Acupuncture for Digestive Problems
From the traditional Chinese medicinal perspective, the spleen is the main culprit when it comes to gastrointestinal issues. The stomach is also very influential. Both organs have important jobs in the body, and both can develop specific problems which harm the gastrointestinal system. Other organs such as the liver are also important, but do not play as large a part.
The spleen is responsible for “transforming” and “transporting” the food that enters the body, and then excreting the waste. The spleen must maintain a certain dampness in order to keep up proper function. If it becomes too dry, it will not work well. If it becomes too moist, a Damp Heat condition can afflict the body.
In contrast to the spleen, the stomach needs to maintain a certain dryness to work properly. When there is an imbalance, the stomach can burn (or develop Stomach Fire).
When using acupuncture for digestion one of four patterns are usually at play. These include Spleen Qi Deficiency, Damp Heat Retention, Liver and Spleen Disharmony, and Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency. Spleen Qi Deficiency occurs when the body is chronically fatigued or ill. Damp Heat Retention is caused by infections, improper diet, and environmental factors. Liver and Spleen Disharmony arises from emotional imbalances. Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency is caused by aging and chronic illness.
Japanese Acupuncture, herbs and moxibustion can be used to restore Yin/Yang balance, improve flow of Qi and blood, help improve nourishment of organs, and alleviate Damp Heat to treat these imbalances.
Conditions which Acupuncture, herbs, and moxibustion can be used to treat include, but are not limited to irritable and short bowel syndromes; ulverative colitis, Crohn's disease, and other inflammatory bowel diseases; stomach cancer, intestinal tumors, colon cancer, and other gastrointestinal tumors; tract bleeding, intestinal cramps, and other circulation problems; peptic ulcers; chronic gastritis; atrophic gastritis; chronic enteritis; gastroenteritis; bacterial infections; and gastrointestinal infections such as rotavirus.
Digestive Problems and Moxibustion
Even compared to Acupuncture and herbs, moxibustion is unfamiliar and often completely unknown to many people in Western society. The procedure involves placing an ignited piece of herb (commonly mugwort) on the acupuncture points, or directly on the effected area. Moxibustion can be used to treat cold conditions, tonify deficiencies, alleviate inflammation, and eliminate gastrointestinal problems.
