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TCM practitioners usually adopt acupoint therapy to alleviate gastroesophageal reflux disease. Learn about how TCM can also heal gastric ulcers.
By: Naiwen Hu
Many people suffer from stomach problems. In this article, we would like to introduce some methods traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners use to prevent and treat gastroesophageal reflux disease and gastric ulcers.
What Is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease?
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a digestive disorder in which stomach acid or food from the stomach flows backward into the esophagus, resulting in symptoms such as a burning sensation, throat discomfort, and nausea.
According to a 2018 online survey of 71,812 people aged 18 or older across the United States, 30 percent of adults experience GERD each week.
GERD is associated with age, sex, race, education, income, smoking, body mass index, depression, and anxiety, and also negatively related to quality of life, work productivity, and health care resource use.
Acupoint Therapy in TCM
TCM practitioners usually adopt acupoint therapy to alleviate GERD. Pressure or acupuncture on three acupoints, Neiguan, Shenmen, and Zusanli, can help stop hiccups, inhibit vomiting, and invigorate blood circulation to relieve pain. The locations and functions of these three points are listed below:
Neiguan acupoint is located at the back of the wrist. Starting from the little finger and measuring three fingers upward, you will locate the point in the middle of the two tendons. The Neiguan point is related to the pericardium and the cardiac area near the heart. Whenever the heart, the cardiac area, or the cardia region of the stomach is in discomfort, you can massage and stimulate the Neiguan point and quickly get relief.
Shenmen acupoint is located on the horizontal stripes of the wrist. Starting from the little finger and measuring one finger inward, you will locate the point in the middle of the two bones. The Shenmen point is the source point of the heart meridian, and its primary function is to calm the mind. Massaging the Shenmen point can help people who are nervous or stressed calm down.
Zusanli acupoint is located on the lateral side of the lower leg. Starting from the eye of the outer knee and measuring four fingers downward, you will locate the point on the lateral side of the tibia. The Zusanli point is the source point of the stomach meridian, and its primary function is to treat stomach cold. Massaging the Zusanli point can help people with excessive stomach acid or stomach pain warm their stomachs and reduce stomach acid, promoting digestion.
Method: Press 10 times on each point with your thumbs, alternating with three times on each point to prevent and relieve GRED. If your fingers are not strong enough, you can also use your hands to tap or pound or use a heel to press the Zusanli points on the other foot, which will help relieve stomach acid problems.
Acupressure and acupuncture have been supported by many studies in recent years, and they are becoming more and more accepted by Western medicine.
In a 2019 research synthesis published in Oxford Academic, researchers reviewed the previous data on the use of acupuncture to treat various gastrointestinal disorders. Acupuncture was found to “increase esophageal and gastrointestinal motility, … stimulate gastric emptying, … regulate neurohormonal mediators, … and modulate different regions of the brain-gut-microbiota axis.”
While explaining the therapeutic principles of acupuncture and the fundamental theories and concepts from a TCM perspective, the researchers also discussed the potential therapeutic options for combining Eastern and Western medicine in treating gastrointestinal disorders.
What Is a Gastric Ulcer?
A gastric ulcer is a chronic wound formed when the gastric mucosa is eroded by gastric acid or Helicobacter pylori, often causing symptoms such as stomach pain, regurgitation, and nausea. In severe cases, life-threatening gastric bleeding or perforation may occur.
TCM often treats gastric ulcers using dietary therapy, with pumpkin being the best food. Pumpkin benefits people with mild gastric ulcers by speeding up healing, protecting the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, and promoting bile secretion to help digest food.
A study published in Food Production, Processing and Nutrition highlighted pumpkin as a medicinal food with many nutritional components that play multifunctional roles in the human body. Proteins, polysaccharides, lutein, oils, vitamins, minerals, and phenolic compounds in pumpkin have immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiviral properties.
Ways to Use Pumpkin
- Pumpkin Latte
This coffee-like drink can be consumed before breakfast to help protect the gastric mucosa and prevent excessive stomach acid.
Ingredients:
- 0.35 ounces pumpkin puree.
- ¾ cup fresh milk.
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup.
- ¼ cup black coffee.
- Pinch of cinnamon.
Puree the pumpkin puree, milk, maple syrup, and black coffee for about 20 seconds until well-blended. Pour the pumpkin latte into a cup and sprinkle with cinnamon.
If serving children, you can skip the black coffee and just use pumpkin puree, milk, and maple syrup.
- Pumpkin Millet Porridge
This is a simple Chinese porridge you can eat before or after dinner. It can warm the stomach and reduce acidity, speeding up the healing of gastric ulcers.
Ingredients:
- 7 ounces pumpkin puree.
- 75 ounces millet.
Cut the pumpkin into small pieces and wash the millet. Put them into a pot, add water, bring it to a boil, then turn down the heat and cook for about 30 minutes. Stir from time to time to avoid the mixture sticking to the pot. It is ready when both the pumpkin and millet are thoroughly cooked.
Unhealthy Habits That Hurt the Spleen and Stomach
Avoid these habits to protect your spleen and stomach.
Frequent overeating or fasting: Develop regular dietary habits. Don’t get too hungry or overindulge.
Poor sleep hygiene: Go to bed at the same time every night to get enough sleep and keep your body fresh and your stomach acid secretion normal.
Too much stress: Stress and pressure will make the liver qi stagnant, affecting the functioning of the spleen and stomach, resulting in excessive secretion of gastric acid. Therefore, try to relax and avoid excessive worry or anger.
Naiwen Hu is a traditional Chinese medicine physician at the Shanghai Tong Te Tang in Taipei, Taiwan, and a professor at the Nine Star University of Health Sciences in Sunnyvale, California. He also worked as a researcher of life science at the Standford Research Institute. In his over 20 years of practice, he has treated more than 140,000 patients. He was known for successfully curing the fifth melanoma patient in the world by using traditional Chinese medicine. Hu currently hosts a YouTube health program that has over 700,000 subscribers. He is also known for his popular road show on health and wellness held in various cities in Australia and North America.
