Your digestive tract is a crucial system responsible for breaking down and absorbing nutrients and fluids from the food you eat. Any condition that affects this system can have a detrimental affect on health and well-being.
Treatment for digestive disorders vary based on symptoms and diagnosis, and no single treatment works for all. And, in some cases, a combination of therapies work best.
At Integrative Medical Center in Irvine, California, our skilled health experts, Dr. Jing F. Li and Dr. Po Chen, take a holistic and comprehensive approach to manage health and wellness, combining western and eastern medicine. For digestive disorders, we often include complementary therapies such as acupuncture to support conventional treatment and help with symptoms.
How does acupuncture improve digestive disorders? Let us explain.
A wide range of conditions affect the gastrointestinal tract, causing an array of symptoms depending on what part is affected. We consider the body part, symptoms, and personal health when treating these conditions.
Some of the more common digestive disorders we manage include:
Constipation affects almost everyone at some point in time. This change in bowel habits causes hard stool that’s difficult to pass. In most cases, constipation is a short-term problem. But if your constipation is a chronic issue, you may experience uncomfortable symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, or a general feeling of malaise.
IBS is a functional digestive disorder that causes constipation or diarrhea, along with belly pain and bloating. Symptoms may come and go and vary in severity.
Acid reflux causes heartburn and indigestion when the acidic contents of the stomach regurgitate up into the esophagus. You may experience these symptoms after eating spicy or fatty foods. If your symptoms are frequent, you may have a more chronic condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are types of IBD. They’re chronic conditions that cause inflammation and ulcerations in the digestive tract. Symptoms range from mild to severe and may come and go, but IBD can lead to complications such as malabsorption and dehydration.
Food allergies and intolerances aren’t digestive disorders, but they can affect the digestive tract. For example, people with celiac disease must avoid all foods with gluten to prevent damage to the small intestine.
Acupuncture is a natural treatment we provide for our patients struggling with chronic health conditions and pain. It’s an ancient practice that centers around the body’s energy flow that supports normal function.
Any disruption in energy flow leads to health issues and diseases. Acupuncture unblocks or redirects the flow of energy to correct imbalances and improve health.
Though you may associate acupuncture with pain conditions, the natural healing therapy helps digestive disorders too. Research shows that acupuncture eases symptoms by:
Acupuncture influences gut motility, which is the movement of food through the digestive tract. Motility plays a role in the development of IBS and chronic constipation, so for these conditions, we use acupuncture to stimulate specific points that regulate gut motility in order to facilitate a more regular and efficient digestive process.
Stress is a significant contributor to digestive problems. It may not cause disease, but it can make symptoms worse. Acupuncture stimulates the release of chemicals that make you feel more relaxed, naturally lowering stress levels and easing digestive symptoms.
Acupuncture may influence the immune system in a way that decreases the inflammatory response, according to preliminary studies. For folks with IBD, acupuncture may support management of the inflammation, reducing the frequency or severity of flare-ups.
Digestive disorders affect more than digestion. They affect your physical, emotional, and social well-being. Acupuncture is a holistic treatment that can improve these disorders by supporting your whole health.
In addition to relief from digestive symptoms, acupuncture may boost energy and mood, and help you feel more balanced.
At Integrative Medical Center, we know there’s more than one way to treat the same condition. If you’re struggling to find the right treatment to ease your digestive disorder symptoms, we can help. Call us today or request an appointment online.
