Following the festive season I saw an increase of patients who required assistance for their bowel movements. It seems, the complaint of sluggish bowels impacted many due to over indulgence of days or for some weeks of festive gatherings. The digestive system suffered from eating rich cured meats, little fiber from fruits and vegetables, reduced fluid intake and lack of exercise and we got a bit backed up.
For some patients, this resulted in irritability and discomfort and for others it was much more extreme resulting in pressure on the sciatic nerve and pain in their legs. Which in itself caused problems, with a cycle of taking pain killers to relieve leg pain which resulted in further constipation.
Relief was provided with just 1 acupuncture treatment to get everything moving in many and others were assisted further with herbal medicine. What was apparent in these cases, were that these issues really impacted a range of large group of the population whom had pre-existing digestive gut issues – their ages ranged from those in their 30’s to 60’s.
For patients who were looking for a better understanding of their health, I have worked with them to address issues such as gas & bloating, iron deficiencies, haemorrhoids, diverticulitis and irritable bowel syndrome.