For many of us, the holidays wreak havoc with our eating habits and digestion. The plethora of larger meals eaten later in the day, multiple

offerings of dessert and less time for regular exercise. Not to mention the emotional aspects of the High Holy days, extended family time and this year especially, the challenges Jews are facing everywhere. All of this can lead to digestive unrest.

In Chinese medicine and acupuncture, the digestive system is what feeds both body and soul. The earth element, embodied in the spleen and stomach, the digestive duo, is the core of our health. It creates the energy to think, move and create. The health of your digestion is one of the 10 questions acupuncturists ask their patients as part of an initial intake. Acupuncture supports digestion by stimulating the body’s natural healing process and regulating the nervous system. The increase in blood flow from acupuncture treatment increases nutrient absorption and waste elimination, thus improving the communication between the digestive tract and the brain.

If you have digestive problems, which means issues anywhere along the digestive journey, from acid reflux to constipation, acupuncture diagnosis is based on the pattern, the signs and symptoms experienced by the patient. You may be diagnosed with a cold invading the stomach, liver overacting on the stomach, Spleen-Yang deficiency, stomach Yin deficiency, food stagnation as well as other patterns.

I treat these patterns with a combination of needle protocols, herbs, dietary and lifestyle suggestions.

In addition to poor food choices, age can also affect digestion. For many of us, our digestion gets crankier as we get older. Foods we enjoyed as teenagers or young adults start to cause reflux, pain or bloating. Acupuncture can aid in supporting our digestion by enhancing circulation and speeding up digestive processes. In these cases, modifying our diet

can be very helpful. Reduction of the foods we think of as “bad” can help: sugar, fats, excess carbs, and alcohol. Choose smaller meals, slower eating and simpler combinations. Use soup as a main course, increase cooked vegetables, whole grains, and lighter proteins. As the weather cools, increase your intake of warm foods, especially in the morning. Imagine being woken up by a bucket of cold water while snuggling in a warm bed. Cooked cereal, congee, eggs or soup are great alternatives. Try having fruit as a stand-alone snack instead of combining it with other foods; you may find it easier to digest.

I will be offering some simple soup suggestions on my blog so check out my website for ideas.

For more dietary suggestions or health guidance, please contact Dr. Sara Youner at Morning Light Acupuncture, (908)400-2314, www.morninglightacupuncturenj.com or [email protected].