Acupuncture for Digestive Health NYC

Constipation is a very common digestive disturbance caused by a number of factors including consuming too much dairy or gluten, imbalanced gut bacteria, hormone imbalance, stress, pregnancy, not getting enough daily fiber as well as the use of some medications. Constipation is typically characterized by belly bloating, and small, hard, and irregular bowel movements. Regardless of what’s causing your constipation acupuncture is as effective as conventional medical therapy, without any of the harsh side effects and without dependency issues. Acupuncture will cure the issue so that you do not have to be reliant on pills, powders or teas to have a bowel movement. Acupuncture has been shown to improve weekly functional GI symptoms through its alteration of GI motility at the acupuncture point in the upper abdomen, causing muscle relaxation through the body’s own parasympathetic nervous system. Acupuncture also stimulates the stomach and digestive tract to move and properly digest your food.

Gas and bloating can be caused by many factors such as eating too much raw food, overeating, not chewing enough or eating at the wrong times (in the middle of the night). These habits can lead to poor or weak digestion, causing food or gas to build up in the intestine. Eating mostly cold foods (raw foods or food directly out of the fridge) can prove difficult to digest, leaving the food to ferment and produce gas. It is important to eat warmer, cooked foods during colder weather and stay active to promote movement and warmth throughout the body. Whatever the case may be, acupuncture can help speed up the recovery process while you are making the necessary changes to your diet and activity.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a term used to describe the experience of pain or discomfort in the abdomen, due to bloating, swelling, as well as instances of diarrhea and/or constipation. IBS is recurrent, and for many a debilitating condition, without an identifiable cause. Though western medicine doesn’t have many options for treatment, Traditional Chinese Medicine looks at the patient’s entire experience with IBS and their daily life to determine how best to address their concerns. Acupuncture has been shown in research to provide pain relief, aid in regulation of GI motility, and promote relaxation of the colon through its activation of the body’s parasympathetic nervous system. Acupuncture also promotes blood flow to the digestive organs to keep them in good working order while relaxing the nervous system to also regulate digestive function.

Ulcerative colitis is the chronic inflammation of the digestive tract, usually the innermost lining of the large intestines and rectum. Some common symptoms include rectal bleeding, bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and an increased risk of developing colon cancer. A recent study comparing the treatment of colitis with traditional Western methods and acupuncture found a significant decrease in reported symptom severity and an overall increase in quality of life for those treated with acupuncture. Acupuncture was also shown to have few side effects in the treatment of colitis, making it an ideal and readily available form of treatment.

Crohn’s Disease, an inflammatory bowel disease, can be a very debilitating disorder for people suffering with it. Its symptoms include diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain, fatigue, and blood in stool. These symptoms are caused by the inflammation of the lining of the gut, which can easily be exacerbated by something as simple as eating a certain food. Acupuncture offers a safe, long-term solution to managing Crohn’s Disease. It’s anti-inflammatory effects on the body can help repair the gut. Acupuncture also helps to balance the immune and nervous system to improve on symptoms of Crohn’s. It can be used on its own or in combination with conventional therapies.

Nausea is characterized as a feeling of queasiness that often precedes vomiting. Acupuncture has been shown in various clinical trials to alleviate nausea and vomiting for a multitude of conditions including: following chemotherapy or radiology treatments, motion sickness, morning sickness during pregnancy, side effect of certain medications, or even before/ following surgical procedures.  It is very effective at settle the stomach, improving appetite and digestion as well as promoting comfort. Most of current research on acupuncture for nausea focuses on the acupoint P6 located at the wrist to harmonize the stomach. Incorporating acupuncture with moxibustion as well as changes to your diet may also help with feelings of nausea.

If you’re having nausea related to pregnancy, you can learn more about acupuncture for pregnancy care here.

Diarrhea involves loose bowel movements that can happen to anyone at any point in time. Individuals with diarrhea may experience bloating in their belly, cramps in mild cases. In more serious cases however individuals may experience weight loss, fever, and have blood present in their stool. Diarrhea has a multitude of causes including allergies, colitis, IBS, Crohn’s, diabetes, medications, overactive thyroid or fungal/bacterial/viral causes. Acupuncture can help reduce and prevent diarrhea by rebalancing the circulation of the body’s natural energy. Combining acupuncture with moxibustion as well as incorporating small daily life changes may also help. In certain cases, herbs are prescribed to kill bacteria that may be causing the diarrhea.