One session stopped the acid reflux. Four further sessions over three months (one every three weeks) were used to tonify Stomach Yin.
At a glance
Severe night-time acid reflux that was breaking her sleep stopped completely once Stomach Yin was tonified and the upward rebellion of Stomach Qi was settled.
Presentation
A 50-year-old patient had severe acid reflux that woke her several times a night and considerably reduced her sleep quality. The medication from her family doctor only slightly reduced the severity, and it also weakened her digestion.
Diagnosis
In TCM terms, the acid reflux was caused by Stomach Qi rebellion, with Stomach Yin deficiency as the root cause. Stomach Qi rebellion happens when the stomach’s energy moves upward instead of in its natural downward direction. Normally the stomach receives food and sends it down toward the intestines; when this flow reverses, it causes upper digestive problems such as acid reflux, belching and nausea.
Stomach Yin deficiency means the body lacks the cooling, moistening fluids (Yin) needed to lubricate and nourish the stomach and digest food properly. In this patient it had caused deep cracks on her tongue, and it was the root cause of the Stomach Qi rebellion and reflux.
Treatment
Treatment combined acupuncture with herbal medicine:
- RN-12 (Zhongwan) — the front-mu point of the Stomach, which can improve the stomach’s digestive function
- RN-13 (Shangwan) — can stop Stomach Qi rebellion and acid reflux
- [SP-4 (Gongsun), PC-6 (Neiguan)] — SP-4 connects with the Chong meridian and PC-6 with the Yin Wei meridian; together they stop Stomach Qi rebellion and acid reflux
- [ST-36 (Zusanli), SP-9 (Yinlingquan)] — a combination to improve digestion and metabolism
- LI-10 (Shousanli) — improves the stomach’s digestive function
She alternated between two types of herbal formula based on her internal body temperature: a warming formula when she was running very cold inside, and a neutral formula (neither warming nor cooling) when her internal temperature was normal.
Result
The acid reflux stopped completely and she was able to sleep through the night without interruption.
Additional notes
This reflects an individual patient experience, not clinical trial data.
Results vary from person to person depending on the condition, its severity, and how an individual responds to treatment. TCM and acupuncture are not a substitute for care from your physician or another regulated health professional. If you’re dealing with a serious or urgent symptom, please see a doctor first.