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Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Acupuncture & Herbs

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common GI disorder characterized by persistent or intermittent

abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and changes in defecation habits. Laxatives, antidiarrheals and/or antispasmodics are used to treat the symptoms depending on the pattern.

 

Acupuncture is a beneficial alternative treatment for functional gastrointestinal disorders, including IBS. Studies in China have shown that acupuncture is more effective in relieving IBS symptoms and causes fewer adverse events than many antispasmodics. It’s thought that acupuncture affects the brain-gut axis, gastrointestinal motility, and visceral hypersensitivity.

 

The type of IBS pattern guides the acupuncture points selection. The following acupoints are used most frequently: Tianshu (ST 25), Zhongwan (CV 12), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zusanli (ST 36), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Taichong (LR 3), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), and Neiting (ST 44).

 

Several Chinese herbal formulas may be effective in managing IBS-C and IBS-D:

 

  • Liu Jun Zi Tang

  • Si Ni San

  • Tong Xie Yao Fang

  • Xiao Chai Hu Tang

  • Xiao Yao San

Upset Stomach

For more information or to schedule a FREE consultation, please contact Point of Cure by phone at 727-252-6060 or via this website.

Sources

Liang, S. B., Han, M., Cheng, H. J., Zhang, Q. Y., Zhang, N. W., Jia, B. Y., Robinson, N., & Liu, J. P. (2022). Chinese herbal formula Tongxie Yaofang for diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: study protocol for a randomized, multiple-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Trials, 23(1), 226. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-022-06142-x Qi, L. Y., Yang, J. W., Yan, S. Y., She, Y. F., Hu, H., Li, Y., Chi, L. L., Wu, B. Q., Tu, J. F., Wang, L. Q., & Liu, C. Z. (2022). Effect of acupuncture for diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: study protocol for a randomized clinical trial. Trials, 23(1), 711. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-022-06639-5 Shi, Y. Z., Tao, Q. F., Qin, D., Chen, M., Yu, S. G., & Zheng, H. (2022). Acupuncture vs. antispasmodics in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: An adjusted indirect treatment comparison meta-analysis. Frontiers in physiology, 13, 1001978. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.1001978

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