Digestive (Gastrointestinal) Disease

Digestive system is very important in our daily life, and maintaining a healthy digestive health will ensure our long term wellbeing and health. We have developed successful treatments for a wide range of digestive system diseases (GI)

Acupuncture can adjust / balance gastrointestinal tract movements, the secretion of digestive glands, and the absorption of nutritious substances. As every individual body has different conditions, it also responds to acupuncture in different ways. However, acupuncture has very emphatic effect on functions related to the esophagus, stomach, and intestine. Acupuncture can reduce stress, nourish related organs, minimize symptoms, and contribute to medication-free digestive system health maintenance. Acupuncture has demonstrated effectiveness in managing the side effects of from both chemotherapy medication and anesthesia.

Acupuncture & Chinese Medical Center also has had success in treating the following conditions (this is not a comprehensive list):

Acupuncture for Abdominal Pain

The abdominal pain related to indigestion, gastroenteritis or gastrointestinal spasm, urinary obstructions, liver and gallbladder disorders and gynecological condition etc. Abdominal pain is one of the categories people complained about.

How does acupuncture work for Abdominal Pain?

Acupuncture is effective in treating abdominal pain which is recommended by World Health Organization (WHO). Furthermore, based on a study published in the Journal of Chinese Medicine, acupuncture has been shown to provide overwhelmingly effective in relief for abdominal pain, the effect rate as high as 95.12%. The study found acupuncture promotes digestion, moves the energy to prevent constipation, and other factors that might cause pain.

Acupuncture for Acid Reflux/GERD

Acid reflux (gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD) is a condition in which the stomach contents (food or liquid) leak backwards from the stomach into the esophagus (the tube from the mouth to the stomach). The symptoms include irritated esophagus, heartburn, regurgitation, bloating, burping, dysphagia, hiccups or bloody stool.

How does acupuncture work for Acid Reflux/GERD?

When the esophageal sphincter relaxes at the wrong times, it causes stomach acid to go backward into the esophagus. A study reported in the American flower image Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology showed electrical stimulation acupuncture is very effective in treating acid reflux (GERD). Acupuncture stimulates/balances nervous system and muscles to allow lower esophageal sphincter working rightly. Acupuncture also helps balance stomach acid, protects the membrane of esophagus and stomach.

Acupuncture for Constipations

Constipation symptoms vary from person to person. Such as infrequent bowel movements; passage of small amounts or painful passage of hard and dry stool; difficult passage of stool of normal consistency; straining during bowel movements and feeling of incomplete evacuation etc. Constipation may cause hemorrhoids or fissures or concurrent serious risk for cardiovascular / cerebrovascular patients.

How does acupuncture work for Constipations?

Dr. Wang checks with patient’s pulses, tongue and analyzes of symptoms and signs, nature and patient’s physical condition according to the theories of traditional Chinese medicine to find the underlying causes, then provides unique treatment for each patient. The results have been showing very effective for everyone.

Acupuncture for Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract. Its symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, sometimes bloody, vomiting. Complications include skin rashes, arthritis, inflammation of the eye, tiredness, and lack of concentration.

How does acupuncture work for Crohn’s Disease

Acupuncture calms/balances autonomic nervous system which is responsible for bowel motility; Improves digestion and absorption of foods; Relieves and gets rid of the spasms of abdomen and diarrhea; Balances immune system function & decreases reactivity to food and inflammation.

Acupuncture for Diabetic Gastroparesis

The damage to the vagus nerve which controls the movement of food is resulted in the stomach takes longer time to empty its contents. The symptoms are but not limited to heartburn, vomiting undigested food, weight loss, and nausea. Diabetes can damage the vagus nerve if blood glucose levels remain high over a period of time. Due to high blood glucose causes chemical changes in nerves and damages the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to the nerves.

How does acupuncture work for Diabetic Gastroparesis?

Based on a study that was done on 80 cases, 35 cases received acupuncture treatment and the total effective rate in the treatment group reached 94.2% comparing with the control group without acupuncture treatment the effective rate was 40%. Acupuncture reduces high blood sugar level by stimulating β-cell of pancreatic islet to release insulin and resisting the hormones which rise blood glucose. It also helps recover from damaged nerves that affect the stomach from emptying.

Acupuncture for Diarrhea

Diarrhea is defined by the World Health Organization as having three or more loose or liquid stools per day, or as having more stools than is normal for that person. Acute diarrhea is most commonly due to viral gastroenteritis , bacterial infections , various toxins and drugs. Chronic diarrhea can be common caused by ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, microscopic colitis, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndromeand bile acid malabsorption.

How does acupuncture work for Diarrhea?

Acupuncture is ideal and very effective therapy for both of acute or chronic diarrhea which can be the part of the above presentations of a number of chronic medical conditions affecting the intestine. Some researchers believe the acupuncture needles stimulate electromagnetic signals in the body. They feel these signals either encourage the release of pain-killing chemicals to stop abdominal cramping, or nudge the body’s natural healing systems into action.

Acupuncture for Recurring Diverticulitis

Recurring Diverticulitis is inflammation or infection of one or more balloon-like sacs (diverticula). Diverticulitis typically causes pain, tenderness (usually in the left lower part of the abdomen), and fever.

How does acupuncture work for Recurring Diverticulitis?

Acupuncture improves immune function to decrease inflammation and reduce bacterial counts; Improves blood flow to bowel that speeds healing and strengthens mucosa; Helps reduce transit time (amount of time stool remains in colon), this reduces irritation/inflammation; Helps strengthen bowel muscle and decreases the likelihood of forming diverticula.

