Digestive Conditions
Acupuncture is an effective therapy to assist in controlling the frequency and severity of flare ups due to gastrointestinal tract disorders and diseases. It has been shown to be successful in controlling pain, bloating, acid reflux, stimulating the appetite, nausea, gas, constipation and diarrhoea and reducing feeling of anxiety and depression due to digestive conditions.
End the stigma
There is still a lot of stigma attached to digestive conditions due to conversations around bodily functions, which sometimes isn't an easy topic to discuss with others. Unfortunately many people suffer in silence but it's doesn't have to be this way. It is very important to get the correct diagnosis for your digestive symptoms. Whether you have Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Acid reflux, or an Inflammatory Bowel Disease such as Chrohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis. It is important to address all symptoms related to our digestive health.
How can acupuncture help?
Inhibiting gastric and duodenal motility: Acupuncture can help regulate the movement of food through the stomach and small intestine. By activating the sympathetic nerves via spinal reflexes, acupuncture can slow down gastric and duodenal motility, which may be beneficial for individuals with conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or diarrhea. On the other hand, acupuncture can also increase motility via the vagus nerve and supraspinal reflexes, which may be helpful for individuals with constipation.
Altering acid secretion and visceral pain: Acupuncture has been shown to alter acid secretion and reduce visceral pain. This may be particularly helpful for individuals with acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Improving delayed gastric emptying: Delayed gastric emptying is a condition in which food remains in the stomach for a longer period of time than normal, leading to discomfort and other symptoms. Acupuncture has been shown to help improve delayed gastric emptying, which may benefit individuals with conditions such as gastroparesis.
Reducing inflammation: Acupuncture can help reduce inflammation in the digestive tract by promoting the release of vascular and immunomodulatory factors. This may be particularly beneficial for individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
Stimulating areas in the brain: Acupuncture has been shown to stimulate areas in the brain that are involved in gastric perception. This means that acupuncture may help individuals with conditions such as nausea or vomiting.
Inhibiting stress-induced pro-opiomelanocortin expression: Stress can have a negative impact on digestive health. Acupuncture has been shown to inhibit the expression of pro-opiomelanocortin in the hypothalamus, which may help reduce stress-related digestive issues.
Increasing vasoactive intestinal peptide and nitric oxide: Acupuncture can help increase the levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide and nitric oxide in the body, which may be helpful for individuals with conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Decreasing permeability of intestinal mucosa: Acupuncture has been shown to decrease the permeability of the intestinal mucosa in individuals with acute pancreatitis. This means that acupuncture may help reduce inflammation and the accumulation of inflammatory mediators in the intestines.
Source: https://www.acupuncture.org.uk/a-to-z-of-conditions/a-to-z-of-conditions/gastrointestinal-tract-disorders.html