Reduce Indigestion with Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine.
What is indigestion? medically, the term used is Dyspepsia and it covers a range of vague upper digestive system conditions related to the dysfunction of the stomach and the spleen.
The main symptoms involved with Indigestion include the following:
Bloating, mild nausea, acid reflex/ heart burn/ hyperacidity, epigastric distention and pain, gas and belching.
All of which describe a disruption to the harmonious Qi mechanism.
TCM theory, which involves the use of traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis, states that indigestion is primarily caused by diet and emotions. Eating irregularly, over eating and eating during times of stress, work or emotion upset are said to be the main triggers. These triggers upset the relationship between the Liver and the Spleen energy which can result in disruption to the Qi and fluid mechanism around the body.
Our digestive system is very sensitive to emotional stress, and often our gastric complaints can mirror our stress levels at that time.
TCM recognises the human body is fundamentally diseased by a combination of a toxic working / living environment where repressed emotions, continued stress, bad diet and unbalanced lifestyle will manifest inside the body as digestive issues, among other issues.
A western diet these days involves the consumption of too much rich, oily, greasy and hard to digest foods, combined with too much sugar and too much iced cold drinks, and alcohol. Over eating and over loading the digestive system causes food stagnation and this can then lead to internal pathogens: Damp, Damp Heat, and Damp Phlegm.
Indigestion according to Traditional Chinese Medicine has the following patterns of disharmony manifesting:
Food Stagnation: fullness and bloating, relived by the passing of gas or belching and made worse with tight clothes and pressure.
Liver Qi invading Spleen energy: symptoms worse when under emotional stress, plus loss of appetite and moodiness.
Mixed Cold & Heat condition: bloating and discomfort plus heartburn and morning nausea.
Spleen Qi Deficiency: indigestion, bloating, gas, lethargy, loose stool.
The above patterns are normally seen in combination with each other as the conditions progress.
Recognising which patterns you have and addressing the triggers involving diet and emotional stress will help to alleviate the symptoms. Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal medicine combined or on their own can be prepared for you to individually combat your patterns of disease and rectify the spleen and stomach activity.
The prescriptions used to treat indigestion differ depending on the exact signs and symptoms present and the constitution of the person. and for best results should be taken for as long as necessary to not only reverse some of the signs of damage but also for as much time as it takes to rebalance the homeostasis of the body.
