Anyone who’s had digestive issues knows how frustrating bloating can be. And although it’s common as we age, it really can hit us at any time. Through a Chinese Medicine (CM) lens, bloating is caused by a disharmony in the body's qi (or energy) that affects the function of the digestive system. This can be caused by a variety of really common factors, like stress, or eating the wrong types of foods (everyone is so different!).
CM really views the digestive system as a key part of overall health and well-being, and involves the the Stomach and Spleen as the primary organs involved in digestion*. The Stomach is responsible for breaking down food, while the Spleen plays a vital role and transforms the food into Qi and blood, giving us energy and vitality.
In CM, bloating is typically often classified as either cold or damp in nature. Cold bloating is caused by a lack of warmth in the digestive system, which slows down the digestive process and leads to the accumulation of gas. Damp bloating, on the other hand, is caused by an excess of moisture in the digestive system (this can lead to formation of phlegm and mucus formation).
So how can Chinese Medicine fix bloating?
As often seen in CM, practitioners will usually recommend a combination of dietary changes, herbal remedies, and acupuncture. The same applies in this case. Some common dietary recommendations include avoiding cold and raw foods (see this post on a Spleen Friendly Diet), which can slow down digestion and worsen bloating. This one is really important!
Instead, we’ll often recommend warming foods such as ginger, cinnamon, and fennel, which can help to improve circulation and promote digestion. However, it’s important to have a proper consultation with your CM praccie who will advise dietary therapy that suitable for your constitution!
Herbal remedies may also be used to address bloating, with formulas often including licorice root, which can help to soothe the stomach and reduce inflammation. Dandelion root is also a goodie!
Acupuncture too?
Of course! According to CM theory, acupuncture can help to restore balance to the body's energy and improve the function of the digestive system. A key part of this is that it can help relieve stress and anxiety, which can contribute to digestive issues such as bloating. Have you noticed this?
This stress and anxiety represents what we call Liver Qi Stagnation - with the Liver organ being responsible for the smooth flow of qi in the body (so if this isn’t flowing freely, you can imagine things getting stuck, things bloating, and everything feeling a bit tender in this area).
Scientifically, there’s increasing research to show the efficacy of acupuncture in supporting various digestive disorders, such as this one regarding dyspepsia, which showed benefits in regards to constipation, bloating, and nausea (1). This other systematic review and meta-analysis found that acupuncture was effective in improving symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), such as abdominal pain and bloating (2). I’ve also had great clinical success in treating a host of these issues - that are so common nowadays!
Now of course this is only guidance and offers a glimpse into how CM can be beneficial for bloating and other digestive issues, but it’s pretty interesting right? And could be the thing you need! If you want to reach out, you can book below:
*It’s important to note here that the CM ‘organs’ are viewed as a system of interconnected networks that work together to regulate the body's functions and maintain balance. This differs from Western medicine where the body's organs are noted as discrete structures with specific functions. Despite this different background, there are some crossovers.
Sources:
1. Liu, Z., Yan, S., Wu, J., He, L., Li, N., Dong, G., ... & Liu, B. (2017). Acupuncture for chronic severe functional constipation: a randomized trial. Annals of Internal Medicine, 167(4), 301-308
2. Zeng, F., Cui, L., Cheng, Y., & Chen, Y. (2019). Acupuncture therapy for functional gastrointestinal disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 34(1), 22-31.