"IBS Acupuncture - "The ancient art of chinese medicine may have a role Irritable Bowel Syndrome"
IBS acupuncture is the ancient Chinese art of using needles to aid healing. The art is part of a group classified as an IBS alternative medicine or Irritable Bowel syndrome complementary medicine in this disorder. The studies that have been done tend to favour a placebo response, although few can doubt the improvement seen in quality of life scores. A therapy that has been around for over 2500 years has not survived because of evidence-based medicine, but rather because a lot of people have derived benefit.
The studies that have been done are small and have had very mixed results, but this shouldn't stop you from exploring this form of IBS treatment as it may be beneficial on a case by case basis.
IBS acupuncture therapy has various uses, but maybe particularly effective in abdominal pain, the key feature of all
IBS
symptoms.
IBS acupuncture
works on meridian lines, the so called energy flow lines. Qi, or energy, flows along these lines and can affect health if interrupted with resultant illness. The placement of needles, at various meridian points, can redirect the energy and restore 'harmony'. It is the restoration of harmony that promotes wellbeing.
Energy consists of Yin and Yang. These are the opposites of energy that need to balance. Yin consists of Dark, cold, passive and negative energy where as Yang consists of light, warm, active and positive energy. An Acupuncturist determines the degree of Yin and Yang someone has and uses pressure sites to rebalance these.
Acupressure is another form of alternative medicine or complimentary medicine. It has been used as an alternative to acupuncture by exerting pressure rather than needles at these points. I'm not aware of any evidence-base for this. You might like to read
I believe
IBS acupuncture
should be looked on as an alternative or complementary therapy to modern medicine and should be considered in complex cases, where standard management strategies have failed, or where an individual wants to look at non-medical alternatives. A qualified Acupuncturist is essential to oversee this.
If you would like to read more about this, there is a very good paper in the
Gut journal.
Start A Discussion On Acupuncture Now
Have you tried acupuncture? Has it helped? Was it better or worse than you thought it was going to be? What symptoms has it helped you with? Do you practice acupuncture and can you offer others advice? Start a discussion with others now!
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