Digestive System diseases
The digestive system made up of the gastrointestinal tract (GI), liver, pancreas, and gallbladder helps the body digest food. Digestion is important for breaking down food into nutrients, which your body uses for energy, growth, and cell repair.
Some digestive diseases and conditions are acute, lasting only a short time, while others are chronic, or long-lasting.
The first sign of problems in the digestive tract often includes one or more of the following symptoms:
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Heartburn
- Incontinence
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pain in the belly
- Swallowing problems
- Bleeding
- Weight gain and loss
Chinese Medicine and digestive system disease
Chinese Medicine views the digestive process a little differently than the way in Western medicine. According to TCM, food is first processed by the Stomach, where it is ‘ripened’ or broken down into useful (‘pure’) and waste (‘impure’) components. Then the useful parts are directed to the Spleen/Pancreas, where they’re transformed into the nutrients, energy, blood and fluids your body needs, while the wastes are directed downward to the Small Intestine and ultimately the Large Intestine for excretion. Many gastrointestinal problems can be attributed to an imbalance in the Stomach, the Spleen or both. At same time, the Liver, Gallbladder, Small Intestine and Large Intestine systems also play a critical role in the digestion process. When acid reflux/GERD or vomiting are present, they indicate that Stomach energy is moving upwards rather than in its usual downwards direction which can sometimes be caused by an overworked Liver. If the Gallbladder’s function of producing bile to break down fats is hampered it can cause issues in the Small Intestine where this occurs. If the Small or Large Intestine functions of eliminating waste are out of balance, you may experience bowel problems such as diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, bloating and gas. Through a comprehensive diagnosis, we can identify where things are out of balance and use our Chinese medicine tools to correct it.
Acupuncture, Chinese Herbs, and Diet Therapy are very effective at treating most all digestive problems. They can provide quick relief of the symptoms while addressing the underlying cause. With dietary and lifestyle adjustments we can provide lasting relief, and prevent recurrence of the problem.