A 61 year old woman came to our office complaining of severe stomach pain. She also had urgent, frequent, loose bowel movements each morning as well as bloating. She also had very low energy and depression. This IBS acupuncture case study describes how acupuncture resolved her IBS. The treatments also boosted her energy and relieved her depression.
IBS – The Problem
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal condition. Symptoms include abdominal pain and hypersensitivity causing discomfort , gas, bloating, constipation or diarrhea. In the United States, 10 to 15 percent of the adult population suffers from IBS symptoms. It is one of the most common disorders seen by primary care physicians.
Acupuncture – The Solution for IBS
Acupuncture has been resolving IBS for thousands of years. Modern scientific research confirms this fact. The World Journal of Gastroenterology recently published a study concluding that acupuncture is an effective treatment for IBS*.
Acupuncture treats IBS by addressing the root issues responsible for the condition. Evaluations of each patient determine the unique pattern imbalance responsible for their condition. Acupuncture is then used to restore balance to the body. Treatments reduce adverse symptoms, and often resolve them.
Acupuncture recognizes that conditions like IBS may have different root causes. Each patient presents with their own unique symptoms. And acupuncture is able to provide customized, specific treatments to address their needs. The results of treating at the root level is that patients get long term relief.
IBS Acupuncture Case Study
Our patient in this IBS acupuncture case study had classic symptoms of diarrhea type IBS. Her digestive issues were responsible for her fatigue. Energy comes from the food we eat. Her impaired stomach function was resulting in bowel issues, stomach pain and bloating. A stomach out-of-balance cannot transform food into energy.
Also, there was a link between her depression and the IBS. Her specific pattern imbalance was Liver Overacting on Spleen. This is a very common pattern seen in the United States. Depression is one of the common symptoms associated with this pattern.
Many times patients come to acupuncture with a modern medicine diagnosis (like IBS). But they often are struggling with other symptoms at the same time. Doctors may have sent their patients to specialists to address the other symptoms.
Acupuncture often sees these symptoms as related. Proper treatment of the root cause can often resolve them. In this case, treating the root issue resolved all our patient’s symptoms.
Treatment Plan
Our patient’s Chinese medicine diagnosis dictated her treatment plan. Specific acupuncture points strengthened her digestive and bowel function. Other points improved Qi circulation through her body.
Qi circulates through the body like blood. It travels through channels while blood travels through vessels. The body requires good qi and blood circulation to nourish the organs so they can function.
Results
After four treatments the patient was feeling much better. Her bowels were 40% improved, energy was 30% better and her mood was also 30% better. Since the treatments were helping she decided to continue treatment. After seven treatments all symptoms were 70% improved. At the end of a course of treatment (12 sessions) she was more than 95% better in all areas.
What To Expect
This IBS acupuncture case study is a typical result at Raleigh Acupuncture. IBS is straight forward to treat and provides long lasting results. That’s because the pattern imbalances that cause IBS respond well to acupuncture. People diagnosed with IBS should try acupuncture to see if it will benefit them.
All needles are sterile, single-use and hair thin. Treatments are relaxing. Many of our patients fall asleep during their sessions. Afterwards you will feel relaxed and rejuvenated.
Next Steps
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WATCH VIDEO ABOUT OUR IBS TREATMENT.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DIGESTIVE ISSUES WE TREAT.
References
*Chao GQ, Zhang S. Effectiveness of acupuncture to treat irritable bowel syndrome: a meta-analysis. World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(7):1871–1877. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i7.1871
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What our Clients are Saying
My IBS triggered diarrhea every day, all day long, but especially in the mornings. It would be triggered by the foods I ate, stress at work, or nothing at all. I was getting to the point where I was going to give up my job and try to find a job where I could work out of the house. As a last resort I went to Raleigh Acupuncture. I started seeing changes right away, less attacks in the morning, less triggers during the day. Over the duration of my treatments it seemed like my intestines were getting stronger and less sensitive. After about a month of treatment I was just having problems in the morning, going about three times. After about another month I was having normal bowel movements just once in the morning. As far as I can tell, my IBS is completely healed.
My husband Arthur and I have used Raleigh Acupuncture bi-weekly for at least 4 years, for a variety of treatments, including general well-being. Both of us felt our ailments healed with the treatment. I initially visited for Irritable Bowel Syndrome – and had immediate relief… the practitioners are very professional and learned, and we have every confidence in them. Even though we pay out of pocket, we obviously feel that the acupuncture is worth it. We both highly recommend Raleigh Acupuncture – you won’t regret it!
