Traditional Chinese Medicine and IBS
#236813 - 01/08/06 10:20 PM
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Rinny
Reged: 08/07/04
Posts: 14
Loc: San Luis Obispo, California
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This is just an FYI "if you're thinking of trying alternative medicine" sort of post.
Three weeks ago, I started once-weekly acupuncture for my IBS-C. He's encouraged meditation, working on my stress (I already go to therapy so that's being taken care of, and I recently quit a job I hate), and of course healthy eating (a huge part of chinese medicine (TCM)).
The eating healthy part is actually a tricky wicket for me since I have a binge-eating disorder/body image problem. So eating in general is just this enormous burden/issue for me. I don't think he quite gets how difficult it is. Plus, I don't think he quite gets how limited an IBS diet can be sometimes.
Last week, he said that he knew enough about my problems to put an herbal remedy together for me. I started 3 days ago, and it's been a total disaster. It's caused horrible constipation, bloating, and pain. I've been taking them still...just to be a trooper, you know? Isn't that what we all are? But after tonight, I think I'm tossing in the towel. I see him in 2 days. I already want to give up this whole TCM thing. I feel like this was a mistake. Perhaps no one can help ... but maybe I just have to hang in there a few more sessions?
I do think he's a good doctor. He teaches at the college for TCM in Santa Barbara, and he's never made outrageous promises, and the acupuncture itself always feels really good.
But I wanted to post this so anyone who is thinking of doing the alternative/TCM route can see how this is going.
To be continued...
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The doctor discontinued my herbal concoction, apologized, and just gave me some herbal preparation for bloating only...which seemed to help. The other concoction was for (what he perceived to be ) all my many problems. He also placed these little brass beebees on acupressure points on my ear (with tape) and i was to press on these several times per day to decrease stress. It really did seem to decrease my stress level.
I did well/better the following week.
I've been unable to return to him since he's 2 hours away and I've gone back to school. But he's trying to find someone closer. He really wants me to practice meditation and mindfulness.
Overall, I'm doing much much better. I don't know if it has to do with the acupuncture or the fact that I quit a job I disliked (a profession, a course of study, a lifestyle that never suited my personality and my mindset) and am now going back to school and studying art (something I've always wanted to do but never allowed myself to believe it could/would be possible).
I'm more stressed than ever due to deadlines, money concerns, etc...but my IBS is improved. So, for me...perhaps repression of my true self triggers my ibs. Perhaps the acupuncture helped.
It certainly does help relax me and I would like to continue it...at least explore it a bit more.
to be continued....
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please keep us updated. I'm very curious about accupuncture but my insurance doesn't pay for it. So, I can't take the risk (financially) of trying it. 
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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that you're feeling better. Glad to hear you were able to quit your job, & go back to school. I hope you do well in your new corses. Everyone has they're own little thing that helps them. It's wonderful when we finally find what works!!
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Kiwi
IBS-C
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I wish I could tell people more about traditional chinese medicine. That was my intent since so little is written about it on these boards -- or anywhere for that matter. But, as for everyone...it's expensive and my insurance doesn't pay for very much of it either. I was willing to give it a shot though.
However, as I stated previously -- I'm doing so much better now that I've quit my job and doing something I prefer doing. I just hope I can continue on this path. Money will be an issue (it's one of the reasons I didn't continue with the acupuncure...because I really do think it would be worth pursuing).
I guess I will do everything within my power to continue on this path since my body is telling me this is the right thing to do. I mean my IBS is 80% gone...
Too bad my parents can't see this. I guess that's why I spent my entire life doing something that made me physically ill -- we really do want the approval of our parents, don't we? But my health is more important than their approval.
Good luck to everyone. I will, of course, be a part of this site since I still have my issues. And I still know that at any point...I could slip into those darker days of IBS.
-Catherine.
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