| It is estimated that approximately 62 million | | | | arise from eating too much or too fast, |
| Americans experience digestive problems on an | | | | excessive stress, refined foods, coffee and |
| ongoing basis. This is due to the harmful | | | | alcohol, and sugar. Aside from slowing down and |
| repercussions of the standard American diet on | | | | eating less of these foods, here are a few herbal |
| our population coupled with the high level of stress | | | | suggestions: |
| that the average American experiences. Digestive | | | | Chai hu shu gan wan -- the quintessential Chinese |
| problems can range from minor annoyances, such | | | | formula for the combination of stress and gas. |
| as gas and bloating, to life-threatening illnesses, | | | | Xiao yao wan -- Excellent for digestive problems |
| such as crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, | | | | that arise during menses and excessive stress. |
| unremitting diarrhea, and various cancers that | | | | Liu jun zi tang -- Strengthens the spleen and |
| target digestive organs. Whatever the case, it is | | | | takes phlegm out of the gut, which is often |
| always worth being proactive about our digestive | | | | related to gas and bloating. |
| health. The information contained in this article on | | | | Acidophilus and bifidus -- Bloating and gas can be |
| acupuncture and natural therapies should definitely | | | | related to candida overgrowth, which is a |
| get you going in the right direction, not only with | | | | pathological yeast that causes an array of physical |
| your digestion but also with your health in general. | | | | and emotional imbalances. |
| Let's take a look at a few common disorders and | | | | 4. Irritable bowel Syndrome: IBS is a very |
| what can be done about them. | | | | common problem that affects millions of |
| 1. Constipation: The standard American diet can | | | | Americans. Doctors will often diagnose IBS when |
| easily lead to chronic constipation. This diet is low | | | | the patient's symptoms don't seem to match up |
| in fiber and antioxidants and high in difficult to | | | | with anything else, so they call it irritable bowel. |
| digest additives and refined ingredients. Many, | | | | This disorder is characterized by bowels |
| many people are constipated and they don't even | | | | fluctuating from constipation to diarrhea with |
| know it. They may have regular bowel | | | | intermittent abdominal pain or distention. People |
| movements, but they are still not flushing their | | | | with IBS tend to be sensitive to a variety of |
| systems thoroughly, which creates intestinal | | | | foods including high fiber foods, refined sugar, |
| toxicity. Intestinal cleansing is often a top priority | | | | wheat, and gluten products. Symptoms can |
| in healing numerous chronic health problems. There | | | | continue indefinitely and can be resistant to |
| are several natural herbal remedies and nutritional | | | | conventional treatments. I have treated several |
| supplements that can relieve constipation and heal | | | | patients with IBS, usually with very positive |
| the underlying imbalances. | | | | results. Acupuncture theory asserts that IBS |
| Chinese herbal formulas such as ma zi ren wan | | | | typically involves a disharmony between the liver |
| and run chang wan are gentle laxatives that are | | | | and the spleen. The liver becomes hyperactive |
| not habit forming. | | | | due to stress, anger, and frustration, which |
| Aloe vera juice reduces inflammation and | | | | causes it to weaken the spleen, causing loose |
| promotes peristalsis (smooth muscle contraction in | | | | bowels and fatigue. Treatment involves relaxing |
| the bowel). | | | | the liver and strengthening the spleen. |
| - Triphala is an Ayurvedic herbal complex that | | | | Herbal formulas such as Irritease by K'An Herbals |
| gently eases constipation and removes stagnant | | | | and Isatis Cooling by Health Concerns have |
| waste from the intestines. | | | | proven helpful. In general, I recommend |
| - Psyllium husk is a high fiber product that | | | | committing to weekly acupuncture and herbal |
| alleviates constipation. | | | | treatment for 4-8 visits, depending upon the |
| - Flax meal and seed are excellent high fiber | | | | severity and duration of your symptoms. |
| sources for constipation. Senna leaf is useful for | | | | Acidophilus and bifidus cand be helpful, as many |
| severe constipation. | | | | people with IBS also have candida |
| 2. Diarrhea: Chronic diarrhea can be dangerous for | | | | Chamomile and peppermint have a soothing |
| your health. It is still one of the leading causes of | | | | effect on the gut and can reduce irritation |
| death in the world. Diarrhea is related to spleen | | | | Most digestive disorders respond very well to |
| weakness or intestinal inflammation. It is always a | | | | consistent acupuncture and herbal treatment. |
| top treatment priority to heal this condition. Stress | | | | Making dietary changes that restore and detoxify |
| and anxiety can trigger regular bouts of diarrhea, | | | | the gut also enhances treatment progress. |
| as can processed and refined foods. Here are a | | | | Digestion is one of the main reference points for |
| few basic remedies for diarrhea: | | | | gauging one's overall health. If there are |
| Chinese herbal formulas such as bu zhong yi qi | | | | weaknesses or imbalances here, it is likely that |
| tang (ginseng and astragalus), si jun qi tang (4 | | | | one's overall health is compromised. Maintaining |
| Gentlemen), liu jun zi tang (6 Gentlemen), and jin | | | | healthy digestion is an essential component in our |
| gui shen qi tang (rehmannia 8) are helpful for | | | | quest for optimal health. |
| alleviating diarrhea due to deficiency. Tong xie yao | | | | I should mention that for those of you suffering |
| feng, Isatis Cooling, and jia wei xiao yao wan are | | | | from crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or colon |
| helpful for diarrhea due to heat and inflammation. | | | | cancer, it is definitely best to seek out |
| Western herbs such as slippery elm, chamomile, | | | | professional alternative and allopathic medical |
| peppermint, and ginger harmonize and soothe the | | | | treatment. These diseases are simply too |
| stomach to stop diarrhea. | | | | involved to offer blanket solutions in this article. |
| Probiotics such as acidophilus are useful as | | | | There are many powerful natural remedies for |
| long-term adjuncts in treating diarrhea. | | | | these diseases, but their application is specific to |
| 3. Bloating and gas: These symptoms tend to | | | | your unique needs. |