I have always had a nervous stomach. Some people get headaches, I get stomach aches. It’s always worse with stress and eases up on the weekends when I can relax. I did not think of getting treatment until I stumbled on an article saying how acupuncture was excellent for treating stomach pain. I went to Raleigh Acupuncture and described my condition. They explained why my stomach hurt. It totally made sense to me. It’s all about internal balance. So they went to work on me to get my stomach balanced. And I’m pleased to say that it worked. I no longer have a nervous stomach and stomach pain, even in stressful situations. I’ve made some changes to my diet, based on their recommendations, and took chinese herbs for a while, but don’t need to take them now. I’m convinced that I would have lived with stomach pain for the rest of my life had it not been for acupuncture.
I’m totally afraid of needles, but my wife convinced me to try acupuncture for my IBS. It was really hampering my life. I’d have to go to the bathroom 5 times before leaving for work. Then at work I’d be sitting in a meeting and all of a sudden have to go again. Any type of stress set me off. At first they could only use 2 needles, that’s all I would let them do. But after a few treatments I started relaxing and felt more comfortable with the needles. The effect has been amazing. I’m so much better now. Mornings are easy, no problems at work. It’s hard to believe, because I’ve had this for my entire adult life. Now I just go in for maintenance and have some herbs I take when I need them. Raleigh Acupuncture is a great outfit.
About six months ago I starting getting debilitating fatigue, to the point where I could not exercise and had to drag myself through the day at work. The doctors said it must be stress, because there was nothing wrong with me. But when I went to Raleigh Acupuncture, they said that my digestion was weak. They said I was not getting proper energy from the food I was eating, so they treated my digestive system. I was amazed to see my energy increase after the treatments. Within 10 treatments I was back to my old self, exercising again and working through the day no problem. And as a side benefit, I started losing weight. They said this was related to my improved digestive function. Now my friends want to go because they see my energy back and see me losing weight!
I am a long term patient of Raleigh Acupuncture. Prior to being under their care, I was disabled with terrible fatigue and pain all over my body. I was unable to drive, could only walk less than a block, and had numerous symptoms that mystified doctors. After countless lab work, x-rays, and MRI’s, several doctors including my primary physician told me that there was nothing that could be done. According to them, it was either an illness that was undiagnosable or it was all in my head. When I came to Raleigh Acupuncture, it was a breath of fresh air. They took me very seriously and were not mystified by my condition. They assured me that my condition was treatable and manageable. They treat me with respect, dignity and care; something that I didn’t receive at my primary care doctor. Thanks to their treatments I am now living a normal life. They have restored my health and taught me how to manage my condition. My family and friends can’t believe how much improvement I have made. My son is grateful to have his mommy back! And I am eternally grateful to Raleigh Acupuncture! They truly have the gift of healing!
I was feeling depressed and stressed because I didn’t like my job and didn’t know what to do with my life. I started taking Lexipro but it really affected my libido so I stopped taking it. I tried acupuncture because my husband said it helped him when he was depressed years earlier (before he met me!) I went to Raleigh Acupuncture and started treatments. They were really knowledgeable about Chinese medicine and explained how the body gets stuck in depression, and how the acupuncture gets the body unstuck. They really listened to me and helped me figure stuff out. I started feeling less depressed. Then I actually started getting more clear about what I wanted to do with my life career-wise. I decided to go back to school and now I’m almost done with my degree. I haven’t felt depressed at all since I was treated and I’m really excited about my life. I’m very grateful to them for being such great healers and such a great support to me when I really needed it.
I had very severe depression after my son was born. The doctors put me on medication, which helped, but I still had no motivation and felt very sad. I tried acupuncture and it really improved my mood. I would say that within four weeks of starting treatment I was no longer depressed. My motivation returned, I was able to get out of bed in the morning ready to go, and I started enjoying my son for the first time. I think the combination of medications and acupuncture worked great for me. I appreciate the caring and skill at Raleigh Acupuncture and recommend them highly for treating depression.
I still am forever in your debt for helping me through the Lymes recovery. My body pain and fatigue were overwhelming before getting acupuncture. I still tell everyone today that I am 100% positive that my recovery was a direct result of your expert care. Truly. I have very little residual effects from the disease that I can easily live with. So again,thank you not only for your amazing skills, but for the compassion and kindness that you showed me during that time.