Stomach & digestion
Acupuncture for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
An abdomen that flares up after eating, cramps that come and go and bowel habits you can never rely on: an irritable bowel often shapes more of your day than you would like. You adjust what you eat, keep track of where the toilet is and notice that tension goes straight to your stomach. Acupuncture, laser acupuncture and acupressure can be used to support the body, both with the abdomen itself and with what keeps the symptoms going.
What is irritable bowel syndrome?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), also called spastic colon, is one of the most common abdominal complaints. It is a functional condition: the bowel looks normal on examination, but does not work as it should. The diagnosis is made by your GP or a gastroenterologist, after other causes have been ruled out.
The bowel wall contains nerves that control the muscles and move the bowel contents along in a calm rhythm. With IBS, these nerves are oversensitive, for example to stress, emotions or certain foods. The bowel muscles can then contract too strongly, causing cramps, pain and a bloated feeling. If transport is too slow, constipation develops. If it is too fast, the bowel absorbs less fluid and diarrhoea follows.
Common symptoms include abdominal pain or cramps that often ease after a bowel movement, a bloated abdomen and wind, alternating diarrhoea and constipation, hard pellet-like or loose stools, the feeling that the bowel is not completely empty, and mucus in the stool. Fatigue, poor sleep and headaches often occur alongside.
Symptoms vary per person and per period. For many people, stress and tension clearly play a role, as do certain foods, such as products high in FODMAPs, fatty food, coffee or alcohol. A previous bowel infection, an irregular eating pattern or little exercise can also contribute.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Irritable bowel from a TCM perspective
IBS is a modern term, but the pattern of symptoms has been described in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries. Central is the cooperation between the Liver, which ensures the smooth flow of Qi, and the Spleen, which within TCM governs digestion. When that cooperation is disturbed, digestion loses its balance as well. We look at which pattern fits your symptoms.
Liver and Spleen disharmony
Gan Pi Bu HeWithin TCM, stress, frustration and pent-up tension can obstruct the free flow of Liver Qi, causing the Liver to interfere with the Spleen. This is associated with cramps that worsen with tension, alternating diarrhoea and constipation, bloating and abdominal pain that eases after a bowel movement.
Spleen Qi deficiency
Pi Qi XuWhen the Spleen is weakened, TCM describes digestion as slower and less effective. This is associated with soft or loose stools, a full feeling after eating, undigested food in the stool, poor appetite and fatigue, especially after meals.
Damp-Heat in the intestines
Da Chang Shi ReWithin TCM, Dampness can accumulate and turn into Heat. This is associated with urgent, burning or foul-smelling diarrhoea, mucus in the stool, a heavy feeling in the abdomen and a sticky taste in the mouth.
Spleen and Kidney Yang deficiency
Pi Shen Yang XuWhen the warming capacity of the Spleen and Kidneys falls short, TCM associates this with diarrhoea early in the morning, a cold abdomen, sensitivity to cold and symptoms that worsen after cold food or drinks.
How can acupuncture and laser acupuncture help with an irritable bowel?
Treatment looks beyond the abdomen alone. Besides digestion, your sleep, energy, tension and eating pattern are also discussed. Based on this, a treatment plan is drawn up that focuses on calming the bowel, strengthening digestion and relaxing the nervous system.
- 01Targeted acupuncture: very fine, sterile needles are used on points that are applied within TCM to restore the flow of Qi and strengthen digestion. With cramps and bloating, the emphasis is on relaxing the diaphragm and abdomen; with changing bowel habits, on calming the bowel.
- 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 or have a sensitive abdomen.
- 03Ear acupuncture: the ear has points that within TCM are associated with digestion and the nervous system. At Bai Kang these are always treated with the laser, never with needles. Especially when stress clearly plays a role, this can be a valuable addition.
- 04Acupressure: you will be shown points you can massage yourself when your abdomen flares up or when you notice tension building.
- 05Diet and lifestyle: attention is given to your eating pattern, to foods that within TCM burden the Spleen, such as a lot of cold and raw food, and to ways of reducing tension, for example through exercise. If you are already following a FODMAP diet with a dietitian, the treatment builds on that.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can acupuncture help with an irritable bowel?
Acupuncture can be used as support for IBS. Research has been done into acupuncture for functional abdominal complaints, in which some participants reported less abdominal pain and more regular bowel habits. At the same time, there are people whose symptoms remain unchanged. How you respond only becomes clear in practice.
Do I need a diagnosis before I come?
It is wise to have abdominal complaints assessed by your GP first, so that other causes are ruled out. If you have already been diagnosed with IBS, or your GP found nothing further, acupuncture can be used as a complement.
Why does stress affect my stomach so much?
The bowel and the brain are closely connected through the nervous system. With IBS, the bowel reacts extra sensitively to signals of tension. Within TCM, this is described as the Liver interfering with the Spleen. That is why treatment often focuses both on the abdomen and on calming the nervous system.
Can I combine acupuncture with a FODMAP diet?
Yes. Acupuncture and dietary changes can be used well alongside each other. The FODMAP diet is best followed under the guidance of a dietitian. During treatment, diet is also considered from the perspective of Chinese medicine.
I find needles daunting. Can it be done without?
Yes. Laser acupuncture works on the same points, but with therapeutic laser light instead of needles. You feel virtually nothing. Laser acupuncture can be used as a needle-free alternative for any complaint, including IBS.
Can I do anything myself between treatments?
Yes. You will be shown acupressure points that you can massage yourself. Eating regularly and calmly, getting enough exercise and taking moments to relax also often help to make the abdomen less reactive.
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.
Related
Related complaints & patterns
Personal Treatment Plan
An abdomen that keeps flaring up?
During a first appointment, we look at your symptoms, what keeps them going and which form of acupuncture suits you best.