Constipation

Q I'm a test-prep student, and whenever I get exam stress, I get constipated for a week at a time. Will it all get better once exams are over? Is there any point in getting treatment now?

A. Stress-induced constipation also becomes chronic if prolonged. Rather than waiting until exams are over, restoring your bowel rhythm now leads to faster recovery and also helps your exam condition.

Q Constipation has caused anal pain and even hemorrhoids, and my belly is always bloated and swollen. Will these get better together too?

A. Hemorrhoids and bloating caused by long-standing constipation often improve together once the constipation is resolved. When stool passes smoothly, anal strain decreases and gas retention is relieved.

Q Every morning I sit on the toilet and have to strain for 30 minutes just to barely go. What should I do in the bathroom?

A. Long straining only burdens the anus. If nothing comes out within 5–10 minutes, get up and try again after the next meal. Putting your feet on a footstool so your knees are higher than your hips makes it much easier.

Q I work an office desk job all day, can't exercise, and my constipation is bad. Is there anything I can do at the office?

A. Get up and walk lightly once an hour, and drink warm water often. Just consistently taking a 5-minute walk after lunch and massaging your belly revives bowel movement.

Q I'm one month postpartum and my constipation is very bad. I'm breastfeeding—is herbal medicine safe for the baby?

A. We can prescribe herbal medicine that is safe during breastfeeding. This is a period when postpartum hormonal changes and weakened abdominal energy worsen constipation, and we treat within a range safe for both mother and baby.

Q I'm in the late stage of pregnancy and my constipation is really severe. Can I receive treatment while pregnant?

A. During pregnancy, safety comes first. Please inform us of your pregnancy first; we focus on lifestyle management and proceed with treatment cautiously only within a range that is safe for pregnant women.

Q I take laxatives like Dulcolax and Magmil daily. Can I take herbal medicine together, or should I stop them before coming?

A. You don't have to stop right away. Stopping laxatives suddenly can block you for several days, so we recommend reducing the amount gradually while starting herbal medicine.

Q I take probiotics daily. If I take them with herbal medicine, will the effect drop or cause problems?

A. Probiotics and herbal medicine are fine to take together. However, to avoid interfering with absorption, we usually advise spacing them 1–2 hours apart.

Q My mother in her 70s can't last even a week without laxatives. Can she improve even at her age?

A. Bowel motility can revive even at an advanced age. However, recovery progresses more slowly than in younger people, and it usually takes 2–3 months of consistent treatment to reach the stage of reducing laxatives.

Q I went well while taking herbal medicine, but got blocked again after stopping. Do I have to take medicine for life?

A. If the effect only lasts while taking herbal medicine, your bowel motility has not recovered enough yet. With more consistent treatment, you can reach a state that is maintained even after stopping the medicine.

Q What exactly is constipation, and why does it happen?

A. It is a recurring state of fewer than three bowel movements a week, hard stools, a feeling of incomplete evacuation, and difficulty pushing. It occurs when bowel movement slows down or when stool fails to be expelled even after reaching the rectum.

Q I drastically cut my food intake for a diet and my constipation got much worse. I need to lose weight—what should I do?

A. If you eat too little, there isn't enough stool for the bowel to move, so motility drops. Instead of extreme fasting, you need to increase intake with a diet rich in protein, vegetables, and water to relieve constipation.

Q Which foods worsen constipation? Please also tell me good foods.

A. Processed foods, white bread, meat-heavy diets, and lack of water harden stool. Vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, and enough water help, and regular meals at similar times each day are key.

Q I work and find it hard to come often. How frequently do I need constipation treatment?

A. Usually it proceeds with acupuncture 1–2 times a week and daily herbal medicine. It is not a treatment that requires daily visits, so even busy workers can receive it while keeping their daily life.

Q I'm looking into Korean medicine treatment for constipation near Dong-gu, Incheon. How does the first visit proceed?

A. At the first visit, we listen in detail about bowel frequency, stool shape, eating habits, and medications, and examine the abdominal condition by palpation. Based on that, we set the treatment direction, herbal prescription, and lifestyle management plan together.

Q What should I prepare before the consultation?

A. If you note your bowel movement frequency over the past 1–2 weeks, the form of your stool, the laxatives you take and their amount, and your eating and hydration patterns, the consultation will be faster and more accurate.

Q I've taken laxatives for over 10 years and now can't go at all without them. Can a state like this still improve?

A. A bowel weakened by long dependence can gradually recover with treatment that restores its motility. However, since it takes time, we recommend not stopping the medication all at once but reducing it gradually alongside treatment.

Q I take fiber supplements and drink plenty of water, but nothing helps at all. Is Korean medicine different?

A. Constipation that doesn't resolve with fiber and water alone is likely a problem of bowel motility or pelvic coordination. Since the cause itself is different, treatment tailored to it is needed.