While dietary interventions are often the primary avenue for relief, IBS sufferers often find that Chinese medicine is a very helpful ally in reducing occurrences and managing symptoms. This is true regardless of whether it’s IBS-D (diarrhea type), IBS-C (constipation type), or mixed or unclassified type.
Supporting IBS Relief Through the Vagus Nerve
One of the ways that IBS can be aggravated is through strong emotions such as stress, anxiety, and worry. The mechanism is the vagus nerve – a nerve that connects the gut and the brain.
Researchers find that there are irregularities in vagus nerve functioning in those with IBS. Low “vagal tone” means that the body often struggles to move from a stressed “fight or flight” nervous system state to a calmer “rest and digest” nervous system state. When the body is agitated, in “fight or flight” mode, blood flow is shunted away from the digestive system.
Chinese medicine is well known for its ability to calm the nervous system, by increasing vagal tone over time. Stimulation of specific acupuncture points can increase vagal tone and thereby reduce the troubling and painful gut symptoms of IBS.
Supporting Digestive Health
Chinese medicine, using both acupuncture and herbal medicine, can improve the overall functioning of the digestive system by increasing peristalsis (which helps those struggling with constipation) and improving nutrient absorption and reducing diarrhea (for those struggling with IBS-D).
For those who deal with chronic stress, Chinese medicine can help relieve the tension in the torso characteristic of chronic stress to enable the digestive system to function more smoothly.
What Does an IBS Treatment Plan Look Like?
For those who have been struggling with IBS for many years, treatment often involves weekly or twice weekly sessions for a period of months to improve digestive function and retrain the vagus nerve to support better transitions from “fight or flight” into “rest and digest” nervous system states. Often maintenance treatments (approximately monthly) are recommended at the end of the treatment plan.
Herbal medicine is often used to support both digestive health and stress recovery.
If you are ready to get relief from your IBS symptoms, contact us at Inspire Family Acupuncture to get started. We look forward to supporting you with your digestive and overall health!
