Acupuncture For Indigestion

By Y.C. Chan, OMD, Dipl Ac

Any malfunction of the digestive system may be called indigestion. Indigestion is a symptom rather than a disease.

The most common symptoms of indigestion include heartburn, nausea, pain, acid reflux, bloating, distension, belching, stomach gas, as well as hyperacidity. Some people have frequent mild symptoms, while others may have occasional abdominal discomfort. Overweight people may experience more symptoms than average weight people.

There are many reasons for indigestion, such as contaminated food, too many sweet foods, alcohol, smoking, malnutrition, hiatus hernia, allergic reaction, and side effects from different medications, particularly from antibiotics.

If accompanied by nonstop severe pain within a certain period, indigestion may be caused by a serious medical problem, requiring prompt surgery. Medications containing aspirin, as well as cortisone, may cause stomach ulcer and internal bleeding. Many medications have side effects similar to indigestion. Consult your doctor before taking any medication.

More than 50% of pregnant women have different degrees of indigestion. Hormonal changes and the fast growing size of the abdomen can cause more pressure on the internal organs. They may suffer indigestion until the baby is born.

Acupuncture is a safe and effective procedure for indigestion. The treatment may also relieve anxiety and depression, which may be contributing to the symptoms of indigestion. Even within a short period of time, patients can see a significant improvement.

A recent study published in Acupuncture Med reports that 42 pregnant women with indigestion symptoms were assigned randomly to either conventional treatment or conventional treatment plus acupuncture treatment, 1-2 treatment sessions per week. In the beginning of the study, all symptoms were evaluated and recorded then the same procedures were repeated every two weeks until the study completed in eight weeks. The results showed that the acupuncture group had less severe symptoms and required less medication. In addition, the acupuncture group had more than 50% improvement in the quality of sleep at night during and after acupuncture.