Digestive complaints are among the most common issues I come across in my practice. Almost daily I see patients with a wide array of problems, from bloating and gas to more complex issues such as IBS, diverticulitis or multi-faceted food allergies. It is not unusual that these clients come to me with bags of supplements that they have been given by other practitioners or read about on the internet. While I fully support the use of digestive enzymes and probiotics, I often find that they do not resolve the problem.
The premise of Chinese Medicine is to dig deep and unearth the underlying reason(s) for a problem. Sometimes digestive complaints are constitutional, or even weather-related (i.e. too many cold foods in a cold and damp climate), but more often the source of the problem is a combination of stress and unbalanced diet. Unfortunately, our Standard American Diet—represented so well in advertisements, school lunches, and comfort foods—are not helping.
The other day I was at a restaurant, and noticed a teenager sitting next to me who was overweight, and suffered from acne. As I watched him eat is Mac and Cheese my heart went out to him. Should I have told him that the food on his plate contributed to his problem?
In Chinese Medicine we like to see a harmonious relationship between the Stomach, Spleen, Pancreas, Liver and Gall Bladder. The pulse and tongue tell me where a patients’ digestion is at. Simple carbs, too much dairy, cold foods and drinks impact the way the Stomach transforms food into energy. Anything that is not digested completely ends up weighing down our system, and transforming into “phlegm-damp“ –fatigue, excess weight, or even headaches and brain fog. Stress aggravates the Liver and Gall Bladder, interrupting the digestive process with heart burn, indigestion, or bloating and gas. Even feelings of low energy, sluggishness, irritation and anger are often due to improper digestion.
Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal formulas are custom tailored to address the symptoms as well as the underlying imbalance. They help with acute summer ailments, such as travelers’ diarrhea, stomach virus, food poisoning, as well as long standing issues. After all, heart burn is not a Nexium deficiency!
If you suffer from digestive issues, please contact me for a free 20-minute consultation. Sometimes big problems can be resolved with a small change. I recently had a client suffering from IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) with terrible bloating and diarrhea. I asked him to eat gluten free for one week and report back to me. He came back thanking me profusely as ALL his digestive ailments were gone! He was able to stop his immunosuppressant medication, and needed very little dietary and herbal support. You see, a small change can make a huge difference!