ear acupoint seed therapy, acupoint injection, floating needles, and subcutaneous needle implantation), and explorations of efficacy mechanisms (such as regulating gastrointestinal motility, visceral sensitivity, and brain-gut axis function). The aim is to comprehensively present the current research progress and clinical application status, providing evidence-based evidence and reference ideas for optimizing acupuncture clinical practice protocols and further exploring its mechanisms of action.