Don’t Get Irritated by IBS- Fight Back! Here’s How With Acupuncture

Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is one of the most common digestive illnesses in the US, and it affects everyone in different ways. Symptoms are varied and wide-spread, and can range in severity. Some of the most common symptoms include painful bloating that can have a duration of hours, sometimes entire days. Chronic constipation or diarrhea, gas, skin issues due to build-up of waste and toxins in the system, and a weakened immune system leading to brain fog or fatigue have all also been linked to IBS. The anxiety from constantly having to use the bathroom or not knowing what foods will bring about a flare-up can, ironically, also bring about the flare-up you’re trying to avoid. 

What causes IBS? While no one answer has been proven to be the definitive answer, some leading causes attributed to IBS include a gut infection, imbalanced healthy gut bacteria, or an issue in the gut-brain connection, leading to issues such as overactive or underactive intestinal muscles that impede proper waste functions and cause pain, cramping, and inconsistent bowel movements. 

So how can acupuncture help? In about as many varied ways as there are manifestations of symptoms! Acupuncture can begin by reducing the discomfort and icky feeling you’re left with during bloating or inconsistent bowel movements. Pain, sensitivity to touch, overheating, and heartburn or acid reflux as a result of bloating can be reduced (as well as the bloating) so that the flare-up ends sooner. We can help promote rest, relaxation, and happy hormones in your brain that are responsible for some of the stress associated with the onset or creation of a flare-up, and help you get a good night’s sleep, which can also affect your flare-ups. Acupuncture can also help regulate digestion to prevent inconsistent bowel movements, and strengthen your gut’s microbiome with stimulation of good gut bacteria production. 

At the Acupuncture & Holistic Health Center, we take a holistic approach to IBS and gut health. We use state-of-the-art lab testing to determine your gut health and diagnose food allergies. 

If you want more information about how acupuncture can help you with your IBS, give us a call today at (904) 296-9545!

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