Acupuncture & Herbs for Digestive Health
Bloating, indigestion, an unsettled stomach, or irregular digestion. Here is how Chinese medicine approaches digestive comfort, alongside your doctor's care.
Digestion sits at the center of health in Chinese medicine. Stress, irregular meals, and long shifts can all throw it off, and digestive discomfort often comes along with poor sleep and low energy.
Who we see
- Bloating, gas, and a feeling of fullness after meals
- Indigestion and an unsettled stomach
- Irregular digestion, including IBS-type symptoms your doctor has evaluated
- Digestive discomfort that gets worse with stress
See a doctor first, or go to the ER, if you have:
- blood in your stool, black or tarry stools, or vomiting blood,
- unexplained weight loss, or trouble swallowing,
- severe or worsening abdominal pain, or pain with fever,
- vomiting that won't stop or signs of dehydration, or
- new digestive changes after age 45 that haven't been checked by a doctor.
These can be signs of something that needs medical care right away.
How we treat it at Wongu
A careful first visit. Your practitioner asks about your symptoms, meals, stress, sleep, and any tests or diagnoses from your doctor. A tongue and pulse assessment is especially important for digestive concerns in Chinese medicine.
Acupuncture. Needles are often placed on the abdomen, legs, and hands. You rest for 20–30 minutes in a private room.
Herbal medicine. Chinese herbal formulas and teas are often a central part of digestive care. Your practitioner chooses them for you and checks them against your medications.
Eating habits that help. Regular meals, eating slowly, and noticing which foods bother you. Chinese medicine also pays attention to warm versus cold foods, and your practitioner may share suggestions.
How many visits?
Many people start with weekly visits, often with an herbal formula between visits, and adjust as things improve. Your practitioner will review progress with you.
Intern or licensed OMD?
Both are available. A supervised student intern visit costs less and gives you a longer first appointment (1.5–2 hours), and a licensed OMD oversees every treatment. A visit with one of our licensed OMDs takes about an hour. Every visit is one-on-one in a private treatment room.
| Visit | Supervised Intern | Licensed OMD |
|---|---|---|
| Initial visit (consultation + treatment) | $80 · 1.5–2 hours | $120 · about 1 hour |
| Follow-up visit | $50 · about 1 hour | $80 · 30–55 minutes |
| Cupping (up to 30 min) | $50 | $100 (includes OMD consultation) |
| Custom herbal formulas & teas | From $15/day | From $15/day |
Common questions
Get support for digestive comfort
First visits from $80. Self-pay patients can book online. VA Community Care and Culinary Health Fund patients should contact Wongu Health Center before scheduling so we can verify eligibility, authorization, and provider availability.