3 ways acupuncture can supercharge your digestion

‘The months of spring bring about a revitalisation of all things in nature…’ 

– The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine

After the dormant, cold months of Winter, Spring opens the gateway through to the expansive warmth of Summer. Like the opening of a flower’s petals, our body starts to open up to embrace the sun and the longer days; our hair grows faster, cell turnover is faster and we generally become more active. Seasonal Acupuncture treatments alongside appropriate lifestyle adjustments help us attune to this elemental change throughout the wheel of the year.

Ancient Chinese Medicine viewed the body as an internal empire with the kidneys as the officials which govern all the other organs. The vitality of a person was attributed to the yin/yang aspect of the kidney’s known as the Ming Men, the energetic fire centre of the body which also warms the digestive system.  Imagine the stomach as the cauldron where the alchemy of what we eat and our body’s ability to process it nourishes our entire system. The quality of what and how we eat is the essence of health so a consultation relating to any digestive issues will always take into account a person’s diet, their relationship with food and address any imbalance with Chinese dietary principles. For example, in cold seasons are you eating enough warming foods? Are you eating a larger amount of food in the morning when digestion is at its most active rather than later at night? A little tweaking here and there can make all the difference.

As a brief overview let’s take a look at 3 ways that acupuncture can help to balance and supercharge digestion.

good digestion vibrations
Digestion is rooted in the earth element of the body, it nourishes, grounds and fosters our appetite for life. Like a train line, the stomach channel passes through the digestive system dotted with the acupuncture points and as we move along, station to station treatment can unblock and boost the channel freeing up any blockages. The stimulation of these points along with abdominal massage aids blood circulation, encourages peristalsis and the efficient assimilation and elimination of all we ingest be it food or experiences.

spring detox
The green flourishes of spring embody the wood element, the essence of this element is  all about young shoots bursting through the earth, buds opening, animals giving birth… renewal. If we translate this into our own yearly cycles we ideally allow that upwards and outwards creative energy full reign or it will invert and stagnate. Thwarted motivation, PMT, frustration, headaches, general sluggishness and many other symptoms can be the result of this blocked energy with the desire to detox and spring clean an intuitive urge to break through the cobwebs of Winter. The wood element and Spring are linked to the liver which is the major organ of detoxification, when congested the digestive system becomes sluggish. Acupuncture can be a useful aid during this time alongside a responsible and considered detox plan, tonifying the liver and digestion to release the accumulation of retained physical and emotional waste. Add young spring greens such as wild garlic, spinach, nettles and asparagus to your diet to take in the fresh energy of the season.

IBS no more
Covering a wide spectrum of digestive turbulence ranging from cramping to diarrhoea to constipation, a diagnosis of IBS can leave people at a loss about how to manage their symptoms. Eating habits are the first consideration:  a diet heavy in raw and cold food may require more warmth to “cook” the food in the stomach while an excess of spicy food can cause inflammation, eating while angry or on the run further impact harmonious digestion. Balance appropriate to an individual’s constitution is key.

A combination of acupuncture and abdominal palpation can help to calm inflammation, address bowel dysfunction and most importantly work on any underlying emotional factors which can often be the root cause of IBS.

The digestive system starting with the mouth is how we receive our nourishment and in an optimally functioning system we take in and then we release what we don’t need. An imbalance in this equilibrium can interfere with the efficient process of absorption and elimination which is crucial to overall health. The digestive tract is our body’s major thoroughfare and like any busy place of transit we sometimes need some first aid care which is when treatment can serve as a powerful seasonal MOT.

Maria was drawn to natural remedies from childhood which led to the study of eastern healing traditions 18 years ago. Incorporating a blend of massage, bodywork, energy healing and acupuncture, treatment is rooted in the strong link between physical, mental and emotional health and the underlying cause of disharmony. Maria’s way of working is also particularly suitable for those who may need support during life events such as bereavement, relationship issues or simply want to keep their bodies in tune alongside their yoga practice. Her clinical experience includes an NHS IVF infertility unit and private practice treating all conditions and specialising in gynaecological issues, infertility, mental and emotional health as well as drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

Maria works at triyoga Camden + Soho. For her schedule and more information, please click here.

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