Acupuncture for IBS
Restoring the Internal Rhythm
Our digestive system is often referred to as our "second brain." It is incredibly sensitive to stress, emotion, and the pace of our daily lives. When you are living with IBS, you might experience bloating, discomfort, or a constant underlying anxiety about how your body will react to the day ahead.
In Five Element Acupuncture, we don’t just look at the physical symptoms of digestive upset. We look at how your system is processing—or perhaps struggling to process—your environment. If your energy is stuck or "stagnant," it often manifests as physical tension in the gut. By treating the source of this disharmony, we work to help your system move from a state of reactive contraction back into a place of smooth, rhythmic flow.
The link between our nervous system and our gut is well-documented. According to the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC), acupuncture is a highly effective way to manage the complex symptoms of IBS by addressing the gut-brain axis.
What to Expect
In my clinics in Hackney and Central London, I provide a space where you can finally step away from the daily stress that often accompanies IBS. Digestive health is intimately connected to our nervous system; when we are in a state of "fight or flight," our body naturally de-prioritises digestion. Your treatment is a dedicated hour of "non-doing" designed to signal to your body that it is safe to return to a restorative state.
The Science Stuff:
Regulating Gut Motility: Research suggests that acupuncture can help balance the movement of the digestive tract, whether it is overactive or sluggish, by communicating with the nerves that control the gut.
Reducing Sensitivity: Clinical studies indicate that acupuncture can lower "visceral hypersensitivity"—the over-sensitivity to pain in the gut that is common in IBS sufferers.
Soothing Inflammation: There is evidence that acupuncture can help reduce low-grade inflammation in the intestinal lining and improve the integrity of the "gut barrier."
Calming the Stress Response: Since IBS is often flared by stress, acupuncture’s ability to shift the body from a "fight or flight" state into "rest and digest" (the Parasympathetic state) is vital for long-term digestive stability.