How can acupuncture help your digestion?

Poor digestion can be the key indicator for less than optimal health. Anytime one's body loses its normal balance, our digestion is usually one of the first things to pipe up and say, "Um, hello...there's something wrong!" Just like pain, a digestive imbalance is the body's way of signaling that there is a problem. In a great deal of cases, digestive issues are strongly related to emotion. Studies have proven that there is an undeniable connection between one's brain and one's gut.

So, if you have poor digestion, how can acupuncture help you? Acupuncture is great at improving many health problems, but digestion is one of the areas in which acupuncture excels. As I mentioned above, the brain is strongly associated with the gut, so one might notice that stress can aggravate the digestive process.  Perhaps you have a little extra stress at work or with finances, you may find that stress manifesting in your stomach and intestines. These manifestations can come in the form of bloating, excessive gas, diarrhea or constipation. Acupuncture can work wonders not only by alleviating the symptoms (the branch) of poor digestion, but treating the underlying cause (the root). The "root" in this case would be stress and acupuncture can tell the body to relieve the stress by properly circulating Qi (energy).

Another helpful tool that one can learn in dealing with stress is meditation. Most acupuncturists are trained in meditation and can give tips on finding a style that is right for you.  Spending just 15 minutes per day with a clear head while focusing on the breath can do amazing things for reducing stress, and you might just find some inner peace while you're at it.