A Liver/Spleen disharmony is similar to the short-term loss of appetite or bout of diarrhea that occurs during an occasional emotional upset. However, with IBS, the phenomenon occurs in slow motion; the emotional trauma or stress takes place over a long period of time, and the digestive symptoms of IBS can last for years.
Acupuncture practitioners have available to them a variety of methods to correct a Liver/Spleen disharmony. Depending on each individual case, they may use acupuncture, Chinese herbs, dietary therapy and lifestyle changes to facilitate healing of this condition.
Some lifestyle modifications that may help alleviate symptoms include:
Getting enough exercise, which helps relieve stress, moves energy, regulates the bowels and helps alleviate constipation.
Practicing stress relief measures, such as meditation, visualization, yoga, breathing exercises, or quiet time. Relieving stress is crucial to keeping IBS symptoms under control.
Dietary changes should be individualized, and should focus on eliminating foods that trigger symptoms and adding adequate fiber to the diet. Soluble fiber is gentler on the GI tract, and includes foods such as oatmeal, berries, and legumes like lentils and split peas. Crude fiber, such as oat bran and raw vegetables and their skins may be too irritating, and should be monitored as a trigger for symptoms. Other foods that are common triggers include greasy or fatty foods, diary products, alcohol, caffeine, chocolate and carbonated drinks.
Probiotics may be helpful for some IBS sufferers. Probiotics are supplements that replace the good bacteria in the gut necessary for digestion. Yogurt is a good source of beneficial bacteria, and supplements, such as lactobacillus acidophilus can be found in most natural foods stores.
Getting enough sleep is important for keeping IBS symptoms under control. Stress, which is the most common trigger, is aggravated by lack of sleep. In addition, sleep helps the body heal and regenerate.
