The Impact of Stress on Your Digestive System

I have many patients come into our south Austin acupuncture clinic every week with a complaint of some sort of stomach upset / intestinal issue. Typically it involves some level of discomfort, bloating, gas, and fatigue. This presentation is very common in our society. Even as laid back as Austin is, we still contend with stress. Stress is often one of the main reasons for the person’s health imbalance. Constant stress accompanied with poor food choices can set one up for a digestive meltdown of sorts. Luckily for all of us, this is usually resolved with Chinese herbal therapy and Acupuncture. When we get stressed to the point of stomach pain or digestive disturbance including a lack of appetite, the Liver Qi is stagnant and over acting on the spleen and stomach creating disharmony in the digestive system.

The Liver, in Chinese medical theory, is responsible for moving the Qi(life energy) around the body in a smooth fashion. When we get stressed the flow begins to get stuck, much like traffic jam. The stagnation can often affect the spleen and stomach. The spleen and stomach derive the nutrients from our food and if they are being affected by stagnant Liver Qi, they can not do their job. Bloating, low energy, indigestion, acid reflux, IBS, leaky gut and Crohn’s disease can all be traced back to this type of primary imbalance that was left untreated and eventually evolved into very intense health problems. If you have this type of digestive imbalance, please call us today and let us get you on the road to relief!!