Acupuncture and herbs for heartburn and indigestion

Acupuncture and herbs for heartburn and indigestion

Many people suffer from heartburn and acid reflux from time to time. This happens when stomach acid is flushed back into the esophagus. If this heartburn tendency becomes chronic and your doctor finds signs of erosion in the esophagus, it is an indicator of GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be very useful in treating GERD and chronic cases of heartburn.

Chronic indigestion and heartburn are often the result of poor nutrition, stress and nervous tension. Acupuncture has a very calming effect and has a balanced effect on the nervous system. Specific meridian systems treated are liver, stomach and spleen-pancreas. Points associated with these organs and meridians are used to calm acid production and make the digestive system more efficient. Stress relieving points are also included to target and heal the nervous system.

Commonly used acupuncture points to treat heartburn and acid indigestion are Ren 12, Liver 3, Liver 14, and Pericardium 6. These points can relieve the stress and feeling of constipation associated with GERD.

In Chinese medicine, chronic heartburn is often a result of the liver's overaction on the spleen and stomach, which can produce heat (acid and inflammation). A commonly used formula for this disharmony is Free and Easy Wanderer Plus (Jia Wei Xiao Yao San). This remedy has the potential to relieve digestive discomfort while combating anxiety, stress and nervous tension. It is a very commonly used remedy and can treat a whole range of ailments at once if the formula is given based on a person's tongue and pulse.

Another good remedy for acid indigestion and heartburn is the homeopathic Nux vomica 200c. Homeopathy works well in conjunction with acupuncture and herbs for those who are open to it.

If you have chronic heartburn, it's also important to take a look at your diet and lifestyle. Really rich, fatty foods that are difficult to digest can worsen the condition. In Chinese medicine, we also recommend reducing your intake of milk and dairy products. While milk can temporarily relieve heartburn symptoms, in the long term we believe dairy clogs the digestive system and causes more problems than it solves. Drinking coffee or an excessive amount of alcohol can also make GERD worse. Spicy food can also be a problem for people who tend to have a lot of heartburn.

Typically, people using acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine see significant and satisfactory improvement in their tendency to heartburn and acid indigestion within four to six weekly sessions.

Inspired by Farah Khan