August is gastroparesis awareness month, and it is relevant for more people than ever before. According to research published in GI research journals, approximately 1 out of every 10,000 men and 4 out of every 10,000 women in the U.S. suffer from the condition, which can be severely life-limiting.
During gastroparesis awareness month, renewed focus will be placed on the condition and potential options for relief. Among them are alternative therapies like acupuncture, which can help some patients achieve relief that medications cannot provide.
What is Causing the Rise in Gastroparesis Cases?
Medical researchers and physicians are noting a rise in gastroparesis cases. A 2017 study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology discovered a 300 percent rise in hospital admissions for gastroparesis over a 16-year period.
This increase in gastroparesis cases may be due to better diagnostic differentiation between other, similar GI diagnoses. It is also partially attributable to the rise in diabetes among U.S. adults and children, as diabetic patients are at an increased risk of developing gastroparesis.
Medication is another potential cause of the rise in gastroparesis. Two drugs in particular are connected to a recent rise in gastroparesis cases – Ozempic and Mounjaro. Both are intended for use in diabetes patients, but there has been a rapid rise in off-label use for these drugs – specifically for weight loss.
How Can Drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro Cause Gastroparesis?
Ozempic (semaglutide) and similar drugs like Mounjaro work by behaving like the GLP-1 hormone, which is produced by the small intestine. When GLP-1 is released into the blood, it triggers insulin release and drops blood glucose. It also increases satiety following a meal and slows down gastric emptying.
Ozempic and other weight loss drugs are GLP-1 agonist medications, which means they behave like GLP-1 when administered, activating the same receptors that GLP-1 is designed to activate. While this can help with weight loss, gastroparesis-like symptoms develop in some people as a result. Symptoms of gastroparesis may include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Heartburn or acid reflux
- Early satiety
- Blood sugar issues
For some, these symptoms become a chronic, potentially permanent condition that may cause additional, potentially life-threatening complications like malnutrition, dehydration and bezoars (hard, obstructing food masses).
Physicians aren’t sure exactly how Ozempic and Mounjaro cause gastroparesis, but early research suggests that it could be how Ozempic and similar drugs affect the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for regulating the gastrointestinal system.
How Can Acupuncture Help Gastroparesis Patients?
In many gastroparesis patients, available treatment options – mostly medications like Reglan – have inconsistent or short-lived benefits. In some patients, gastroparesis drugs provide little efficacy, or the efficacy they provide may fade with time. In these patients, alternative therapies like acupuncture may provide much-needed relief.
There are several potential health benefits associated with acupuncture therapy. In gastroparesis patients, in particular, it may help with the following:
- Improving nervous system regulation – Gastroparesis, like many functional GI conditions, appears to be partially caused by autonomic system dysfunction. In other words, the brain and the gut do not communicate effectively with each other, leading to poor or absent GI motility.
During acupuncture treatment, each needle is inserted into a defined acupuncture point – which is often located near a cluster of nerve tissues. When inserted into the skin, these needles innervate both local and distant nerve tissue. If the right acupuncture points are targeted, parts of the nervous system responsible for autonomic functions can be stimulated. A primary example of this is the vagus nerve, which is connected to many organs and the brain, and which facilitates communication between them. Acupuncture can help this major nerve highway function more efficiently. - Reducing pain signaling – Acupuncture also stimulates the body into releasing endorphins and other pain-fighting compounds like endogenous opioids. Together, these compounds can reduce the severity of any gastroparesis-caused pain, which can help patients maintain a positive mindset.
- Reducing stress and anxiety – Acupuncture can improve mindset in a more direct way. In fact, it’s effective in many patients experiencing anxiety, depression or stress, which are common in people suffering from gastroparesis.
Part of this benefit likely arises from the treatment process itself, which is relaxing and calm. It’s partly driven by vagal nerve stimulation, which is also responsible for regulating the body’s relaxation response. Specifically, when the vagus nerve is stimulated, it can reduce heart rate and respiratory rate, among other stress-reducing effects. - Offsetting the adverse effects of gastroparesis medications – Acupuncture and Chinese medicine are intended to support whole-body health rather than targeting a particular health condition. As such, acupuncture can have widespread beneficial effects on organ performance. This can help the body deal with the adverse effects of other treatments and reduce their impact on patient health.
Acupuncture Offers Hope to Those Suffering with Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis is a potentially debilitating condition that’s only beginning to be understood. Gastroparesis Awareness Month in August is intended to bring additional attention to the condition, which affects many people in Houston.
If you’re among the many people suffering from gastroparesis, acupuncture treatments may provide relief where medication has not. Its positive effects on the nervous system and on pain are likely responsible for these results. Acupuncture can also blunt any adverse effects posed by gastroparesis medication, making it easier for patients to stick to their treatment regimen.
If gastroparesis is limiting your health and activities, acupuncture may help. However, it’s highly recommended that patients seek treatment through a dual-certified acupuncturist and board physician. With experience in western and Chinese medicine, a dual-certified physician will have access to more options for providing relief for gastroparesis patients.