Gastritis is an umbrella term that covers all conditions with a common symptom of inflammation in the stomach lining. Gastritis can be chronic or acute, but in most cases clears up rapidly with treatment.
Gastritis has many causes recognized by Western and Chinese medicine, including:
Stress
Excess alcohol intake
Bile reflux
Anemia
Bacterial and viral infections
How does Acupuncture Work in Treating Gastritis?
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) gastritis is a symptom with many root causes, and because TCM treats those causes directly, it results in a more effective treatment and rapid recovery.
Acupuncture boosts the immune system, which can help the body fight off infections and improve overall gut health. It has a calming and relaxing effect on the body to decrease stress and its effects. Acupuncture also increases blood flow to and between the vital organs, breaking up toxins and blockages to decrease inflammation.
The results of an investigation by the Chenzhou First People Hospital revealed that acupuncture produces significantly more positive patient outcomes than the antihistamine Ranitidine, commonly prescribed for gastritis. Over a course of 20 treatments, acupuncture produced a 96.4% total success rate where Ranitidine only had a success rate of 69.9%.
How to Help Acupuncture Help You More Quickly
Dietary and lifestyle changes must also be made alongside the acupuncture treatments to heal the stomach lining . Consumption of processed foods, refined sugar, and alcohol should be restricted immediately. Congee, a rice porridge, is a very filling food that is gentle on the stomach and aids in recovery from chronic illness. My recipe and more information about congee is posted here.
A functional medicine practitioner may prescribe an L-Glutamine supplement or a custom blend of Chinese herbs to help the gut recover more quickly as inflammation decreases over the course of treatment.
If you're suffering from gastritis, acupuncture can help address the cause and ease the symptoms through your recovery! Call the office today at (321) 972-2940 to schedule your health evaluation and start the individual course of treatment that is right for you.
Sources:
Acupuncture Beats Drug For Gastritis Relief. (2016, March 13). Retrieved from http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1613-acupuncture-beats-drug-for-gastritis-relief
Kaufman, J. (2017, October 07). Gastritis. Retrieved from http://okanaganacupuncture.com/gastritis/