Irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome has become much more common in recent years but  this has been recognised and treated for thousands of years with Chinese Medicine.

Within Chinese medicine this condition refers to a disharmony between the liver and the spleen. Symptoms commonly associated with this condition include:

• Worse after eating particular things
• Alternating diarrhoea and constipation
• Worse for emotional turmoil
• Loose stools or hard pebble-like stools
• Constipation
• Stress

Irritable bowel syndrome can be treated effectively with acupuncture, herbal medicine or a combination of both.

Bloating

Bloating is an uncomfortable condition where the abdomen becomes distended and swollen. It is often associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and premenstrual symptoms, amongst others.

Another type of bloating originates in the digestive system itself (the Spleen-pancreas in Chinese medical terminology). Symptoms of bloating after eating and feeling swollen, puffy and sluggish during the menstrual cycle indicate poor function of the digestive system.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine work effectively by clearing stagnation and strengthening the digestive process to resolve bloating. It can by helped by the adoption of life-style changes such as following an appropriate diet and using strategies to avoid or manage stress.