DIGESTIVE AND BOWEL PROBLEMS
Indigestion, bloating and acid reflux can often be helped by acupuncture, most often if stress is also apparent. In Chinese medicine, stress affects the liver and then the liver affects the digestion, amongst many other things. Treatment therefore usually concentrates on treating the liver as well as the stomach and spleen which are usually also involved. The same organ dysfunctions tend to affect the bowels also, and symptoms such as irregularity, increased frequency, loose stools, constipation, sudden urges to defecate, increased gassiness and abdominal pain are all commonly met symptoms. The medical diagnosis of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) is rather vague and could include any of these symptoms.
