Gastroparesis

What causes gastroparesis?

Gastroparesis is most often caused by nerve damage that disrupts the muscle contractions moving food through the digestive tract. It shows up in a few different forms:

Postoperative gastroparesis syndrome — a temporary form that can follow abdominal or pelvic surgery, as the digestive system recovers from surgical disruption

Diabetic gastroparesis — the most common cause, resulting from long-term nerve damage related to diabetes

Idiopathic gastroparesis — cases with no clearly identifiable cause

How acupuncture helps

Acupuncture supports digestion in a few different ways:

• Vagus nerve stimulation. The vagus nerve runs from the brain through the chest to the abdomen and plays a central role in regulating digestion. Acupuncture can help stimulate this nerve, which is often underactive in gastroparesis. Animal research has shown that electroacupuncture at ST 36 directly activates the vagus nerve to enhance gastric motility, and that this effect disappears when the vagus nerve is disrupted — pointing to it as a key part of how this point works. (1)
• Improved local blood flow. Treatment increases circulation to the digestive organs, supporting normal muscle function in the stomach wall.
• Endorphin release. Acupuncture triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, which also help regulate stomach function through the brain-gut connection.
• Cellular repair. In diabetic animal models, electroacupuncture at ST 36 has been shown to help restore damaged networks of interstitial cells that generate the stomach’s natural rhythmic contractions as well as alongside measurable improvements in gastric emptying. (2)

I like to describe it this way: acupuncture helps reset the communication between the brain and the gut, essentially “waking up” a digestive system that has become sluggish or unresponsive.

What acupuncture points are used for gastroparesis?

Treatment is generally built around points known to influence stomach motility and vagal tone. Some of the most commonly used include:

• ST 36 (Zusanli) — a classic point for regulating digestion and stomach function
• CV 12 (Zhongwan) — an abdominal point directly over the stomach; research suggests this pairing with ST 36 may offer the strongest symptom relief
• PC 6 (Neiguan) — frequently used for nausea and to help normalize gastric rhythm
• ST 25 — an additional abdominal point sometimes used to support local motility

In some cases, electrical stimulation is added to these points to increase the treatment effect, particularly in patients with diabetic gastroparesis.

What the research shows about point selection

A randomized controlled trial followed 99 patients with gastroparesis across three treatment groups over an 8-week period, each using ST 36 paired with a different second point: CV 12, PC 6, or a non-acupuncture control site. (3) All three groups improved, and gastric emptying rates rose similarly across the board — but the CV12 + ST 36 combination produced the strongest and most consistent reduction in symptoms such as early fullness, bloating, and post-meal fullness, with PC6 + ST36 close behind. Right after treatment, close to half of the CV12 group showed a significant clinical response, compared to roughly 30% in the PC6 group; by the four-week follow-up, effectiveness rates across all three groups had risen substantially. The researchers concluded that which points are chosen plays a meaningful role in how well treatment works.

This combination has held up in more recent research on diabetic gastroparesis specifically. A study comparing single vs. combination acupoints found that acupuncture at CV12 and St36 together outperformed treatment at CV12 alone, with the combined approach producing greater symptom improvement both immediately after treatment and at follow-up. (4)

ST 36’s effect on gut motility also in post operative gastroparesis. A randomized trial in patients recovering from colorectal surgery found that electroacupuncture at ST 36 sped up the return of bowel sounds and passage of gas compared to a sham treatment, and also reduced post-surgical nausea. (5)

Additionally, a 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis of 12 randomized controlled trials found that adding acupuncture to standard post-surgical care significantly improved patients’ overall treatment response, reduced gastric fluid retention, and shortened the time patients needed a gastric tube. (6)

A holistic approach

Beyond gastric motility, acupuncture treatment also supports overall energy levels and helps reduce systemic inflammation — both of which play a role in how the digestive system functions over time.

Because gastroparesis often overlaps with other digestive conditions, treatment may also touch on related issues such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome and constipation.

Take the next step

Take the next step toward easier digestion — schedule your visit today.

References

1. Zhang Z, Wang C, Li Q, Zhang M, Zhao H, Dong L, Wang G, Jin Y. Electroacupuncture at ST36 accelerates the recovery of gastrointestinal motility after colorectal surgery: a randomised controlled trial. Acupunct Med. 2014;32(3):223-226. doi:10.1136/acupmed-2013-010490
2. Lu MJ, Yu Z, He Y, Yin Y, Xu B. Electroacupuncture at ST36 modulates gastric motility via vagovagal and sympathetic reflexes in rats. World J Gastroenterol. 2019;25(19):2315-2326. doi:10.3748/wjg.v25.i19.2315
3. Chen Y, Xu JJ, Liu S, Hou XH. Electroacupuncture at ST36 ameliorates gastric emptying and rescues networks of interstitial cells of Cajal in the stomach of diabetic rats. PLoS One. 2013;8(8):e83904. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0083904
4. Wu X, Li P, Liu L, Chen X, Yue Z. A clinical randomized controlled trial of acupuncture treatment of gastroparesis using different acupoints. Pain Res Manag. 2020;2020:8751958. doi:10.1155/2020/8751958
5. Liu R, He M, Zhao X, Sun M, Cao J, Wang X, Wang X, Zhao S, Wang F, Li T. Effects of stimulating single acupoint and combination acupoints on diabetic gastroparesis: a randomised controlled trial study. J Tradit Complement Med. 2024;14(4):446-455. doi:10.1016/j.jtcme.2024.01.008
6. Xv Y, Feng Y, Lin J. Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for postoperative gastroparesis syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Med (Lausanne). 2025;11:1494693. doi:10.3389/fmed.2024.1494693