Stomach & digestion

Acupuncture for Stomach Complaints, Heartburn & Reflux

A burning feeling behind the breastbone, acid rising when you lie down, a stomach that feels heavy and full after every meal: stomach complaints can strongly affect your appetite, your sleep and your mood. Before you know it, your day revolves around what you can and cannot eat. Acupuncture, laser acupuncture and acupressure can be used to support the body, so that digestion can run more calmly and steadily.

What are stomach complaints and reflux?

Stomach complaints is an umbrella term for symptoms in the upper abdomen: heartburn, acid regurgitation, stomach pain, a pressing or full feeling after eating, nausea and belching. Doctors also call this dyspepsia. When no clear physical cause is found, it is called functional dyspepsia.

With reflux, also called acid reflux or GERD (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease), stomach contents flow back into the oesophagus. The sphincter between the oesophagus and stomach does not close properly, so acid irritates the oesophagus. This causes burning behind the breastbone, a sour taste in the mouth, regurgitation and sometimes a tickly cough or hoarseness. Symptoms are often worse after a large meal, when bending over and when lying flat, so sleep suffers too.

With other stomach complaints, a slow stomach is in the foreground: the stomach empties slowly, so you feel full quickly, bloated or nauseous. An irritated or inflamed stomach lining (gastritis) can also cause pain and a burning, pressing feeling in the stomach area.

Various factors may play a role: food such as fatty, spicy or acidic dishes, coffee, chocolate, citrus fruit, alcohol and fizzy drinks, large portions, eating late or in a hurry, smoking, being overweight, stress and certain medicines, such as anti-inflammatory painkillers. With reflux, a hiatus hernia can also play a role. Long-lasting stomach complaints often go together with fatigue, irritability and poor sleep.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Stomach complaints from a TCM perspective

Within Traditional Chinese Medicine, the energy of the Stomach should move downward: food is received, digested and passed on. With heartburn, regurgitation and nausea, that energy rises instead. The Stomach works closely with the Spleen and is strongly influenced by the Liver. That is why stomach complaints are always considered in the context of digestion as a whole.

Liver Qi invading the Stomach

Gan Qi Fan Wei

Within TCM, stress, frustration and pent-up tension can cause Liver Qi to stagnate and then interfere with the Stomach. This is associated with heartburn and regurgitation that worsen with tension, a pressing feeling under the ribs, frequent belching and sighing.

Stomach Heat

Wei Re

Within TCM, Heat can develop in the Stomach, for example through spicy food, alcohol or prolonged tension. This is associated with a burning feeling in the stomach, sour regurgitation, strong thirst, hunger soon after eating and bad breath.

Food stagnation

Shi Zhi

When, within TCM, food lingers in the Stomach, for example from eating too much, too late or too quickly, this is associated with a full and bloated feeling, sour or foul belching, nausea and symptoms that ease after vomiting or belching.

Cold and weakness of Spleen and Stomach

Pi Wei Xu Han

When the Spleen and Stomach are weakened within TCM, digestion runs slowly. This is associated with a dull stomach ache that improves with warmth and food, feeling full quickly, poor appetite, fatigue and cold hands and feet.

Stomach Yin deficiency

Wei Yin Xu

With a deficiency of Stomach Yin, TCM describes a lack of the cooling and moistening aspect. This is associated with a vague, burning stomach ache, a dry mouth and throat, poor appetite despite feeling hungry, and symptoms that often increase in the afternoon or evening.

How can acupuncture and laser acupuncture help with stomach complaints?

Ample time is taken to map out your stomach complaints and their possible causes: what and when you eat, how you sleep, how much tension you experience and which medicines you use. Based on this, treatment focuses on settling the Stomach energy, strengthening digestion and relaxing the nervous system.

