Research shows that almost 65 million Americans suffer from serious digestive problems on a regular basis. These conditions often stem from poor diet, fatigue and high levels of stress experienced in day-to-day living. Too often, people just pray their symptoms will just go away without realizing that acupuncture, combined with simple lifestyle changes, can have a profound effect on most digestive function.
Digestive problems can range from minor conditions, such as gas pains and bloating, to severe and life threatening illnesses, such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, diarrhea, and colon cancer.
Digestive disturbances aren’t necessarily symptomatic of organ dysfunction. Symptoms are more likely caused by an unhealthy lifestyle and poor diet. When prolonged, this can result in serious deterioration and further damage in your body’s digestive system.
A shift towards a healthy lifestyle that includes a proper diet, exercise and meditation (which could simply be prayer) is an integral part of healing. Acupuncture treatment can further correct the imbalances in a person’s body and restore major systems to normal, healthy function.
According to Dr. Richard Browne, an acupuncture physician and homeopathy expert, digestive disorders are a symptom of an underlying, often more serious problem in the body. Due to stress and fatigue, these are often rooted in hyperactive endocrine and nervous systems. Symptoms of intestinal upset can include difficulty in concentration, fatigue, hair loss, anemia, dry skin, muscle cramps, low energy and sudden weight loss.
Acupuncture and moxibustion can be highly effective remedies for eliminating symptoms of digestive distress. The proper combination of acupuncture and moxibustion (which involves the burning of mugwort on certain acupuncture points), serves to correct imbalances, replenish deficiencies, and effectively treat several gastrointestinal conditions. Particular treatments have effectively been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries to ease chronic diarrhea, constipation, IBS, Crohn’s Disease, and excessive flatulence.
Specific acupuncture points are targeted to enhance the gastrointestinal muscle contraction and relaxation, as well as to minimize the gastric acid discharge. When used with other herbal medications, proper diet, and stress management techniques, acupuncture becomes a very effective remedy against digestive issues. Best of all, it minimizes the symptoms and enhances the body’s digestive system without medication.
The World Health Organization recognizes acupuncture as one of the most effective treatments not only for digestive problems but also for various medical conditions that affect the body. Acupuncture is also potent in minimizing the side effects such as nausea and vomiting resulting from chemotherapy and radiation treatments for cancer. It can also reduce these symptoms post-operatively.
Remember, the state of your body’s digestions is a reflection of your overall health. If it is weak and imbalanced, it is likely there are other weakness and imbalance in your body. Let today be the day you regain your balance.