These days it seems many of us are affected by food sensitivities and digestive issues that have become commonplace.   Digestive disorders include irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and colitis,  stomach pain, acid reflux, constipation.  Acupuncture can be used to treat the symptoms of these digestive issues, and in some cases help eliminate the problem.

Acupuncture for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

If you suffer from IBS you may experience one or all of the following symptoms:

• abdominal pain
• bloating
• cramping
• constipation
• diarrhea

This is a chronic condition that can for some people be managed through diet and lifestyle changes. Others need medications for further treatment.  IBS is often worsened by high stress and hormonal changes, by poor sleep and exercise habits, and by certain food triggers.  Acupuncture can improve the symptoms that are being experience, can improve stress levels, and can improve sleep as well.

Acupuncture for Crohn’s disease and Colitis

Crohn’s disease and Colitis are both inflammatory bowel diseases; Crohn’s being an inflammation of the lining of the small and large intestines, while Colitis causes chronic inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the large intestine and rectum. Sufferers experience severe diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps, fatigue, reduced appetite and weight loss, as well as other symptoms. These symptoms are also often aggravated by diet and stress. Acupuncture can be used to help relieve pain, reduce symptoms and also to relieve stress.

Acupuncture for Acid Reflux

Acid reflux is a condition commonly treated by acupuncture, and is experienced by many people.  Although many people suffer from this problem, there is often some confusion about what it is.  Acid reflux is caused when acid from your stomach moves up into your esophagus.  It can cause some or all of the following symptoms:

• Heartburn (a burning sensation that moves up from your stomach, as far as your throat)
• acid regurgitation into the throat
• bloating
• burping
• tightness of the throat
• hiccups
• nausea
• dry cough
• chronic sore throat
• a bitter taste in the mouth

If you suffer from these symptoms more than twice a week, it is called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).  If you experience these symptoms, it is important to see your doctor to check for other issues, and to prevent more serious complications.

Your symptoms can improve, especially if you make changes to your lifestyle.  There can be some serious complications if it cannot be controlled, so it is important to take steps to improve and eliminate your symptoms.  Acupuncture is an effective way to control the symptoms of acid reflux.  It can also help you reduce stress which can also aggravate acid reflux, and is a safe treatment during pregnancy.

There have been studies showing the value of acupuncture in the treatment of acid reflux.  It has shown to be as effective as some medications and has also shown to increase the strength of the lower esophageal sphincter (reducing acid flow from the stomach into the esophagus)

Acupuncture for Constipation

Constipation is something everyone suffers from occasionally, for some people it is a constant problem. Constipation is characterized by infrequent bowel movements, hard stools, difficulty passing stools, abdominal pain, and in some cases vomiting. Acupuncture, along with lifestyle changes, is effective for normalizing bowel movements, which is important in prevention of further problems, such as hemorrhoids.