Acupuncture For Gastritis/ Acute Epigastric Pain/ Peptic Ulcer/Stomach Cramps

Gastritis or peptic ulcer usually has acute or chronic epigastric pain or stomach cramps. It many causes including excess alcohol intake, stress, adverse reactions to medications, bile reflux, anemia, Helicobacter pylori infections, and other bacterial or viral infections. This is consistent with the view of acupuncture. In addition acupuncture uses theory of organs and meridians to determine their relationship to gastritis, and diagnosis for gastritis in several patterns such as disharmony of the liver, spleen, and stomach; Energy of spleen and stomach deficiency; Yin deficiency (Yin deficiency mainly refers to the fine blood or essence body fluid loss of pathological phenomena, lack of body fluids, the stomach will lose the appropriate moisten nourish and produce heat); and damp heat toxins etc.

Acupuncture For Gastritis/ Acute Epigastric Pain/ Peptic Ulcer/Stomach Cramps

Acupuncture is very effective to treat gastritis, acute epigastric pain, peptic ulcer or stomach cramps, which has been confirmed by World Health Organization (WHO). In addition, Dr. Wang’s specialty is treating digestive diseases, she has treated these problems with high success rate. Gastritis or peptic ulcer usually has acute or chronic epigastric pain or stomach cramps. It many causes including excess alcohol intake, stress, adverse reactions to medications, bile reflux, anemia, Helicobacter pylori infections, and other bacterial or viral infections. This is consistent with the view of acupuncture. In addition acupuncture uses theory of organs and meridians to determine their relationship to gastritis, and diagnosis for gastritis in several patterns such as disharmony of the liver, spleen, and stomach; Energy of spleen and stomach deficiency; Yin deficiency (Yin deficiency mainly refers to the fine blood or essence body fluid loss of pathological phenomena, lack of body fluids, the stomach will lose the appropriate moisten nourish and produce heat); and damp heat toxins etc.

How does acupuncture work for Gastritis

Acupuncture improves blood flow to the involved area to reduce or rid inflammation and pain. Acupuncture also nourishes and tonify Yin (essence fluid and blood), strengthens Energy of spleen and stomach, dredges the blockage of meridians, expels and clears excess damp heat toxins to restore stomach health. Acupuncture can also help gastritis related liver-energy stagnation and spleen asthenia by invigorating the spleen and dispersing the depressed liver-energy and eliminating stagnation.

Acupuncture for Gastroparesis

Gastroparesis (delayed gastric emptying) is a digestive disorder consisting of a partial paralysis of the stomach, which reduces the ability of the stomach to empty its contents. Normally, the stomach contracts by vagus nerve to move food down into the small intestine for digestion. If the vagus nerve is damaged, Gastroparesis may occur. Symptoms include but not limited to feeling of fullness after only a few bits of food, abdominal distention, bloating, nausea, vomiting and excessive belching.

How does acupuncture work for Gastroparesis?

Acupuncture balances immune system to help speed up healing of vagus nerve damaged. Acupuncture also may balance brain chemistry to regulate nerve system working more effective. Thus, increases the stomach muscle movement and shorten the time of stomach empty. Furthermore, acupuncture has very emphatic effect on the secretion of digestive glands, and the absorption of nutritious substances.

Acupuncture for Hiatus Hernia

A Hiatus Hernia is an abnormal protrusion of the stomach up through the diaphragm and into the chest cavity.

How does acupuncture work for Hiatus Hernia?

Acupuncture increases the tone of the muscle around the esophagus and causes the stomach to empty more quickly to help keep or return the stomach to its proper position. Acupuncture can also help balance stomach acid, protect the stomach membrane, decrease heartburn.

Acupuncture for Heartburn

Heartburn is a burning sensation in the chest, which associated with regurgitation of gastric acid. The pain usually occurs behind the breastbone or in the epigastrium. It often radiate to the throat, neck, or angle of the jaw.

How does acupuncture work for Heartburn?

Acupuncture has been treating heartburn very effectively to reduce the symptoms, help recover from the cause of heartburn by adjusting the esophageal pressure, lowering gastric acid, balancing the functions of the digestive organs.

Acupuncture for IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)/Spastic Colon

In gastroenterology, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), also called spastic colon, is a functional bowel disorder characterized by mild to severe abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating, cramping, constipation, and diarrhea.

How does acupuncture work for IBS?

Acupuncture calms/balances autonomic nervous system which is responsible for bowel motility; Improves digestion of foods and lessens fermentation and gas formation; Improves immune system function and decreases reactivity to food.

Acupuncture for Peptic Ulcer

Peptic Ulcer, also known as Ulcus Pepticum, PUD or Peptic Ulcer Disease, is an ulcer (defined as mucosal erosions equal to or greater than 0.5 cm) of an area of the gastrointestinal tract that is usually acidic and thus extremely painful.

How does acupuncture work for Peptic Ulcer?

Acupuncture clears heat and detoxifies to treat acid and reduces inflammation; Tonifies energy to protect gastric and duodenal membranes, and generate new flesh; Regulates energy to promote the stomach and intestinal movement and soothe nerves; Invigorates blood to improve the local micro blood circulation that helps heal the ulcer and prevent its relapse.

Acupuncture for Ulceractive Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease which affects the lining of the large intestine and rectum. The symptoms include abdominal pain, blood in the stool, diarrhea, fever, tenesmus, nausea and vomiting, and weight loss.

How does acupuncture work for Ulceractive Colitis

Based on a study done on patient with ulcerative colitis, it has proven that the total effective rate is 91.94% with acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture balances the immune system to reduce the inflammation in the intestine and rectum, it also speeds up the healing of the ulcers formed due to the inflammation.