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.
