Acupuncture for Digestive Problems

Introduction

Digestive problems like bloating, constipation, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and cramping are an indication that things are not moving properly through the digestive tract. The major cause of many digestive problems is often improper diet, chronic stress, poor sleep habits, and other lifestyle issues. Acupuncture helps in reducing pain and inflammation, which in turn helps to promote peristalsis and regulate stomach acid. Furthermore, acupuncture aids in enhancing digestive function through the harmonization of the gut-brain axis and the nervous system, which helps to reduce the stress. An overactive sympathetic nervous system causes decreased digestive function.

What Is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a way of treatment by inserting thin, solid, metallic needles into the skin to stimulate specific points in the body. The aim is to relieve a health issue or a symptom like pain. Acupuncture comes from the ancient practice of traditional Chinese medicine. The practitioner of Chinese medicine believes that the human body has above 2000 acupuncture points connected by meridians or pathways. An energy flow through the body is created by these pathways that are responsible for overall health. Any disruption in this energy flow can cause a health problem. It is believed that energy flow improves by applying acupuncture to certain points and hence improves health. Acupuncture is not for everybody. Before deciding to have acupuncture, consult with your doctor and find a licensed practitioner.

What Are the Digestive Problems That Can Be Treated With Acupuncture?

Acupuncture can help reduce symptoms and treat conditions such as:

• Colitis is a condition involving inflamed and infected large intestines, often due to infection or auto-immune disorder.

• Constipation.

• Fatigue.

• Weight fluctuation.

• Acid reflux is a condition where the lining of the gastrointestinal tract becomes irritated due to the presence of stomach acid or bile.

• Crohn’s disease is a condition that leads to inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract causing abdominal pain and severe pain. It can be life-threatening.

• Irritable bowel syndrome is a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by stomach pain, cramping, and diarrhea.

• Bloating.

• Nausea.

• Diarrhea.

• Cramping.

• Abdominal pain.

• Sour stomach is because of indigestion. It involves discomfort in the upper abdominal region quickly after eating.

• Peptic ulcers occur when a sore forms on the lining of the stomach, esophagus, or small intestine.

• Gastrointestinal bleeding includes all forms of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. The bleeding from mild to severe range and can be life-threatening.

• Hiatus hernia syndrome is characterized by the protrusion of the stomach into the chest through an opening in the diaphragm. The opening in the diaphragm is called hiatus.

• Lactose intolerance refers to the incapacity of an individual to effectively digest lactose, the sugar found in milk, which results in symptoms such as diarrhea, gas, and bloating.

How Is the Treatment Done?

• Traditional Chinese medicine treats the whole body, and acupuncture is part of a complete disease management plan. This implies there is no fixed treatment plan for every ailment, but an individualized plan is designed by the practitioner for each patient.

• Even when an issue occurs in the abdominal area, the treatment plan can include acupuncture points in the body, such as the legs or arms. For example, a female patient with symptoms of gas and bloating can have acupuncture points between the thumb and index finger of left hand and sites below the knees.

• Another person with the same symptoms can have acupuncture points on his back and the back of his legs. The treatment plan can also vary from session to session for the same patient.

• Throughout the session, the patient is positioned in a comfortable lying position, and the practitioner inserts a small, sterile, disposable needle into specific points on the skin. The aim is to achieve a needling sensation known as de qi.

• This sensation includes feelings of aching, heaviness, numbness, tingling, warmth, and electricity. The patient often sleeps during the treatment as it is quite soothing. The needles are left on those spots for about 20 to 45 minutes, with the practitioner stimulating the points every 10 to 15 minutes.

• The patient may feel a little groggy or tired after the treatment, as if they have woken up from a nap. It is recommended to consume ample amounts of room temperature or warmer water as it aids in revitalizing the individual. It is advised to not plan anything over-stimulating, such as vigorous exercise after treatment.

• Sessions could vary from daily sessions to as few as once a month or even once per season, but usually, a treatment plan includes sessions once or twice a week.

• The application of acupuncture in patient treatment can enhance not only their physical well-being but also their mental and emotional wellness. After the treatment, patients often show long-term improvements in their overall health, like stress reduction and an increase in energy.

What Are the Adverse Reactions to Acupuncture?

Generally, acupuncture is considered a safe practice. Some surveys have reported only infrequent minor adverse events like slight bleeding and mild pain for this treatment practice. The most common side effects from acupuncture are minor bleeding, bruising, or pain in less than two percent of cases. Rarely fainting can happen for nervous patients or for those who have a history of fainting. To avoid the risk of fainting, the patient has to have eaten something within a couple of hours before treatment. The patient should ensure that their practitioner is informed about any prior incidents of fainting or the usage of medications such as blood thinners. In some patients, symptoms would worsen before improving. It is considered a sign that healing has begun. In case the symptoms get severe or last more than two days, inform the practitioner. Having offered these warnings, acupuncture is considered a safe and effective treatment method.

Conclusion

Acupuncture for digestive problems is an effective and safe way to naturally treat many acute and chronic health conditions of the body. Consider acupuncture if conventional medicine has been unsuccessful. Acupuncture is a holistic health treatment without side effects. In association with stress reduction techniques and Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture for digestive problems is helpful in the treatment of general gastrointestinal symptoms.