A review published in Zhongguo Zhen Jiu (January 2012; 31(1):92–96) evaluated 15 clinical studies examining acupuncture and moxibustion in individuals with constipation. The combined studies included more than 1,000 participants.
Across the reviewed studies, changes were reported in several outcome measures, including abdominal discomfort, time required for defecation, and overall symptom scores. In some comparisons, these outcomes differed from those reported with standard medical treatment. More on acupuncture.
