One of the best alternative treatment for IBS is Acupressure, it help relieve every symptoms of irritable bowel symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, intestinal gas, pain, cramp, colic, etc.
IBS Acupressure treatment
Acupoints for IBS with diarrhea, constipation or alternating
- St 25 - Diarrhea, Constipation
- LV 3 - constipation, diarrhea, and PMS. Calming point - anger, irritability, insomnia, anxiety, and depression.
- ST 37 - diarrhea, boborygmus, abdominal pain, bloating, distention, constipation.
- ST 36 - poor digestion, abdominal/epigastric pain, borborygmus, bloating, nausea, vomiting, GERD, hiccups, diarrhea, constipation, etc. Emotional disorders - PMS, depression, nervousness, insomnia.
Acupoints for IBS with diarrhea predomination
- CV 10 or Ren-10 - diarrhea
- SP 4 - diarrhea, abdominal pain, epigastric pain, food poisoning, anxiety, and insomnia.
- UB 20 - Epigastric pain, lack of appetite, abdominal bloating a/or distention, undigested food in the stools, chronic diarrhea a/or belching.
- CV 12 - pain, bloating, reflux, vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia, anxiety, etc.
- CV 8 - Diarrhea, borborygmus, prolapsed rectum.
Acupoints for IBS with excess of abdominal discomfort
- PC 6 - epigastric pain, vomiting, and hiccup. Emotional issues such as mania, nervousness, stress, and depression.
- UB 21 - abdominal distention, borborygmus, belching, nausea.
If you are predominantly IBS-diarrhea or alternating diarrhea & constipation, then you can stimulate all of the above acupressure points. In the other hand if you are IBS-constipation, then avoid IBS with diarrhea predomination and do all other points.
Conception Vessel CV 10 or Ren-10 - Xia Wan
Location: 2 cun above CV 8 (umbilicus).
Functions: Harmonizes and descends Stomach qi that is stagnation of food or qi; it moves stagnated food.
Clinical Uses: Epigastric pain, abdominal pain, bloating, distension, weak digestion, borborygmus, indigestion, vomiting, diarrhea, undigested food in the stool, and vomiting.
Stomach 25 - Tianshu
Location: 2 cun lateral to the AML level with CV 8.
Functions: Regulates the Spleen, Stomach & intestines, dispels Dampness & Damp-Heat, and regulates Qi & Blood. Removes stasis such as Qi Stasis and Blood Stasis.
Clinical Uses: ST 25 is useful for abdominal distention/fullness, gas, poor appetite, borborygmus, pain, constipation, diarrhea, dysentery, irregular/painful menstruation, abdomen mass/gathering, and amenorrhea.
LV 3 - Tai Chong - English Name: Great Surge
Location: On the dorsum of the foot in a depression distal to the junctions of the 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones.
Functions: Regulates Liver Qi, subdues Liver Yang, regulates menstruation, calms the Shen, and nourishes Liver Yin.
Clinical Uses: Nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea with undigested food, anger, hernia, irritability, insomnia, anxiety, headache, dizziness, vertigo, impotence, red-swellen/painful eye, blurred vision, depression, pain in the hypochondrium, abdominal distention, PMS, hiccup, weakness, numbness/pain of the lower extremities, difficulty walking, irregular menstruation, hernia, and epilepsy.
SP 4 - Gongsun - Yellow Emperor
Location: In a depression distal and inferior to the base of the 1st metatarsal bone at the junction of the red and white skin.
Functions: Strengthens the Spleen, harmonizes the middle jiao, resolves dampness, regulates the Chong Mai, and regulates menstruation.
Clinical Uses: Severe abdominal, epigastric pain, dysentery, diarrhea, food poisoning, acute gastric pain, gastric distention/stuffiness, poor appetite, cysts, irregular menstruation, sighing, anxiety, insomnia, nervousness.
Pericardium PC 6 - Nei Guan - Inner Pass
Location: 2 cun above the wrist crease between the tendons of palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis.
Functions: Opens the chest, regulates Heart Qi, calms the Shen, harmonizes the Stomach, relieves nausea and vomiting, and regulates Qi.
