The Subject of Bowel Movements may seem strange and unusual to write
about, but for your health and well-being nothing should be held back.
Having healthy cleansing of the body is not only good for you physically
but it can affect you mentally and emotionally. Who doesn't feel
lighter after a nice royal throne relief session? In Chinese medicine
all aspects of our bodily functions are questioned and recorded to
assess the health of the patient and any imbalances the patient might be
experiencing. The movement of the bowels and whether the patient has an
issue of constipation or diarrhea is important in assessing patients. Many
patients are not well educated on how many times they should go to the bathroom
a day. Some patients have a bowel movement one time a day and assume that they
have no issues of constipation. Some patients have a bowel movement one time a
week and assume that they are not constipated.
Many patients are surprised when an Acupuncturist wants to treat them
for constipation based on their bowel frequencies. Modern western research and
literature on the subject is also at a loss as to what is deemed a normal
frequency. Only in the ancient texts are we given a guideline to measure the
basic frequency. In Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary it states: Defecation- 1. The removal of impurities, 2.
The evacuation of fecal material from the rectum. But it does not clarify how
many times it should occur in a human or animal species. There is no
mention of frequency or amount of fecal material to be expelled; it only states
that it is necessary to remove the impurities. In Merck’s Manual in the section under Diarrhea and
Constipation: it states: No body function
is more variable and subject to extraneous influences than is defecation.
Normal bowel habits very considerably from person to person, being modified by
age, individual physiologic factors, and dietary, social, and cultural
patterns. In an urban civilization, normal bowel frequency ranges from 2 to 3
per day to 2 to 3 per week. Changes in stool frequency, consistency, or volume,
or blood, mucus, pus, or excess fatty material (e.g. oil, grease, film) in the
stool may indicatedisease.
Merck’s again has no set amount or frequency only an outcome of what to expect
if a disease pattern has manifested. But, to avoid disease it is necessary to
avoid the pattern or be aware of the pattern that would result in disease in
the first place. One interesting aspect of it that is mentioned is “In an urban civilization” i.e. a
reference to urbanization and the change in our dietary habits. In the LingShu, 32. The
Balanced Man and Starvation it states: The full stomach causes the intestines
to empty. The full intestines cause the qi to move up and down, which settles
and pacifies the five viscera. The blood, veins, and arteries will be
harmonized and smooth. The seminal essence and spirit will be the water and
grains. Consequently, the center of the intestines and stomach can at that
point hold from these grains two dou, and of water, one dou five shen. Thus,
the balanced man twice a day can eliminate two shen and one-half. For one
entire day, five shen. In seven days, five times seven, or three dou and five
shen, which means the amount detained from water and grains is completely
drained. The LingShu states both volume and a basic frequency of
defecation. If a patient is having at least two bowel movements a day it is
safe to say they are at the minimal amount expected. In the Nanjing the 43 Difficult Issue; Huang Ti asks: When someone does not eat or drink, that
person will die after seven days. Why is that so? (2) It is like this. Under
regular circumstances, one’s stomach contains two pecks of grains and one pec
and five pints of water. Hence a normal person will go to the latrine twice a
day, each time passing two and a half pints. In the course of one day he passes
five pints. In Seven days—five times seven—[this adds up to] three pecks and
five pints, [leading to] complete exhaustion of water and grains. The
measurements in; Paul Unschuld’s Nan Ching, are given in modern terms and gives
a more accurate volume according to modern standards. In the research about defecation and bowel movements, there
is no definite number of times a day that is specified, nor is there a specific
frequency. Although one of the side affects of some medication can be constipation
and one of the symptoms of depression is constipation. In fact constipation has
many etiologies from dietary and emotional causes to physical, as stated in
Merck‘s Manual. One of the reasons it is possibly difficult for modern medicine
to give an accurate frequency and rate is the changes in modern society’s
diet. Originally, in the time that the
Ling Shu and Nanjing were comprised the Asian diet was different. It consisted
mostly of lean meat, vegetables and fruits. The present Asian diet consists of
a large amount of complex carbohydrates, and the Western diet is one of the
worst in the modern world filled with fats, sugars, salt and triglycerides from
mostly processed and fast foods. As Acupuncturist it is important to advise patients on
lifestyle modifications such as diet and exercise and how to mix foods
together. I stress the importance of eating fresh organic vegetables, fruits
and meats with a minimal amount of grains. Dr. Robert Chu L.A.c. QME author of Master
Tung’s Acupuncture for Allergies, Autoimmune Disorders, and Cancer Treatment A
quick clinical reference for Acupuncturist lecture Notes, recommends as
part of his acupuncture protocols to include points on the stomach channel
ST34, 36, 37 with Stomach 37’s principle action being to move the bowels. As
Dr. Chu stated in his literature “Everyone feels better after a bowel movement.” When
a patient comes in for depression and constipation, I concentrate their
treatment on the constipation, with acupuncture, massage and herbs. The result is they time and time again state how
much better they feel. My patients many times ask me what is normal and I
advise them that they should have as many bowel movements as times they eat
food. After finishing my research on the subject matter,
I am confident I am on the right path in line with the ancients. I make sure
that my patients are having at least two bowel movements a day and prefer they
have as many bowel movements as they eat. References: 1) Dorland’s
Illustrated Medical Dictionary 24th Edition W.B. Saunders
Company Philadelphia and London copyright 1900-1968 page 390 2) Berkow,
Robert M.D.,: Merck’s Manual, 16th Edition, Merck’s Research
Laboratories, Division of Merck & Co., Inc. Rahway, N.J. 1992 pg. 809
section 54. 3) Wu
Jing-Nuan: Ling Shu or The Spiritual Pivot Asian Spirituality, Taoist
Studies Series, The Taoist Center, Washington D.C. copyright 1993 University of
Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii pgs. 130-131 4) Unschuld,Paul:
Nan-Ching, The Classic Of Difficult Issues University of California
Press Berkeley, Los Angeles, London 1986 pg. 425 5) Chu,
Robert PhD. L.A.c. QME: Master Tung’s Acupuncture for Allergies, Autoimmune
Disorders, and Cancer Treatment, A Quick Clinical Reference for Acupuncturists
Lecture Notes Revision 3.0 Medicine Dharma Healing Center July 2013 |
 |
|||||
 
CategoriesArthritisAuricular Medicine Cardiology Chinese Medical Foundation Coming Events Cultural Diabetes Digestion Dry Needling Fertility Fibromyalgia Geriatric Health And Beauty Herbal Medicine Hypertension Infectious Diseases Insurance Introduction to Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine ITP Lyme Disease Massage Men's Health Mind/Spirit Multiple Sclerosis Pain Management Pediatrics Recipes for Health Respiratory Issues Scientific Research Sleep Special Annoncements for Medi-Cal Stroke Testimonials Weight Loss Women's Health |
|
 |
|||
    |
|||||
