On this page, we will discuss our expertise in treating digestive disorders, drawing on our strengths in acupuncture and the synergistic effects of elegantly used Chinese herbs.
Common Digestive Issues
The common symptoms of the digestive system we treat are of the following: bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue, indigestion, intolerance to certain foods, anxiety/stress, insomnia, and anemia. A plethora of diseases can underlie those symptoms, such as gastroenteritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gallstones, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diverticulitis, and peptic ulcers.
Similar to the phenomenon that different digestive disorders share similar symptoms as described above, those diverse diseases often involve the following shared pathogenic mechanisms: 1) impaired gut lining that protects the body from the external food in the digestive tract, 2) ongoing or chronic inflammation of the digestive tract that involve various immune cells, 3) imbalanced immune system that engenders abnormal immune responses to injure self-tissues, 4) abnormal gut microbiota, 5) dysregulated nervous or endocrine systems that control the function of the digestive tract, and 6) vascular issues causing reduced blood flow. Over the past thousands of years, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has developed effective treatments for shared symptoms and pathogenic changes, which primarily consist of an artful combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. The fact that some of those pathogenic mechanisms are shared across various digestive diseases explains why the combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbal treatment can be effective in alleviating the symptoms of these disorders.
Our Expertise in Acupuncture Treatment
Over the past 2,000 years, treating digestive issues has been a focus of acupuncture treatment practiced by TCM physicians in China. Thus, clinically tested, effective acupuncture formulas are a precious asset for modern acupuncturists in treating digestive symptoms. Indeed, our acupuncture treatment protocols have helped numerous patients and are based on both our clinical practice and an in-depth review of published research on the acupuncture treatment of digestive diseases. In the following, we will briefly introduce the scientific mechanisms underlying our acupuncture approaches for treating digestive symptoms.
- To regulate the blood flow that supports the digestive tract
- To bring the hyperactive or hypoactive nervous system that controls the digestive tract function back to its normal status
- To balance the imbalanced production of the hormones that control the function of the digestive tract
- To reduce the ongoing or chronic inflammation in the tissues of the digestive tract
- To promote the tissue healing process
To achieve the above therapeutic effects, we recommend the following treatment course:
| Treatment Phase | Treatment Frequency | Therapeutic Objective |
| Intense treatments | 1 ~ 2 visits every week for five continuous weeks | To bring the imbalanced function of the digestive tract back to its homeostasis and promote tissue healing |
| Maximization treatments | 1 visit every two weeks for one or two month(s) | To optimize the therapeutic outcomes |
| Optional treatments | 1 visit per month | To maintain the improved status of the digestive tract |
The above therapeutic goals are commonly pursued by targeting the following specific acupuncture points, customized for each patient based on their TCM symptom pattern differentiation. The customized combination of those acupuncture points can stimulate both local reactions and responses of the central nervous system, including the spinal cord and brain, thereby generating regulatory output to adjust the function of the digestive tract and organs via the efferent nervous system, including both the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomous nervous system.
Synergetic Therapy with Chinese Herbs
At our clinic, we utilize high-quality Chinese herbs to complement our acupuncture treatment. This strategy was emphasized by Simiao Sun, a TCM physician who lived in the Tang Dynasty and is one of the most renowned TCM physicians: “If only acupuncture without Chinese herbs or only Chinese herbs without acupuncture, a TCM physician is not an excellent doctor.” (Simiao Sun, (652 C.E.). Prescriptions Worth a Thousand in Gold.)
The combinational use of acupuncture and Chinese herbs is based on their synergetic therapeutic effects. In fact, acupuncture is used to regulate the intrinsic organ systems of the body through physical and electrical stimulation, and Chinese herbs, regulated as dietary supplements by the US FDA, on the other hand, have properties that can benefit from inside the digestive tract as they are taken orally in the form of soup or tea. Moreover, most patients can only adopt one visit per week for acupuncture treatment, leaving a gap period of six days between two visits. Taking Chinese herbs can provide benefits during those days. Thus, the combination of acupuncture treatment and Chinese herbs can exert synergistic effects to relieve digestive symptoms more effectively.
Within the scope of practice of a licensed acupuncturist, we carefully customize the use of Chinese herbs based on each patient’s TCM pattern differentiation and the synergistic approach with our acupuncture treatment protocols. We choose long-tested traditional Chinese herb formulas and have benefited patients with various disorders, including digestive diseases, autoimmune disorders, and women’s diseases.
Our treatment approach as part of integrative medicine
The practice of combining acupuncture and Chinese herbs at our clinic provides an excellent complementary therapy within the paradigm of integrative medicine. Thus, beyond the conventional medical treatment one may receive from their doctor, choosing acupuncture and Chinese herbs can be very beneficial for relieving digestive symptoms.
At Precision Acupuncture Clinic, we strive to provide high-quality acupuncture treatments supported by our extensive clinical experience and cutting-edge published research to achieve the best possible therapeutic outcomes for our patients.