Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The natural treatment of irritable bowel syndrome consists of a combination of dietary changes through a specific diet, acupuncture, Chinese herbal formulas, and nutritional supplements to balance the gut microbiota.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, or a combination of both.

The causes of this syndrome involve a combination of autonomic nervous system dysfunction at the intestinal level, gut microbiota imbalance, and increased intestinal permeability. Therefore, it is necessary to treat all these causes simultaneously using different natural treatments.

A diet aimed at increasing the body's energy, and thus digestive energy, is essential. If the body has enough food to ensure a constant energy level in the blood, it will not need to release adrenaline. The result will be less stress on the body and less intestinal impact from stress.

In Chinese medicine, maintaining energy levels in the digestive tract is considered absolutely necessary, as a weakened digestive system worsens nutrient absorption and, therefore, negatively affects overall health.

Acupuncture has been shown to regulate gastrointestinal dynamics, suppress intestinal hypersensitivity, and regulate the “gut-brain axis,” immune function, and gut flora.

Chinese herbs such as Bupleurum chinense, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, and Atractylodes macrocephala have demonstrated efficacy in treating irritable bowel syndrome in clinical studies. A randomized trial published in Phytotherapy Research (2021) showed that these herbs significantly improve symptoms of diarrhea-predominant IBS by balancing liver Qi and strengthening the spleen. Additionally, a systematic review published in Chinese Medicine (2023) suggests that personalized herbal combinations, such as Paeonia lactiflora and Angelica sinensis, regulate the gut-brain axis by reducing chronic inflammation markers.

Scientific Studies Demonstrating the Efficacy of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs in Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome

• Ma YY, Hao Z et al (2024). Acupuncture and moxibustion for irritable bowel syndrome: An umbrella systematic review. J Integr Med. 2024 Jan;22(1):22-31. doi: 10.1016/j.joim.2023.12.001. Epub 2023 Dec 23. PMID: 38199885.
• Zhang M, Wu X et al (2024) Chinese Herbal Medicine for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Perspective of Local Immune Actions. Am J Chin Med. 2024;52(7):2079-2106. doi: 10.1142/S0192415X24500800. Epub 2024 Nov 30. PMID: 39663262.
• Yang Y, Wang J et al (2024) The efficacy and neural mechanism of acupuncture therapy in the treatment of visceral hypersensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome. Front Neurosci. 2023 Sep 4;17:1251470. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1251470. PMID: 37732301; PMCID: PMC10507180.