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Acupuncture for Digestive Issues: Bloating, Irritable Bowel, Gut Microbiome

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal studies show positive effects on most aspects of gut health. Acupuncture and herbal medicine, along with lifestyle modifications, can successfully treat the following digestive issues: bloating, gas, heart burn or GERD, irritable or inflammatory bowel, Crohn’s disease, chronic constipation or loose stool, diverticulosis or diverticulitis, Candida, leaky gut, ulcers, SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), and food sensitivities.

"I've lived with anxiety and depression for many years. It's difficult to feel motivated, even to do the things I love. I also have Fibromyalgia which exacerbates the problem causing aches, foggy head and fatigue. There are times when I can't get out of bed. I've tried many anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications, but still didn’t feel as good as I know I could. I was skeptical that acupuncture would help. After my first treatment, I felt relaxed and less anxious. After several weeks of treatment, I am sleeping better, have more energy and I'm now working. Acupuncture has made a big difference in my life. Linda has been a great help to me, making me feel relaxed and comfortable to receive treatment. I look forward to continued treatments and starting herbs." -F.E.

What’s behind the growing number of digestive disorders?

Although genetics and aging can play a role, many digestive disorders can be attributed to environmental exposures and lifestyle. Pesticides, preservatives and additives in the food supply are compromising our gut microbiome and our health in general. And, industrialized farming and food processing methods are compromising food safety, exposing us to foodborne diseases, depleting the nutritional value in our foods and polluting our water, soil and air. In addition to these negative outside influences, lifestyle choices are a primary contributor to digestive issues. Poor food choices and dietary habits, excessive and chronic stress and insufficient physical activity are important contributory factors and ones we have some control over.

The United States has a proportionately larger number of individuals experiencing digestive disorders than other countries with estimates of up to 70 million people annually, exceeding the healthcare costs for heart disease and mental health. Many people don’t even report having digestive problems because they either think their symptoms are normal or no big deal and rely on over-the-counter medications to relieve symptoms.

Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine on Digestive Health

In Chinese medicine, digestive health is the basis for all healthy living. It is believed that if any aspect of digestion does not function properly, it will eventually lead to disease somewhere in the body. A well-trained acupuncturist will treat patterns in the digestive tract for almost all ailments as most can be traced to some digestive imbalance. As research delves deeper into the gut microbiome, it reveals the impact the microbiome has on virtually all aspects of our health. Finally, we are seeing the science back and converge with Chinese medicine thought.

Researchers are now discovering how gut microbiota plays a key role in modulating immunity, weight gain or loss, energy homeostasis, obesity-related disorders, systemic inflammation, the autoimmune system, type 2 diabetes and other digestive disorders. Studies also show that the gut microbiome plays an important role in lung and cardiovascular disease, allergies, many types of cancer, as well as mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, ADD, ADHD and OCD behaviors. It has even been linked to neurogenerative disease like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Optimal Health and Disease Prevention

If you want to do one thing for overall health and disease prevention, make sure your digestion is functioning optimally. It is not “normal” to have excessive gas, bloating, irregular bowel or acid reflux to name a few common ailments. And, NO, over-the-counter medications may resolve symptoms, but they don’t resolve the root issues in your gut. If anything, continued use can make things worse.

How Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Help with Digestion

Chinese medicine has been used for thousands of years to relieve digestive problems and promote healthy digestion. Often a combination of acupuncture and herbs are used to reduce inflammation and stomach acid, regulate the bowel, eliminate pain, bloating and nausea, repair the lining of the intestines and stomach, promote healthy digestive flora, enhance nutrient absorption and support the Gut-Brain axis.

Treating the spleen and stomach organ systems are the most important aspects of the gastrointestinal tract. This is because the spleen and stomach are responsible for breaking down food and fluids, separating out nutrients from waste and directing pure substances to the circulatory system and waste to the lower digestive tract for elimination. The lung organ system then helps move the nutrients throughout the body.

The spleen and stomach are greatly impacted by the digestive health of the small and large intestines, pancreas, liver and gallbladder. These organ systems work together in concert to achieve overall health. When one or more is impaired, it causes disfunction in the entire system. Therefore, achieving a healthy digestive system requires an orchestrated approach, rooting out the disfunction in all aspects of the digestive tract and treating it as a whole system. That is the beauty of Chinese medicine; it’s a holistic medicine.

Don’t ignore digestive issues regardless of how small they may seem. Call for a free consultation and let’s make you feel great and prevent future disease.