Five Cases of Acupuncture Effectively Treating Stomach Discomfort

Many people think acupuncture can only treat pain conditions. In fact, acupuncture can effectively treat diseases in various medical departments: digestive system, respiratory system, urinary system, reproductive system, circulatory system, immune system, nervous system, as well as conditions affecting the skin, bones, tendons, and ligaments.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a saying: "Internal injury to the Spleen and Stomach gives rise to numerous diseases." In TCM theory, the Spleen and Stomach do not only refer to the organs of modern anatomy but constitute a comprehensive physiological functional system. Particularly, the function of the TCM "Spleen" differs significantly from the spleen in modern anatomy. TCM regards the Spleen as the foundation of acquired constitution and the source of Qi and blood biochemistry. This means that a person's nutritional intake, digestion, and absorption after birth are closely related to the function of the Spleen. Therefore, the TCM concept of Spleen and Stomach encompasses the modern medical digestive system.

The Spleen and Stomach are internally-externally related. The Spleen is a Zang organ, belonging to Yin, responsible for transformation and transportation (transporting and transforming food essence and fluids), governing blood, and controlling the ascending of clear Qi; the Stomach is a Fu organ, belonging to Yang, responsible for receiving and ripening food, and governing the descending of turbid Qi. If Spleen Qi ascends, the essence of food and water can be transported upward; if Stomach Qi descends, the chyme and residue can be moved downward. The two work in tandem—one ascending, one descending—to jointly complete the digestion, absorption, and distribution of food, acting as the pivot of the body's Qi mechanism. Once this balance is disrupted, complex digestive system symptoms can appear.

The functions of the Spleen and Stomach interact with other Zang-Fu organs. For example, Spleen deficiency often leads to Lung Qi insufficiency (Earth failing to generate Metal), making one prone to colds and shortness of breath; excessive thinking and worry can easily injure the Spleen, leading to Heart blood deficiency (Heart-Spleen deficiency); Liver Qi stagnation often invades the Spleen and Stomach, causing "Liver-Spleen disharmony" or "Liver-Stomach disharmony"; the Kidneys are the foundation of innate constitution, while the Spleen and Stomach are the foundation of acquired constitution. Kidney Yang (Ming Men Fire) warms Spleen Yang, aiding its transformation and transportation functions; the essence transformed by the Spleen can, in turn, nourish Kidney essence. The two support each other. Furthermore, the function of the TCM Spleen is closely related to menstruation and reproduction.

TCM treatment of Spleen and Stomach disorders emphasizes a holistic view and pattern differentiation, targeting the "pattern" rather than simply the disease name.

Both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine have excellent effects on these conditions. If patients find Western medications ineffective, they can try acupuncture and Chinese herbs. There are many Chinese patent medicines and formulas available online for digestive system issues treated with herbal medicine. If you have tried Chinese and Western medicine without success, or if you prefer not to take medication, I suggest trying acupuncture. In the vast majority of cases, acupuncture provides results in just one session. Combining acupuncture with herbal medicine can yield even better results.

Below are several examples of using acupuncture to treat gastrointestinal diseases.

Case 1. Chronic Gastritis

On January 17, 2026, a 60-year-old female friend came to me for treatment due to stomach pain. She stated that for the past month, she had continuous pain between her chest and navel, bloating, and a feeling of blockage in the lower stomach area especially after meals. She also felt discomfort when hungry, occasional nausea, and a dry, bitter taste in her mouth. She hoped I would prescribe some Chinese herbs for her.

The patient's tongue had multiple small horizontal cracks. I asked the patient if she had experienced similar symptoms before, if she had ever had a gastroscopy, and if she had been diagnosed with gastritis. The patient said the symptoms had been present, off and on, for 30-40 years. When she was in mainland China, due to work stress, she always ate lunch very hurriedly. Her stomach felt uncomfortable back then, and a gastroscopy diagnosed gastritis. At that time, she often took Sanjiu Weitai and herbal preparations made by the hospital. Previously, when she returned to China annually, she would bring some medication back. Only in the past two years did she start seeing doctors in the US and take the Western medicine prescribed here. However, the symptoms would recur after stopping the medication.

Because the patient had taken Chinese and Western medicine for many years, I suggested she try acupuncture. Acupuncture works faster than herbal medicine; typically, symptoms lessen after just one session. She had never had acupuncture before and was worried about pain and safety. I reassured her. While I was needling her, she asked if I should also prescribe some herbs. I told her to first try the effect of acupuncture alone, and if it wasn't effective, she could come back on Tuesday for herbal medication.

On the afternoon of January 18, my friend sent a WeChat message: "Jiang Hua, this acupuncture is truly amazing. Since the session until now, I haven't had that original painful feeling at all. Fantastic."

On January 20, the patient came to the clinic for a second time, stating she felt great after the last acupuncture. She only felt a slight discomfort this morning. I told her that at the beginning of acupuncture treatment, it's best to come twice a week. Since her acupuncture insurance coverage required a doctor's referral, she said she would continue acupuncture after getting a referral from her family doctor.

