Unlocking Relief: Acupuncture as an Effective Approach for Addressing IBS
I’m willing to bet that surprise bathroom trips, stomach pain, and gas are truly no one’s cup of tea. Luckily, you can use real, time tested, natural therapies to help solve these issues. In fact, digestive issues respond really well to both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine and are one of my specialties and areas of focus here at my Longmont Acupuncture clinic. Through my years of experience, I have learned firsthand how acupuncture can truly help so many people suffering with IBS and even other digestive issues. However, in this article, we’ll delve into the fascinating world of acupuncture and its potential to alleviate Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) specifically. Backed by a growing body of research, acupuncture offers a promising avenue for those seeking therapy to treat and manage their IBS. Below we’ll explore the studies that shed light on the effectiveness of acupuncture and how it can bring relief to individuals struggling with this very common but very treatable gastrointestinal disorder.
Understanding IBS:
Before we delve into the benefits of acupuncture, let's briefly discuss IBS. IBS is a chronic condition affecting the digestive system, characterized by symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation. Usually, people either present with IBS with more constipation, or more frequent diarrhea; however, it can also alternate between the two. Traditional medical approaches often focus on managing individual symptoms with pharmaceuticals like anti-spasmodics, laxatives, anti-depressants, pain medication, etc.; however, a growing number of individuals are now seeking holistic alternatives to address the root causes of their condition. The medications that are often given to treat IBS merely treat symptoms and often come with unpleasant side effects that could affect your gut health longterm. My goal, and the goal of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture is to treat the root cause so that you don’t need to rely on any medications or herbs for the rest of your life. This means, we focus on treating the underlying cause of IBS so that you can get back to enjoying your life.
While treating the root cause means that you will not need treatment for the rest of your life, it doesn’t mean that it’s a quick fix or that you won’t need to amend your diet and lifestyle. Diet and lifestyle is of course an integral part of healing the gut and all digestive disorders.
It’s also important to meet with your doctor to always rule out more serious concerns and for peace of mind.
Acupuncture for IBS:
If you are searching for a more holistic approach to IBS relief, acupuncture and chinese herbal medicine are incredibly effective at treating IBS. Acupuncture is an ancient practice originating from Traditional Chinese Medicine and involves the insertion of thin single-use stainless steel needles into specific points on the body. It aims to restore blood flow through the digestive tract, support digestion and metabolism, and help resolve any excessive mucous or biofilms in the body that could be hindering digestion and causing inflammation. Acupuncture is considered very safe, and most acupuncture patients leave their treatments feeling less stressed, more calm, and very relaxed. By now you might be thinking… treatments that help digestion and also make you feel like you just left the spa… where can I sign up?
Now, let's explore some relevant studies highlighting the efficacy of acupuncture in managing IBS symptoms.
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined multiple randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture in reducing IBS symptoms. The study concluded that, “Acupuncture exhibits clinically and statistically significant control of IBS symptoms.” The results indicated that acupuncture was significantly more effective than sham acupuncture and usual care in reducing abdominal pain, bloating, and overall IBS symptom severity. These findings suggest that acupuncture can serve as a safe and valuable therapy for individuals with IBS.
In this meta analysis, 321 studies with 3234 patients were evaluated and researchers investigated the efficacy of acupuncture specifically for individuals with diarrhea-predominant IBS or functional diarrhea. The results showed that acupuncture led to a significant reduction in the frequency and severity of diarrhea, as well as improvements in stool consistency compared to pharmaceutical treatment. Additionally, participants reported decreased abdominal pain and an overall improvement in their quality of life. The study concluded, “The clinical effect of acupuncture on IBS-D or FD cannot be ignored. It has great safety, can avoid adverse reactions caused by western medicine, and has the advantages of simple operation and low cost. This study highlights the potential of acupuncture as a targeted therapy for IBS and for those hoping to treat their IBS with a more holistic approach. Chinese herbal medicine is something I commonly use in my Longmont Acupuncture clinic to treat IBS and digestive issues as well, as taking herbs often leads to faster, and more stable results over time.
3. Study: Effect of Acupuncture in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial” Mayo Clinic Proceedings (2020):
A third study, a randomized controlled trial done by the Mayo Clinic on Acupuncture for IBS also concluded that, “Acupuncture may be more effective than PEG 4000 or pinaverium bromide for the treatment of IBS, with effects lasting up to 12 weeks.”
The studies highlighted here provide compelling evidence of the benefits of acupuncture in reducing IBS symptoms, including abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea. However, as acupuncturist and herbalist who frequently treats IBS and digestive concerns- I see the benefits firsthand on a weekly basis.
If you're considering acupuncture as part of your IBS management plan, I recommend consulting a licensed acupuncturist who is also a board certified chinese herbalist. While acupuncture alone can be enough to treat IBS, more often than not herbal medicine, diet changes, and stress reducing activities are often needed for longterm results. Remember, everyone's experience with IBS is unique, and finding the right, personalized combination of therapies may be necessary. If you’re local to the Longmont, Boulder, or Denver metro area please reach out through my website if you’d like to get started on a customized approach that will target your IBS or other digestive concerns. In addition to acupuncture and herbal medicine for IBS, I will also create a custom treatment plan with nutrition or supplement recommendations.
I look forward to working with you and helping you to reach your health goals! The world needs your healthiest, fullest, most vibrant version of yourself and I can’t wait to see you bloom :)
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3930986/
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/np/2020/8892184/
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(20)30151-8/fulltext#secsectitle0125
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20360064
