The King of Digestion - St 36

There are many digestive disorders that acupuncture can be used for, from irritable bowel syndrome (1) to acid re-flux (2), nausea and vomiting (3).

However, from the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, there is one acupuncture pointmthat is The King when it comes to treating digestion: Stomach 36! (AKA Zusanli, Leg Three Miles, St 36)

From the acupuncture textbook A Manual of Acupuncture, by Peter Deadman (4), here is a sample of just some of the reasons for using St 36:

• Bloating/distension of abdomen

• Difficult ingestion

• Poor appetite

• Epigastric pain (upper center of abdomen)

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Hiccups

• Belching/Burping

• Flatulence/Farting

• Undigested food in the stool/feaces

• Diarrhoea

• Heaviness of the limbs/body

• Insufficient Qi/Energy/Fatigue

• Hunger without desire to eat

• ....you get the idea!

Sounds pretty good right?

Of course everyone's digestive complaints need to be assessed and diagnosed individually - there can be many different causes of digestive problems from both the Western Medical and TCM perspective. In fact, for example, irritable bowel syndrome could have at least 3 different causes and diagnoses in TCM.

Therefore the acupuncturist will take your pulse in the wrist, look at your tongue and ask you questions. After diagnosis, as many as 3 - 12 different acupuncture points may be utilized to treat your digestive complaint, and more often than not they will include The King acu-point St 36.

So if you've got a dodgy digestive disorder, contact Elise at Community Acupuncture Oamaru, book online for a private consultation, or come along to the community clinic on Tuesdays 1-7pm.

References

1. Bartosz Chmielnicki M.D. (2017) Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Evidence Based Acupuncture. https://www.evidencebasedacupuncture.org/irritable-bowel-syndrome-acupuncture/

2. Bartosz Chmielnicki M.D. (2017) Gastroesophageal Reflux. Evidence Based Acupuncture. https://www.evidencebasedacupuncture.org/gastroesophageal-reflux/

3. Bartosz Chmielnicki M.D. (2017) Nausea and Vomiting. Evidence Based Acupuncture. https://www.evidencebasedacupuncture.org/nusea-and-vomiting/

4. Deadman, P. & Al-Khafaji, M. (2007). A manual of acupuncture (2nd ed.). East Sussex: Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications.