Many of us struggle with a variety of digestive issues such as recurrent bloating, indigestion, reflux, constipation, poor absorption of nutrients, and sensitivities to various foods. Acupuncture is a fabulous non-pharmaceutical tool for enhancing digestive function.
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Acupuncture improves digestion, reduces constipation and bloating[/caption]
Proper Digestive Health
What does good digestive health even look like? If everything is working well, we should:
- Tolerate a wide variety of foods;
- Have an appetite in the morning and for several meals a day;
- Have easy daily bowel movements;
- Feel comfortable and energized after eating; and
- Overall have a strong vitality.
When our digestive system isn't working optimally we're more likely to:
- Experience reflux, heartburn, indigestion, or bloating after eating;
- Have difficult bowel movements (constipation or diarrhea, too few or too many bowel movements per day);
- Be sensitive to one or many foods;
- Not feel hungry until the middle of the day or never have a strong appetite;
- Feel lethargic or heavy after eating; and/or
- Overall feel a bit tired and lacking vitality.
Reflux and Indigestion
From a Chinese medicine perspective, reflux and indigestion indicate inflammation in the upper part of the digestive tract. Acupuncture is highly effective at reducing inflammation in the stomach region. Additionally, Chinese herbal formulas can be taken daily to reduce reflux and indigestion and improve overall digestive function.
Constipation, Diarrhea, and Loose Stools
Our bowel movements are a wonderful indicator of how our digestive systems are functioning. Our stool should be formed, soft, easy to release, and feel complete. You can reference the Bristol Stool Chart -- ideal stools fall into category 4. Bowel movements should occur approximately daily, and ideally 1 to up to 3 times daily.
If stools are generally too hard, too loose, more frequent than 3 times daily, or happening less than about 5 days a week, that's an indication that something in your digestive system is not working optimally.
Acupuncture promotes healthy movement of food and stool through the digestive tract (known as peristalsis). If you are prone to constipation it may be due to sluggish peristalsis. Acupuncture can help.
Both constipation and diarrhea or loose stools can be caused by anxiety and stress. Acupuncture can be used to both regulate the nervous system (easing anxiety and stress) while simultaneously improving digestive function to resolve constipation and diarrhea.
Food Sensitivities and Allergies
With properly functioning digestion we should be able to tolerate all whole foods. (Our body was not meant to consume highly processed foods, so sensitivities to food additives, thickeners, binders, and highly processed foods would not indicate a problem with digestive function.)
Children and adults who have one or several food sensitivities or allergies can benefit from acupuncture and herbal medicine. Acupuncture is used to reduce the inflammatory response to foods and herbal medicine can be used to repair the gut lining (to address "leaky gut" syndrome). Together, these approaches over time can improve the body's ability to safely consume a wide variety of foods.
Poor Nutrient Absorption
For people who feel sluggish or heavy after eating and overall feel lacking in energy or vitality, poor nutrient absorption may be part of the problem. Acupuncture increases blood flow to the digestive system, calms the nervous system, and reduces digestive inflammation. This combination of approaches can help to enhance the nutrient absorption from foods as they move through the digestive tract.
Lifestyle and Nutritional Support
Some of us struggle with digestive function because we are eating a diet that is not appropriate for us, or we are eating too much or too little at the wrong times of day. At Inspire Family Acupuncture we can provide general dietary health recommendations to improve digestive health but we often recommend working with a nutritionist or dietitian to support your digestive healing.
If you're curious about whether acupuncture and/or herbal medicine support is right for you or your child, please give us a call. Here's to your health!
