Dr Maggie Ju Acupuncture London Chelsea, North Kensington, Notting Hill, and Richmond

Digestive issues can significantly impact our overall well-being, causing discomfort, pain, and distress. From mild indigestion to chronic conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and acid reflux, these ailments can disrupt our daily lives and prevent us from enjoying life to the fullest. While conventional medicine offers various treatments, an ancient alternative therapy called acupuncture has been gaining recognition for its effectiveness in alleviating digestion issues. Here we will explore how acupuncture works and how it can provide relief for individuals struggling with digestive problems. Digestion is a complex process involving various organs and systems in the body. Common digestion issues include indigestion, bloating, gas, acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea, and more severe conditions such as IBS and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). These issues may arise due to factors such as poor diet, stress, food intolerances, inflammation, and imbalances in the gut microbiome....

Bloating is a common and uncomfortable symptom experienced by many individuals. It occurs when the abdomen feels swollen and distended after eating, leading to a sensation of fullness and discomfort. While occasional bloating may be normal, persistent and chronic bloating may indicate an underlying issue that needs attention. Bloating is typically caused by excess gas production or disruptions in the movement of the digestive system's muscles. The gas can accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to the feeling of fullness and tightness in the abdomen. Additionally, bloating can cause the abdomen to appear larger than usual, leading to further discomfort and unease. Several medical conditions and dietary factors can contribute to bloating. Among them are irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), coeliac disease, constipation, and food intolerance. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): IBS is a common inflammatory condition that affects the digestive system. Its exact cause is not fully und...

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder and it is a chronic condition featuring recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort associated with disturbed bowel function and bloating. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): is a common chronic functional bowel disorder. The symptoms include chronic abdominal pain, which is often associated with diarrhoea, constipation or bloating. Bowel habit is changed often with increased passing stool frequency and passage of mucus. IBS affects about 20% adult population globally and their quality of life is affected. The exact causes of IBS are not clear. The possible causes include intestinal motility and intestinal smooth muscle functional disturbance, visceral paresthesia, alterations in the brain-gut axis, psychological factors, gastrointestinal hormones and intestinal infection. Some evidences suggested that neurohormonal and immune responses to physiological stimulation or psychological stress etc are possible risk factors. Thi...

Constipation is a common condition that affects nearly 16% of the world population and people of all age. It has big impact on the patient’s quality of life. Treatment is normally conservative such as dietary change with more fibers, exercise and mild laxatives. Do you know that acupuncture is used in constipation treatment. Recent research provided evidence of effectiveness and mechanism of acupuncture for treating constipation. Chen CY et al studied the effect of acupuncture on constipation. Participants were all female and the average age of them were 42 years old. There were two groups: acupuncture point group and control group (non acupuncture point group). The intervention was given once a week for 8 weeks to make up total 8 treatments. Acupuncture points used were ST36, ST37, ST25, ST28, CV4 and CV6. After 8 weeks treatment, autonomic nervous system activities including heat rate were measured and compared with those before the treatment. They found that autonomic nervous system...

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by chronic or recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort, which is associated with disturbed bowel function and feelings of abdominal distention and bloating. The prevalence of IBS reaches up to 10% globally and affects all age groups. It is associated with a significant reduction in health-related quality of life. IBS is caused by multiple factors, including intestinal motility and intestinal smooth muscle functional disturbance, visceral paresthesia, alterations in the brain-gut axis, psychological factors, gastrointestinal hormones, and intestinal infection. This condition is not life-threatening, but leads to significant impairment of health-related quality of life, which causes physical role limitations as well as pain and a lower perception of general health. There is no universally accepted satisfactory treatment for this condition. No drug is effective in treating all the symptoms of IBS. Very re...