
Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Can Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine manage your ongoing problems with IBS?
Introduction to Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common condition that we see here at Synerqi. We use both acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine as combined or stand-alone therapies. If you suffer from abdominal cramping, bloating, urgency to go to the toilet to pass bowels, constipation, or loose stool, or a combination of these symptoms, you may have IBS.1
IBS is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder characterised by recurrent abdominal pain, bloating, and poor bowel movements, such as diarrhea, constipation, or both.2 It affects one’s quality of life due to the bowel’s unpredictable nature and the physical and emotional distress it causes. Managing IBS typically involves dietary adjustments, stress management, and sometimes medication. The exact cause of IBS is unknown, but it is believed to involve a combination of abnormal gastrointestinal motility, visceral hypersensitivity, and psychological factors.3
Possible causes of IBS
There are many theories behind the cause of IBS. Is it an emotional response related to stress and anxiety affecting the function of the digestive system? Is it the gut biome (an imbalance between the healthy and bad bacteria in the gut) that has been disrupted? Regardless of the cause, our team will use its own diagnostic tools rooted in Chinese medicine to help you avoid constantly looking for the closest toilet, feeling like your stomach is ballooning after eating, or being crouched over with abdominal pain.
The evidence supporting acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine for IBS
Recent studies support the efficacy of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in managing IBS symptoms. For instance, a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) found that acupuncture significantly improved IBS symptoms compared to control groups.4 Another RCT demonstrated that Chinese herbal medicine provided significant relief from IBS symptoms and improved patients’ quality of life compared to placebo treatments.5
Our approach in the treatment process
At Synerqi, our personalized approach includes assessing your pulse at the wrist, particularly focusing on the areas of the pulse that indicate overactive or underactive digestive circulation and stress. Pulse diagnosis in Chinese medicine helps us determine the underlying imbalances in your body and guides us in selecting the most appropriate acupuncture points and herbal medicines to address your specific symptoms. By doing so, we ensure that each treatment plan is tailored to your unique needs based on your pulse, utilising the best practices in both acupuncture and herbal medicine.
If IBS-related bloating is causing you embarrassment in public, making your clothing feel tight and uncomfortable after eating, or if the anxiety of needing to know where the nearest toilet is when you go out, or the abdominal cramping is disrupting your daily life, it may be time to visit us at Synerqi. Our goal is to help bring normality back to your everyday life.
Call us today or book online to get the care you deserve.
1National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). “Definition & Facts for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.” NIDDK.
2Mayo Clinic. “Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).” Mayo Clinic.
3Chey, W. D., Kurlander, J., Eswaran, S. (2015). Irritable bowel syndrome: a clinical review. JAMA, 313(9), 949-958
4Manheimer, E., Cheng, K., Wieland, L. S., et al. (2012). Acupuncture for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
5Bensoussan, A., Talley, N. J., Hing, M., et al. (1998). Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with Chinese herbal medicine: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA, 280(18), 1585-1589.