Clinical Uses: Nausea, vomiting, hiccup, seasickness, motion sickness, vomiting, epigastric pain, spasm, chest tightness, asthma, angina, palpitations, insomnia, mania, irritability, depression, nervousness, stress, poor memory.
ST 37 - Shangjuxu - Upper Great Hollow
Location: 6 cun below ST 35, one finger width lateral from the anterior border of the tibia.
Clinical Uses: Generally for excess and more acute disorders of the intestines and digestive system; diarrhea, dysentary, boborygmus, abdominal pain, bloating, distention, constipation, acute appendicitis.
Functions: Regulates the intestines and the Stomach and Spleen, resolves Damp-Heat (alleviates dysentery and diarrhea), relieves pain.
UB 20 - Pi Shu - Spleen Shu
Location: 1.5 cun lateral to GV 6, level with T11.
Functions: Tonifies Spleen and Stomach, resolves damp, and nourishes blood.
Clinical Uses: low energy, fatigue, lack of appetite, abdominal bloating/distention, undigested food in the stools, chronic diarrhea, belching, epigastric pain, jaundice, vomiting, diarrhea, dysentery, bloody stools, profuse menstruation, edema, anorexia, backache.
UB 21 - Wei Shu - English Name: Stomach Shu
Location: 1.5 cun lateral to GV line, level with T12.
Functions: Harmonizes the Stomach and strengthens the Spleen.
Clinical Uses: Food stagnation, abdominal distention, borborygmus, mouth ulcers, vomiting, belching, nausea, and abdomen accumulations/lumps.
ST 36 - Zusanli - English Name: Leg Three Li
Location: 3 cun below ST 35, one finger width lateral from the anterior border of the tibia.
Functions: Tonifies Qi and Blood, harmonizes and strengthens the Spleen and Stomach, strengthens the body and Wei qi, raises Yang, calms the Shen, activates the meridian, stops pain.
Clinical Uses: Gastric pain, poor digestion, indigestion, poor appetite, general weakness, abdominal/epigastric pain, borborygmus, bloating, nausea, vomiting, GERD, hiccups, diarrhea, constipation, low immunity, chronic illness, asthma, wheezing, dyspnea, PMS, depression, nervousness, insomnia. Depressive psychosis and madness.
CV 12 or Ren 12 - Zhong Wan - English Name: Central Venter
Location: Midway between CV 8 and CV 16, 4 cun above CV 8 (umbilicus).
Functions: Strongly harmonizes and strengthens Stomach, Spleen and the Middle Jiao (equals the upper half of the abdomen). Calms and fortifies the Spirit.
Clinical Uses: Gastric pain, abdominal distention, borborygmus, vomiting with nausea, diarrhea, dysentery, jaundice, indigestion, bloating, reflux, nervous stomach, heartburn, insomnia, anxiety, worry, and overthinking.
CV 8 - Shen Que - English Name: Spirit Gate
Location: In the center of the umbilicus.
Functions: Saves the Yang. Strengthens the spleen. Tones Yuan Qi.
Clinical Uses: Coldness in the intestines, digestive disorders, diarrhea, chronic illness/exhaustion, frostbite, stroke, epilepsy, borborygmus, prolapsed rectum, infertility, and weakness.
Conception Vessel CV 4 or Ren 4 - Guan Yuan - Origin Pass
(for the Chinese diagnosis of deficiency)
Location: 2 cun above CV 2 (pubic symphysis).
Function: Tonifies Qi, Yin, Yang, and Blood. Fortifies Qi & Jing essence. Strengthens Kidneys and Spleen Yang (Moxa). Regularize lower abdomen's function. Brings excess Qi down. Regulates both excess and deficient conditions of Small Intestine.
Clinical Uses: exhaustion, weakness, chronic fatigue/diseases, low back pain, bone disorders, early morning (5 a.m., diarrhea), rectal prolapse, incontinence, clear copious urine, scanty menstruation, infertility, impotence, seminal emission, amenorrhea, profuse sweating, weakness, shortness of breath, sexual issues.