01Targeted acupuncture: very fine, sterile needles are used on points that are applied within TCM to calm the Stomach, bring rising energy down and support digestion. If tension plays a role, points that calm the nervous system are also chosen.
02Laser acupuncture: the same points can also be treated needle-free with therapeutic laser light. A comfortable alternative if you prefer not to have needles.
03Ear acupuncture: the ear has points that within TCM are associated with the stomach and the nervous system. At Bai Kang these are always treated with the laser, never with needles.
04Acupressure: you will be shown points you can massage yourself when you feel nauseous, full or notice acid rising.
05Diet and lifestyle: attention is given to your eating pattern, such as the time of your last meal, portion sizes and foods that within TCM burden or heat the Stomach. Eating calmly and chewing well can also make a real difference.

Prefer no needles?

Every treatment can also be carried out completely needle-free with laser acupuncture, in which the same points are treated with therapeutic laser light. Ear acupuncture is always carried out with the laser. Acupressure, which also uses no needles, can be used as well.

Safety and medical alignment:Always have stomach complaints assessed by your GP first. Contact your GP immediately if you vomit blood or material that looks like coffee grounds, have black tarry stools, difficulty or pain when swallowing, unintended weight loss, persistent vomiting, or if the symptoms started after the age of fifty. Call 112 immediately with chest pain radiating to the arm, jaw or back, or accompanied by shortness of breath or sweating: this may indicate a heart problem. Do not stop acid-reducing or other medication on your own, but discuss this with your GP.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can acupuncture help with stomach complaints?

Acupuncture can be used as support for stomach complaints. Research has been done into acupuncture for functional dyspepsia, in which some participants reported less stomach pain, less bloating and less nausea. At the same time, there are people whose symptoms barely change. How you respond only becomes clear in practice.

What is the difference between stomach acid and reflux?

Stomach acid is needed for digestion and belongs in the stomach. With reflux, it flows back into the oesophagus, causing burning behind the breastbone and sour regurgitation. There is by no means always too much stomach acid; often the sphincter between stomach and oesophagus does not close properly.

I take acid-reducing medication. Can I still have acupuncture?

Yes. Acupuncture can be used alongside acid-reducing medication. If you want to use less medication over time, always discuss tapering off with your GP. Stopping abruptly can temporarily make symptoms worse.

Can acupuncture help with gastritis or a stomach ulcer?

A stomach ulcer or gastritis belongs with your GP in the first place, because there is often a clear cause, such as a bacterium or medication use, that needs treatment. Acupuncture can be used alongside as support, for example with tension or with symptoms that keep coming back.

Why do I get stomach complaints when I am stressed?

The stomach responds strongly to the nervous system. Under tension, blood flow, stomach movement and sensitivity to stimuli change. Within TCM, this is described as Liver Qi invading the Stomach. That is why treatment often also focuses on relaxation.

Can I do anything myself between treatments?

Yes. You will be shown acupressure points that you can massage yourself. It also often helps to eat smaller portions, eat calmly, avoid lying down straight after a meal, have your last meal two to three hours before bed and, with night-time reflux, raise the head end of your bed slightly.

What can I expect from a course of treatment?

The course starts with a thorough intake covering your symptoms, eating pattern, lifestyle, medication and what you have already tried. This is followed by a series of treatments, complemented by practical advice on food, meal times, relaxation and sleep. This way you work not only on the current symptoms, but also on what keeps bringing them back.

How many treatments are needed?

This varies per person and depends on how long the symptoms have existed and which factors play a role. After the first treatments, we review together how you respond and what a suitable follow-up would be.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Cramps, a sensitive abdomen, and changing bowel habits that react to food or stress.

Stress & tension

Constantly feeling "on", internal tension, and difficulty letting go.

Restlessness & overstimulation

Heightened sensitivity to stimuli, a crowded mind, and emotional restlessness.

Personal Treatment Plan

Troubled by your stomach or constant heartburn?

During a first appointment, we look at your symptoms, what keeps them going and which form of acupuncture suits you best.

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