My recommendations for overcoming digestive issues based on clinical experience
Digestion
A layered approach
Digestive problems can be quite a conundrum. There are many different causes and manifestations and it can be quite confusing to know which approach to take. It may be quite obvious, but I believe acupuncture is an awesome strategy to regulate digestion. However, I don't recommend relying on only acupuncture. Lifestyle changes can be vital to overcoming imbalance because it is our everyday habits that make or break us. I have also found that in many cases, there is an emotional component that holds us back from resolving health issues.
A treatment plan for digestive issues is going to depend on how long this has been an issue and severity. Often an autoimmune disorder such as Crohn's will take much longer and require more diligence than mild IBS or occasional acid reflux. If the issue is severe, I recommend acupuncture twice a week for 4 weeks, then once a week for 8 weeks with a gradual process of cutting down with longer and longer in between appointments until monthly maintenance is enough. If the issue is milder, a treatment once per week for 8-12 weeks with gradual spacing is likely to do the trick. Sometimes it takes more, sometimes it takes much less. Treatments may include cupping, ear seeds or energy work depending on the diagnosis.
Concurrently with your treatments, I strongly encourage some form of therapy with a mental health professional. There are more options than talk therapy such as EMDR, cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnotherapy, art therapy, psychadelic therapy and many more. From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, there is an emotional component to any imbalance in the body. The ways that we respond to suppressed emotions, stress, loss, fear, depression and anxiety often manifest in our physical bodies. If the root causes aren't addressed and expressed, we will keep being met with the same challenges. Think of a little kid complaining of frequent stomach aches only to discover they didn't know how to explain that they have anxiety making their tummy feel bad. Think of panic or stress causing loose stool, urgency and diarrhea. We often see autoimmune disease manifest or flair up when there are big changes in a person's life.
Looking at your emotional response to food is a big indicator as to how your body will process your food. Do you rush and multitask when eating? Sit down and focus only on your meal. Chew extremely thoroughly. Do not eat in stressful environments if you can help it. Do you feel good about where your food comes from? Is your food made with love and caring or is it thrown together by a sassy teenager at Taco Bell? Is it grown or raised in a healthy environment or is it full of chemicals and stress? Does your food come from a factory or from nature. Maybe something deeper is influencing the way your body reacts to the food you are putting into it.
Dietary changes are often vital when you want to create change in your body. The most common culprit for pain and dysfunction is inflammation and the most inflammatory foods are processed sugar, corn, flour, alcohol and dairy. It is possible to get better without making dietary changes if your condition is less severe. I strongly encourage experimenting with your diet, observe how your body responds to different foods. Most people with autoimmune disease will experience more relief if they are strict with their diet but stick with it for awhile and see if a weekly treat will hinder results or not. A an occasional small amount of inflammatory foods may not hinder progress very much for milder cases. Some cases may experience relief when intermittent fasting (IF). I don't recommend the more extreme version of IF for certain conditions or for women prior to menopause. This sort of lifestyle can exacerbate certain conditions and you should check with your acupuncturist to see if you are a good candidate.
Herbal Medicine is often a recommended addition to treatment. Chinese Herbal Medicine is typically a combination of herbs called a formula that are typically used for balancing your individual constitution. Two individuals with acid reflux may take two very different formulas based on their individual needs. Side effects and interactions are fairly rare and most formulas are combinations of plants native to China.
Last but not least: exercise. This part is often overlooked but so vital. I could go on for days about how much change exercise can create. Everything in your body works better with regular exercise. If you are too weak and not well enough to exercise, there are steps you can take. Start by walking around the block once per day, then gradually increase to a few times per day. Do some bicep curls with the lightest weights you can find or even canned beans. Even small amounts of exercise are going to make a huge impact. Work your way up to a yoga class three times per week, weight lifting twice per week, walking daily. It's doable if you make your health a priority. Try replacing another habit for exercise, watch less TV after dinner and walk instead.