Case 2. Gastroparesis

On March 24, 2014, 77-year-old Ms. Liang stated that two months prior, she had a cold and experienced vomiting for two days. Afterwards, she felt pain in the area of her right armpit/ribcage and extending to her back. The back pain was especially noticeable when eating, and she had significant weight loss. She saw a Western doctor, and after various tests, although she didn't have typical gastroparesis symptoms like nausea or vomiting, she was diagnosed with gastroparesis because eating caused back pain. The doctor prescribed a one-month course of erythromycin. After taking it, she felt全身无力 (generalized weakness/fatigue), the pain did not improve, and she had lost another 5 pounds over the past few months.

I provided acupuncture treatment and prescribed Chinese herbs. After the first acupuncture, the patient felt the pain lessen. After the second and third sessions, the intensity and area of the pain were significantly reduced. After the fourth treatment, the pain completely disappeared.

Case 3. Stomach Pain

In April 2011, a high school boy was referred to my clinic by a friend. He stated that around 10 AM every day, he experienced severe stomach pain, making it impossible to concentrate in class. When asked about his eating habits, he mentioned that after coming to the US about a year ago, he gained 50 pounds in one month because he loved eating hamburgers. Currently, he often skipped breakfast, and after eating lunch at school, he would immediately play basketball with classmates.

Based on the patient's description, I formulated the following treatment plan: (1) First, advise the patient to eat breakfast every day. (2) Because it affects digestion, avoid playing basketball or doing other strenuous activities immediately after lunch. (3) Acupuncture treatment.

The patient arrived right around 10 AM. After treatment, he stayed in the clinic waiting for the friend who came with him, who was still being treated. He mentioned that normally at this time his stomach would hurt, but that day he felt no pain at all. Since he lived far from my clinic, he could only come once a week. When he came for the second week of treatment, he said that during the past week, his stomach only hurt a little the day before his appointment. When he came for the third week, he happily reported that after the second treatment, his stomach hadn't hurt again. He didn't come for further treatments after that. The friend who brought him told me a month later that the boy's stomach pain was completely cured.

Case 4. Acute Gastrointestinal Spasm

This happened to me. One winter evening over a decade ago, relatives were visiting, and we were having hot pot at home. Shortly after we started eating, my gastrointestinal tract began to feel uncomfortable. I went upstairs to the bathroom. As soon as I sat on the toilet, the pain in my upper abdomen became unbearable. I curled up on the bathroom floor, moaning loudly for help. When my husband came upstairs and saw my pale face, he wanted to call 911. I said no and asked him to immediately go downstairs and get my acupuncture needles. Because the pain was so intense I couldn't straighten my body, I first needled the Zusanli (ST36) points on both legs. Within two or three minutes of inserting the needles, the pain gradually subsided. I then managed to straighten up, lay down, and needled a few points on my abdomen. A few minutes later, I felt the urge to have a bowel movement. Afterward, the pain completely disappeared. Although the whole family was frightened, they witnessed the remarkable effect of acupuncture firsthand.

Case 5. Gastrointestinal Infection

One day in April 2009, my daughter, who was studying at UCLA, called, saying she was sick and asked us to pick her up. Because our son was only three months old at the time and needed care, her father went alone to get her. Over an hour later, he called, saying our daughter was so weak she could only lie down in the car, so he took her directly to Kaiser Hospital. I immediately took our son and went to the hospital, had her father take our son home, and stayed there to care for her.

When I arrived at the hospital, she was receiving intravenous glucose. She had regained a bit of energy. My daughter recounted what happened: a week prior, she went out to eat with classmates and might have eaten contaminated food. Shortly after returning to school, her gastrointestinal tract started feeling uncomfortable. She vomited everything she ate or drank, and at the same time, couldn't have a bowel movement. Because it coincided with final exams, she went to the campus health services herself, but it didn't help. She didn't want to worry us, so she didn't tell us. She only called us when she really couldn't bear it anymore.

As we were talking, a young doctor, who seemed like an intern, came over holding two pills for my daughter to take. I asked what the medication was, and he replied it was Tylenol. I asked, "She doesn't have a fever or pain, why give her Tylenol?" He replied, "The doctor ordered it." I asked my daughter if she wanted to take them. She shook her head, refusing.

I had given birth to my son at this same Kaiser hospital in January 2009, an experience with dangerous complications (which I shared on my Sina blog and will repost here later). Now, a doctor at the same hospital inexplicably wanted to give Tylenol to my vomiting daughter. It was truly speechless.

After the IV finished, the doctor prescribed medication. When I went to the pharmacy to pick it up, the pharmacist instructed that the medicine should be taken after food. I asked, "The patient vomits even water right now, how can she take it after food?" The pharmacist shrugged but didn't answer.

Back in the hospital room, my daughter swallowed the pill with water. But in less than two minutes, both the water and the pill came back up.

I suggested to my daughter that we go home and try acupuncture treatment. She agreed.

Once home and lying in bed, I started acupuncture on her. As soon as I inserted the needle into her Neiguan (PC6) point, she sat up and violently vomited a large amount, projectile-style, all over the floor. Because the food had been putrefying in her stomach for a week, the vomit was extremely foul-smelling. Apparently, the problem was that harmful microorganisms in the contaminated food had disrupted the nerve function (peristalsis) of her GI tract. The food had been stuck in her stomach, unable to move down, so anything she consumed afterward couldn't pass through and could only be vomited out.

After rinsing her mouth following the vomit, she said she felt much more comfortable. I asked if she wanted to eat something, and she nodded eagerly. Having not eaten properly for a week, she enjoyed that meal immensely.