Using acupuncture for healthy digestion

Most of us suffer from digestive problems at one time or another, but did you know that you can use acupuncture to treat problems with digestion? Issues such as peptic ulcers, bacterial infections, lactose intolerance, heartburn, hiatus hernia, diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting, and inflammatory conditions can all be helped with acupuncture. If you have already tried fixing your digestive issues with western medicine, it might be time to try an older solution, one that’s very popular in Chinese medicine, and that’s acupuncture for healthy digestion.

Chinese medicine dates back for 5000 years and is based on the concept that energy flows through your body along meridians. When this energy or chi flows smoothly, you are healthy, but when it’s out of balance, your body is also out of balance and becomes diseased. Acupuncture helps to redirect this energy so that it flows smoothly once again and helps your body to heal itself.

How does acupuncture aid digestion?

Acupuncture helps by bringing balance back to your digestive system. It does this by reducing inflammation in your stomach and pancreas and nourishing your digestive system. Acupuncture points are selected based on how they influence your digestion. For example, your metabolism may need to be increased, or the muscles of your gastrointestinal tract need to be contracted or relaxed. Gastric acid may also need to be reduced and the acidity of your stomach returned to a more normal balance. 

Stress is also said to be a big cause of many digestive problems, as well as eating a high fat diet. Acupuncture can help to reduce digestion problems caused by too much stress or poor nutrition by rebalancing your endocrine and nervous systems. You can also use acupuncture alongside western medicine, as well as other elements of Chinese medicine, such as moxibustion. This is a heat therapy that involves burning dried mugwort on or near specific acupuncture points on your body that influence the gastrointestinal tract. The heat stimulates these points and helps to rebalance the energy in your body.

If you suffer from any of the above problems with digestion, acupuncture can make a big difference to your life. Many people have experienced long term benefits from these treatments, making acupuncture for digestion an increasingly popular remedy. Once rebalanced, it’s always a good idea to reduce your stress levels, as well as improve your diet, as both of these actions will help to keep your digestive system balanced for longer. 

What happens during an acupuncture session?

It’s important to remember that acupuncture treats the whole body, so some of the points used on your body might not be anywhere near your abdomen. Two people can also have the same symptoms, but the acupuncture points stimulated might be very different. That’s because every person will have a treatment plan that’s unique to their situation and the energy imbalances in their body. 

During your therapy session, sterile single use needles are inserted into your skin at selected points and you might feel heaviness, numbness, warmth or electricity over these points. These needles are left in place for up to 45 minutes and many people take a nap during this time. You might need regular acupuncture sessions to rebalance your digestion, often once or twice a week. After your session, make sure to rest as you may feel tired for a few hours and drink lots of room temperature water.