Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a condition that causes bloating, gas, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, or mixed diarrhea and constipation. In addition to overall feeling unwell, IBS also impacts work, school, and social situations.[1]

There is hope to feel better. Acupuncture can help in treating IBS.[2,3] In my seventeen years of practice I have helped hundreds of patients with IBS improve with acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

There is no single cause of IBS for all people.[4,5] Many factors may cause IBS, including issues with gastric motility, low-level inflammation in the digestive system, and dysbiosis, an imbalance in gut bacteria.[6] Some people have issues with specific food triggers.[7] Of course, many people find stress a significant factor in the development of IBS.

For some,  IBS symptoms develop after food poisoning. Although the harmful bacteria has been killed, the digestive problems remain, possibly from an imbalance in the healthy gut bacteria.[8] It is also thought that bacterial toxins disrupt gastric motility and function. [9]

Acupuncture has long understood that toxins remain after infections. The therapy focuses on removing these toxins, correcting the imbalances causing the problems, and boosting the body’s energy.

Acupuncture Diagnosis for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy are helpful for all types of IBS to relieve pain and discomfort, regulate bowel movements, and improve overall health.

During your first visit,, we will discuss your digestive symptoms as a part of your overall health. Your sleep, joint and muscle pain, stress, frequency of colds, and energy levels all help me to understand what is causing your particular digestive issues. Unique to acupuncture, feelings of heat and cold reveal an underlying cause of heat (which is often inflammation in the gut), lack of circulation, or poor digestive energy.

Acupuncture Treatment for IBS

The acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy are customized to each person’s unique combinations of symptoms. By considering all of your symptoms and your overall health, I will identify the imbalances that are the root cause of the IBS.  The acupuncture and herbal therapies are customized to address the imbalances underlying the IBS.

The most common imbalances leading to IBS are a lack of digestive energy (Qi vacuity), lack of flow of the energy (Qi Stagnation), as well as accumulation of toxins in the digestive system. Different acupuncture points and herbs will be used for the different imbalances.

Acupuncture of course also works physically on the body to improve digestion and gut motility. One technique is electro-acupuncture on the point Stomach 36 which has been shown to regulate gastric motility.[10] Once the gut motility returns, the natural gut microflora will be more likely rebalance.

In my practice, I find that trigger points throughout the abdomen cause IBS symptoms. Trigger points are areas of hypercontraction of the muscles and fascia, the body’s connective tissue. The trigger points become extremely tight and pull on the abdomen and the digestive system. Relieving this abdominal tension helps to reduce pain and improve IBS symptoms.

Chinese herbal therapies for IBS

Herbs are tailored to each person’s imbalance.  Chinese herbal medicine have been shown not only to reduce symptoms of IBS but also have a long lasting improvement of pain and digestion after the therapy has stopped.[3]

Chinese herbs are prescribed in formulas consisting of many herbs that each have a specific action addressing the root cause of the IBS.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Feedback From our clients…

I first came to Alban Acupuncture because I suffered from poor digestion, IBS, fatigue, and excessive sweating/hyperhidrosis. Now, my digestion is much, much better and I feel less exhausted. My sweating has decreased enormously and I am no longer self-conscious about wearing light-colored shirts. I am very, very satisfied with the results. His treatments and care are fantastic!

R.T., Teacher