— Acupuncture · Geneva & Veyrier —
Digestive problems: bloating, IBS, acid reflux, poor digestion
A bloated stomach by the end of the day, heaviness after meals, irregular bowel movements, heartburn, a stomach in knots from stress: acupuncture, moxibustion and Chinese dietary advice can help you find calmer, more regular digestion, alongside your doctor’s care.
✓ RME & ASCA recognised · May be covered by complementary insurance, depending on your policy · First appointment within 48h
Does this sound like you?
Symptoms of disrupted digestion
In the morning, your stomach is flat. Then, as the day goes on, it swells and tightens, and by the evening it feels as if you’ve swallowed a balloon. You loosen your belt and reach for looser clothes. Gas, gurgling or small cramps appear, sometimes with no obvious link to what you’ve eaten.
After meals, digestion is slow and heavy, and a wave of tiredness hits you in the early afternoon. Your bowel habits are unpredictable: a few days with nothing, then loose stools, or the two alternating. Some people also feel a burning that rises behind the breastbone, especially in the evening or when lying down.
Often you’ve already cut out foods, tried diets and probiotics, and had tests that came back “normal”. You may have been told “it’s just stress”. Yet the symptoms are very real, and they affect your meals, your social life, your sleep and your energy.
The digestive problems I treat
These are the situations I see most often in my practice. Every gut is different, so every treatment is tailored to you.
Bloating
Swollen stomach, gas, tight belly
“By the evening my stomach is so bloated I look several months pregnant. I can’t stand anything tight.”
Irritable bowel syndrome
IBS, functional bowel disorder
“Cramps, diarrhoea, then constipation. Before going out, I always check where the toilets are.”
Acid reflux and heartburn
GERD, indigestion, acidity
“After dinner it burns and comes back up. I sleep with my head raised and can’t do without my antacids.”
Slow, heavy digestion
Heavy stomach, dyspepsia, tiredness after eating
“After lunch my stomach feels heavy for hours and I struggle not to fall asleep at my desk.”
Constipation
Sluggish bowels, irregular bowel movements
“I can go three or four days without a bowel movement, especially when travelling. I feel heavy and bloated.”
Stomach in knots from stress
Nervous stomach, nausea, disrupted appetite
“Whenever there’s an important meeting or a worry, my stomach is the first thing to react. I can’t eat normally any more.”
Understanding
What causes digestive problems?
Digestive problems often have several causes that add up. Among the most common:
- stress and emotions: the gut is very sensitive to nervous tension, which is why it reacts during busy periods;
- meal habits: eating fast, standing up or in front of a screen, skipping meals or eating late;
- certain foods: fatty or very sugary dishes, fizzy drinks, alcohol, large amounts of raw or cold food, depending on individual sensitivities;
- lack of movement and long hours sitting, which slow the bowels;
- changes in routine or hormones: travel, jet lag, the menstrual cycle, menopause, a course of antibiotics.
In Chinese medicine, digestion depends on the energy of the Spleen and Stomach. When it is weakened by fatigue, overwork or an unsuitable diet, digestion slows, the belly bloats and energy drops. When stress gets involved, everything knots up. The aim of treatment is to restore overall balance, not just to calm one symptom.
My approach
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine for digestion
In my practice, I don’t just look at your stomach: I take into account your stress, sleep, fatigue, eating habits and, for women, your cycle. Depending on your needs, several techniques are combined in the same session at no extra cost.
Acupuncture
Fine, sterile, single-use needles placed on points chosen from your assessment, to settle the stomach, regulate digestion and calm the stress that keeps it going.
Moxibustion
Gentle warmth applied to the abdomen and specific points, especially welcome when digestion is slow, the belly is sensitive to cold and fatigue is present.
Chinese dietary advice
Simple, personalised advice on how and when to eat and which foods suit you, with no strict diet and no list of forbidden foods.
How it works
Your care, step by step
01
The assessment
A first consultation of 60 to 90 min: your symptoms and when they occur, your meals, bowel habits, sleep, stress, cycle, and any tests already done.
