Stomach & digestion
Acupuncture for Digestive Issues
A heavy, full feeling after eating, a rumbling abdomen, belching, or an energy dip after every meal. Sluggish or sensitive digestion is often hard to capture in one word, yet you feel it throughout your day. Acupuncture, laser acupuncture and acupressure can be used to support the body, so that digestion can run more calmly and effectively again.
What are digestive issues?
Digestive issues is an umbrella term for complaints related to digesting food. Think of a heavy or full feeling after eating, belching, a bloated abdomen, rumbling bowels, changing bowel habits, poor appetite or constant hunger, and tiredness or drowsiness after meals. Often it is not one complaint but a combination that can vary from day to day.
Good digestion requires cooperation between the stomach, bowel, liver, pancreas and nervous system. When that system loses its balance, for example through tension, an irregular eating pattern, eating in a hurry, little exercise or long-term fatigue, digestion can become slower and more sensitive.
Digestive issues can occur without a clear medical cause, which can be especially frustrating. Sometimes a food intolerance, disturbed gut flora, medication or a period of illness or stress plays a role. If one specific complaint stands out, such as heartburn, irritable bowel, nausea or bloating, also read the page about that.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Digestion from a TCM perspective
Within Traditional Chinese Medicine, digestion is central to your health. The Spleen and Stomach are seen as the source of energy and Blood: they transform food into what the body needs. When digestion works less well, you notice it not only in your abdomen, but often also in your energy, concentration and resistance. We look at which pattern fits your symptoms.
Spleen Qi deficiency
Pi Qi XuWhen the Spleen is weakened within TCM, digestion runs slowly and less effectively. This is associated with a heavy feeling after eating, tiredness and drowsiness after meals, poor appetite, soft stools and feeling full quickly.
Spleen Yang deficiency
Pi Yang XuWhen the warming capacity of the Spleen falls short within TCM, this is associated with a cold abdomen, symptoms that worsen after cold or raw food, loose stools, cold hands and feet and a preference for warm drinks.
Liver and Spleen disharmony
Gan Pi Bu HeWithin TCM, stress and tension can cause Liver Qi to stagnate and interfere with digestion. This is associated with symptoms that vary with your mood, bloating, belching, and bowel habits that change under tension.
Dampness burdening the Spleen
Shi Kun PiWhen fluids are not properly transformed within TCM, Dampness can accumulate. This is associated with a heavy and full feeling in the abdomen, a sluggish body, a sticky taste in the mouth, little thirst and sticky stools.
How can acupuncture and laser acupuncture help with digestive issues?
Time is taken to look together at the underlying factors. This concerns not only digestion itself, but also stress, sleep, diet and your overall energy. This creates a broader picture of what your body needs to settle, and a treatment plan is drawn up that focuses on strengthening digestion and restoring balance.
- 01Targeted acupuncture: very fine, sterile needles are used on points that are applied within TCM to strengthen the Spleen and Stomach, promote flow in the abdomen and calm the nervous system.
- 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 digestion 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 to support digestion.
- 05Diet and lifestyle: within Chinese medicine, diet plays a major role. Attention is given to what, when and how you eat, such as the balance between warm and cold food, regularity and calm during meals. You will receive practical advice that suits your pattern.
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 digestive issues?
Acupuncture can be used as support for digestive issues. Research has been done into acupuncture for bloating, sluggish digestion, changing bowel habits and irritable bowel syndrome, among other things, in which some participants reported better bowel habits, less abdominal pain and less fatigue and bloating. At the same time, there are people who notice little or no difference. How you respond only becomes clear in practice.
Why am I so tired after eating?
After a meal, a lot of energy goes to digestion. With sluggish digestion, this can lead to a considerable dip. Within TCM, tiredness after eating is often associated with a weakened Spleen that does not sufficiently transform food into energy.
Which page best fits my symptoms?
This page covers general and varying digestive issues. If one complaint clearly stands out, also look at stomach complaints and reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, bowel complaints, nausea or bloating. During the intake, the whole picture is mapped out in any case.
What can I do myself for better digestion?
Eating calmly and at regular times, chewing well, not eating late in the evening and a short walk after a meal often help. Within TCM, it is advised to choose mainly warm, cooked food and less cold, raw and sweet food. You will also be shown acupressure points.
Does stress play a role in my digestion?
Often, yes. Under tension, the nervous system switches to action instead of digestion, so the stomach and bowel work less well. Within TCM, this is described as the Liver interfering with the Spleen. That is why treatment often includes points that calm the nervous system.
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.
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
Bloated feeling
A tight, bloated, or heavy feeling in the abdomen after meals.
Stomach complaints & reflux
Heartburn, acid regurgitation, or a pressing feeling in the stomach area.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Cramps, a sensitive abdomen, and changing bowel habits that react to food or stress.
Fatigue
Persistent tiredness that does not fade with a night of sleep, and difficulty getting through the day.
Personal Treatment Plan
Digestion not running smoothly?
During a first appointment, we look at your symptoms, what keeps them going and which form of acupuncture suits you best.