Acupuncture to help with digestive problems
As well as providing us with our daily nutritional needs to keep healthy and strong, eating should be an enjoyable experience. Our amazing digestive system is designed to transport and process the wide variety of foods and drinks we consume each day to fulfil these needs.
In contrast to modern eating habits, the ancient Chinese approach to eating was for people to reduce the desire for food, lighten the taste, refrain from overeating, lower the number of times they ate each day, and only serve meat to the elderly. This is because they believed that many diseases were caused by eating too often, too much and unselectively.
Food for thought perhaps. Our digestive system can become upset for various reasons including eating and drinking too quickly; eating rich, spicy dishes or too much fast food; consuming heavy meals, alcohol and caffeinated drinks late at night. Some people have a sensitivity or intolerance to certain foods and drinks, for example those containing gluten or lactose. Emotions can also play a part in spoiling our appetite and unsettling the digestive system.
Symptoms of an upset gut might include nausea and vomiting, acid reflux, ulcers, bloating, pain and cramping, constipation and diarrhoea. Any of these can spoil someone’s enjoyment of food and might mean they have to be careful about what they eat and drink. It might also mean they seek medication to help manage their symptoms
The aim of traditional acupuncture is to bring the body gently and naturally back into balance through the insertion and stimulation of ultra-fine, sterile needles along the body’s energetic pathways, or channels. It’s helpful in calming negative emotions, reducing bodily tension and gut inflammation and many people have found that acupuncture offers safe, effective relief for their digestive issues alongside dietary and lifestyle changes where these are also needed.
