About 63 million people in the United States suffer digestive problems each year. Digestive disorders are often the result of eating the unhealthy “standard American diet” combined with the highly stressed lives the average American undergoes each and everyday of his/her life. These conditions can vary from petty discomforts like bloating and gas to deadly illnesses, like cancers of the digestive organs, unremitting diarrhea, ulcerative colitis and crohn’s disease. Regardless of the conditions, being proactive is always a good approach to maintain the good health of our digestive system. This article will talk about natural therapies and acupuncture and how they can play a big role in your digestive health as well as your overall well-being. We’ll talk about some typical disorders and discuss what we can do about them.
Gas and bloating – consuming too much sugar, alcohol coffee refined foods, as well as too much stress or eating excessively or too fast can bring about there symptoms. Some of the herbal remedies that can help heal these symptoms include:
Bifidus and Acidophilus – gas and bloating is usually due to too much Candida stored in your stomach which leads to emotional and physical imbalances.
Chai hu shu gan wan — the herbal remedy is prescribed to neutralize gas and stress.
Liu jun xi tang – this formula reinforces the spleen and removes phlegm in the gut which also contributes to the boating and gas.
ziao yao wan – prescribed for digestive problems that develop from severe stress and during menses.
Diarrhea – if your diarrhea is chronic in nature, it can be a potentially deadly condition for you. Chronic diarrhea is a top reason for fatalities in the world. Intestinal inflammation or weakness of the spleen are two reasons for diarrhea and the way to address this condition is to avoid eating refined and processed foods and to remove anxiety and stress in your mind and body. Some of the basic treatments for diarrhea include:
Probiotics – lactobilli shirota strain and lactobacilli acidophilus are helpful useful in controlling and preventing diarrhea.
Western herbs – these include ginger, peppermint chamomile and slippery elm. They soothe and harmonize the abdomen to cure diarrhea.
Chinese herbal formulas – these include: jia wei xiao yao wan, Tong xie yao feng, and Isatis Cooling (ideal for diarrhea caused by heat and inflammation); jin gui shen qi tang (rehmannia 8), liu jun xi tang (6 Gentlemen), si jun qi tang (4 Gentlemen) and bu zhong yi qi tang (ginseng and astragalus), good for relieving diarrhea caused by deficiency.
IBS or irritable bowel syndrome – this condition affects millions of US citizens each year. IBS is diagnosed by physicians when the symptoms of the patient don’t jibe with any other digestive condition. This problem is marked by bowels alternating from diarrhea to constipation and with stomach distention and pain. Individuals having IBS are quite reactive to a number of foods that include gluten, wheat, refined sugar and foods that are high in fiber. Oftentimes, conventional therapies fail to resolve IBS symptoms which go on indefinitely. Acupuncturists, however, report far better success in treating IBS. Acupuncturists believe that IBS is caused by an imbalance between the spleen and the liver. Frustration, anger and stress can cause the liver to become hyperactive and this affects the spleen which weakens causing fatigue and loose bowels. The goal of the treatment then is to strengthen the spleen and calm the liver. Herbal formulas for IBS can include:
Peppermint and chamomile – these herbs generate a relaxing effect on the gut which can alleviate the irritation
Bifidus and Acidophilus – they can help people suffering from IBS who also have Candida
Constipation – chronic constipation can easily develop from regularly eating the standard American diet which is sadly low in antioxidants and fiber and enriched with processed ingredients and additives. This diet leaves people constipated and most of them are even unaware that they are. The reason for this is that they have regular bowel movements, but not all the toxins are flushed out of their systems. The result is their intestines become filled with toxins. What is needed is a thorough intestinal cleansing to help cure their numerous chronic health issues. A number of nutritional supplements and natural herbal remedies can resolve constipation and treat the underlying imbalances. Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners may prescribe herbal formulas such as run chang wan and ma zi ren wan that serve as mild laxatives for the constipation. Other remedies for constipation include:
Flax seed and meal – they are ideal sources for that can treat constipation. Senna leaf is can be appropriate for curing severe constipation.
Psyllium husk – this high fiber product can be used to relieve constipation.
Triphala – this is an herbal formula that is an ayurvedic remedy for constipation. It also can help flush out stagnant waste from the intestines.
Aloe vera juice – can help bring about peristalsis (ideal movement of materials in the digestive system) and help alleviate inflammation.
A lot of digestive disorders are effectively treated with Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture. Changing your diet can help the digestive system to detoxify and can restore normal function of the gut. The function of your digestive system is one the bases for gauging your overall health. Any imbalances or weaknesses there can most likely compromise your overall health. Preserving healthy digestion needs to be a part and parcel of your life to achieve optimal health.
For people suffering from colon cancer, crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, consulting with your doctor and licensed acupuncturist is highly recommended to get appropriate treatment for your condition. These conditions have their own treatment approaches and a specific treatment is what you need for your own specific condition and for your own unique body.
Dominic Sembello is a licensed acupuncturist in Linwood, NJ., and the founder and clinical director of Health Source Acupuncture.
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