If you’ve ever had a stomach ache, you know how much discomfort digestive problems can cause. For recurring issues like IBS, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and acid reflux, the pain can stop you in your tracks. Luckily, acupuncture for digestive health issues can help alleviate some of the symptoms and get you back on the road to a healthy digestive tract.

If you suffer from general digestive discomfort or from one of the specific disorders below, acupuncture for digestive health troubles should be your next treatment option. Here’s why:

Why Acupuncture for Digestive Health Issues?

So why should you try acupuncture for digestive health issues? For one, it’s really effective.

According to a 2007 study by researchers at the University of Arizona, acupuncture is extremely effective for digestive health problems, even more than prescription drugs in some cases. In the study, a sample of people with chronic heartburn who didn’t respond to antacids underwent acupuncture two times per week.

In addition to reducing pain perception in the esophagus, the acupuncture decreased chest pain by 82 percent, heartburn by 83 percent, and acid reflux by 77 percent, all much better results than those prescribed a double dose of antacid medication. The researchers speculated that the needle treatments reduced the amount of acid produced in the subjects’ stomachs, leading to less being forced up the esophagus.

But just because acupuncture is effective against chronic heartburn, that doesn’t mean it’s a good treatment option for other digestive issues, right? True, but the information we do have shows that acupuncture is nothing to scoff at when it comes to digestion.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Anyone with IBS can tell you: the chronic pain can be disabling when it strikes. But according to researchers at the National Institutes of Health, that pain is no match for acupuncture. In a 2009 clinical trial, acupuncture was found to be more effective than non-treatment.

Major studies still need to be done on acupuncture and irritable bowel syndrome, but so far, the numbers are looking good.

Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis presents as recurring ulcers in the lining of the large intestine. As you can imagine (or maybe you don’t have to), it can be very painful if left untreated. When you treat it, however, it can be very manageable. According to the Healthcare Medicine Institute, adding acupuncture to current medications for ulcerative colitis can help keep inflammation and pain to a minimum.

Crohn’s Disease

Another inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, Crohn’s disease affects digestion from start to finish. It can be a difficult disease to manage. According to research published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology, however, it can be easier with acupuncture and moxibustion. The study revealed a nearly 84 percent efficacy rate for this treatment.

Now that you know that acupuncture for digestive health issues is an effective treatment, are you ready to start?

Contact us for a comprehensive exam. We offer an introductory consultation with the Acupuncture Physician to customize your treatment plan. Call 305-772-4386.