Chronic Digestive Issues
Chronic Digestive Issues
Integrative Therapies can be very effective tools for managing chronic digestive issues such as chronic constipation, IBS, Crohn’s and colitis, GERD, reflux, and leaky gut. Different therapeutic modalities are like different languages that your body speaks – the key is to find the right language (or combination of languages) that your body will listen to. At Stepping Stone Acupuncture & Wellness, we offer many services that can benefit patients suffering from digestive issues, either as stand-alone therapies or in combination with one another. When it comes to holistic medicine, we find that the whole is often greater than the sum of the parts.
Acupuncture involves the insertion of single-use, sterile, solid needles into specific acupuncture points on the body to reduce tension and pain, overcome disease, and rebalance the body. Your acupuncturist will work with you to determine the underlying cause of your digestive issues from a Chinese Medicine perspective, and your treatments will be tailored to your unique presentation. Additional Chinese Medicine methods such as moxibustion heat therapy or cupping manual therapy may be included in acupuncture sessions, when appropriate. Acupuncture can reduce tension and inflammation, balance hormones, promote tissue health and healing, and change how the nervous system communicates with your body’s organs.
Abdominal Therapy is founded on the ancient Maya therapy of abdominal massage, including pelvic assessment, treatment, and correction. Through specialized external massage techniques, your Abdominal Therapist guides your organs, soft tissue, and skeletal structure back into their optimal position, allowing for improved flow of energy, blood, and lymph through the abdomen and pelvis. By helping create better alignment and positioning of the reproductive organs, Abdominal Therapy can regulate digestion, promote healthy bowel movements, and decrease abdominal and epigastric discomfort.
A Health Coach is a supportive mentor and wellness guide, who can help you to identify helpful and harmful foods for your digestive disorder. Health Coaching sessions focus on looking at all aspects of your lifestyle and how simple changes can improve your condition, such as diet, exercise, supplements, sleep habits, work stress, and relationships. Your health coach will provide you with dietary recommendations, as well as recipes and recommendations for helpful herbs, supplements, or self-care techniques.
Chinese Herbal Medicine works on the same principles as acupuncture – but the herbs work from the inside-out, whereas acupuncture works from the outside-in. Herbs are taken in a formula of 2-20 herbs working together to create balance in the body, reduce pain and inflammation, and boost your body’s natural resources. Formulas are customized to your unique presentation of digestive upset. Herbs are prescribed in pills, teas, tinctures, powders, or raw herbs to decoct at home.
In addition to these services, we may also recommend herbal teas and aromatherapy to further support you on your journey. We also have a large referral network and may refer out to other specialists as necessary.
Reflexology is a therapeutic treatment in which pressure is applied to particular points and regions of the foot to affect change in the whole body. Reflex points on the feet correspond to different organs and body systems, and by stimulating these points the practitioner can create positive change in a particular system and bring the body back into balance. The whole digestive system is represented in different areas of the foot, and a trained reflexologist can pinpoint areas of tension or imbalance to treat such symptoms as constipation, loose stools, abdominal pain, or acid reflux.
In addition to these services, we may also recommend herbal teas and aromatherapy to further support you on your journey. We also have a large referral network and may refer out to other specialists as necessary.