Here are some tips that you can use to help balance and support your health during changing season like this.

Digestion is a complex task performed by the body. For all we have learned over the years regarding digestion, there is still so much we don’t understand. It was only recently that modern medicine was able to dramatically change the way we view food, confirming that everything we consume can potentially have a life-altering effect on the body and mind.

Digestive disorders are rampant in the United States and surveys estimate that nearly 70 million people are affected by some sort of digestive disorder. This could be anything from gallstones to acid reflux to pancreatitis. For many, these disorders are extremely debilitating. But for every person dealing with a debilitating digestive disorder, there are thousands more that just assume everything they are experiencing is “normal.” Acupuncture and natural herbs are one of effective ways people can deal with their digestive disorders, safely, and without harmful side-effects. The protocols within this system utilize many different modalities to diagnose and treat imbalances in the body. They can help digestion because it treats the person holistically, meaning all parts are considered with treatment. Studies have shown acupuncture can stimulate peristalsis in the intestinal tract. A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine determined electroacupuncture as a safe and effective treatment for chronic functional constipation. The study showed each participant increased the number of consistent bowel movements with the assistance of electroacupuncture treatments all without any adverse side effects.

Acupressure Points

Rubbing these acupressure points with your fingers for 30 to 60 seconds can help improve digestive function over time.

Stomach 36 (ST 36): On the front of the lower leg, about 1 finger-width lateral to the crest of the shin bone, and about 4 finger-widths below the indentations of the knee. Functions: Tonifies the Qi and the blood, harmonizes the spleen and stomach, boosts energy levels and normalizes digestive function. Good for all chronic digestive problems, as well as acute watery diarrhea, stomach gurgling and burping.

Large Intestine 11 (LI 11): On the lateral elbow, halfway between the bony prominence on the lateral side of the elbow and the tendons in the middle of the elbow crease. Functions: Clears heat from the digestive tract and the whole body, treats the intestines, regulates Qi and Blood. Good for constipation, diseases of the intestines, acute GI upset with strong-smelling stools, and GI upset with fever.

Pericardium 6 (PC 6): On the inside of the wrist, 2 finger-widths up from the wrist crease, in between the two prominent tendons of the inner arm. Functions: Soothes stuck Qi, harmonizes the stomach, opens the chest, calms the spirit. Good for nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and GI distress made worse with stress.

Dietary Recommendations – Maintaining a proper diet is essential to establishing healthy digestive function. Below are a few tips as to what a healthy diet entails.

• Eat well-cooked, warm temperature foods. The digestive system is weakened by the introduction of cold or raw foods, so stick to cooked vegetables, grains and meats whenever possible – this makes it easier for your system to adequately digest, and avoids many kinds of digestive upset.
• Avoid drinking ice water, which shocks the digestive system. Instead, drink room temperature water with a few grains of sea salt to provide ionized trace minerals. Avoid gulping or chugging the water, but rather sip consistently throughout the day.
• In general, seek a balanced diet throughout the day – some protein (vegetable or lean animal), grains and vegetables at each meal.
• Avoid foods that are fried, greasy or contain a lot of preservatives.
• Healthy foods are foods with strong Qi themselves – whenever possible, eat locally-sourced, fresh, organic fruits and vegetables.
• If unable to eat a well-cooked or warm meal, consider pairing your meal with a cup of ginger tea – this mitigates the cold nature of the meal, and assists your stomach in digesting the meal.

Lifestyle Recommendations- Digestion is a dynamic action, so it requires movement. Maintain a regular exercise schedule to keep your digestive Qi moving as it should!

Focus on your food. Avoid eating on the go – in your car, in traffic or at your desk at work. Take the time to focus on your meal and to be free from distractions while eating. Distractions knot the Qi of the digestive system and make it hard for the system to function optimally.

Chew thoroughly. Chewing actually starts the digestive process, so be sure to chew adequately and completely to get all the necessary nutrients from your food.

Maintain a regular eating schedule, and don’t eat too late at night.

De-stress. One of the acupuncture systems most susceptible to stress tends to overact on the digestive function when there is a high level of stress, causing GI upset. Incorporate some stressrelieving techniques like meditation, yoga, Tai Chi or journaling into your day