02
The first treatment
You receive a tailored treatment from the very first session, and leave with a few simple, practical tips for your meals.
03
Follow-up
Sessions of 50 to 60 min, adjusted as you progress. We review things together, honestly, after a few sessions.
First consultation CHF 145 · Follow-up CHF 120 · Discovery Pack 3 sessions CHF 350. See all prices →
Everyday tips
How to soothe your stomach before your session
Sit down and eat slowly
Take time to chew, away from screens. A meal eaten calmly is often digested better than the same meal eaten in a rush.
Choose warm, cooked food
Soups, cooked vegetables, warm drinks: a sensitive stomach often tolerates hot dishes better than raw salads and iced drinks.
Walk after meals
Ten minutes of gentle walking after lunch or dinner helps the belly settle. Avoid lying down straight after eating.
Important
When to see a doctor first
Acupuncture complements conventional medicine; it does not replace it. See your doctor promptly if your digestive problems come with:
- blood in your stools, or black stools;
- unexplained weight loss or a lasting loss of appetite;
- repeated vomiting, or difficulty or pain when swallowing;
- severe or unusual abdominal pain, or pain that wakes you at night;
- fever, or diarrhoea lasting several days;
- a recent, lasting change in bowel habits, especially after the age of 50;
- a family history of bowel cancer or inflammatory bowel disease.
In an emergency, call 144.
FAQ
Your questions about digestive problems
My tests are normal, but my stomach still hurts. Can you help?
This is one of the most common situations I see. Blood tests, ultrasound, gastroscopy or colonoscopy all came back normal. That’s good news: your doctor has ruled out a disease. But you often leave with an “everything’s fine” or an “it’s just stress”, while your stomach is still in knots, bloated or cramping.
Normal tests do not mean you are imagining your symptoms. They show that the organ is not damaged, but not necessarily that it is working smoothly. These are called functional disorders: the gut is healthy, but it reacts too strongly, too quickly or erratically, for example to nervous tension, fatigue or meal times.
Many people describe the same thing: a lump or weight in the pit of the stomach, appetite that vanishes as soon as a worry comes up, a stomach that tightens on Sunday evening or before a meeting, digestion that improves on holiday. These symptoms often come with light sleep, underlying fatigue or tense shoulders.
This is exactly where Chinese medicine is useful. It doesn’t look for damage, but for an imbalance: a stomach knotted by stress, digestion weakened by fatigue, or both. At your assessment, I look at your digestive symptoms together with your stress, sleep, energy and lifestyle. Treatment aims to relax the belly, calm the nervous system and make digestion more regular, with practical advice for everyday life. Acupuncture complements your medical care: if your symptoms change, always talk to your doctor.
Can stress really cause digestive problems?
Yes, the gut and the nervous system are closely linked. Many people notice that their bloating, cramps or bowel habits change during busy periods. That’s why I often work on digestion and stress in the same session.
Will I have to follow a strict diet?
No. Chinese dietary advice is mainly about how you eat, when you eat and the nature of foods (warm, cooked, cold). These are gradual adjustments, adapted to your tastes and daily life. If you are already following a diet prescribed by your doctor or a dietitian, we take it into account.
Can I continue my medication during treatment?
Yes. Acupuncture is added to your treatment; it does not replace it. Never stop or change a medication without your doctor’s advice.
Does acupuncture hurt?
The needles are very fine, much finer than a blood-test needle. You may feel a slight tingle or heaviness, and most people find the session relaxing.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on how long you have had the problem and what causes it. Problems that have lasted for years usually need longer follow-up than recent symptoms. We review regularly, with no commitment beyond what is useful.
Are sessions covered by insurance?
Treatments are recognised by complementary insurers approved by ASCA and RME, as well as by international insurance providers. Please check your coverage with your insurer. A solidarity rate can also be offered, in complete confidence.
A calmer stomach and lighter digestion
Bloating, IBS, acid reflux or slow digestion: book your first session online, or call me if you have a question. I will tell you honestly whether acupuncture can help.
✓ RME & ASCA recognised · 76 rue de Carouge, Geneva & 97 chemin des Rasses, Veyrier