Acupuncture for IBS
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What is IBS? (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects the function of the digestive system. It is classified as a functional gastrointestinal condition. Simply put, it means that it impacts how the gut works rather than causing damage directly. IBS is a chronic condition that varies in severity and can change over time. It affects the large intestine and comes with irregular bowel habits.
While IBS does not lead to serious complications or increase the risk of other diseases as is, it can significantly impact daily life. Since IBS is different for everyone, treatments are often personalized based on individual needs.
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Various Types of IBS
There are a few Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) types based on bowel habits. Understanding your specific type helps in choosing the right treatment. Here are four main types of IBS:
1
IBS-C (IBS with Constipation)
This type includes infrequent and difficult bowel movements. Stools are often hard and dry, making them challenging to pass. People with IBS-C may also have bloating and discomfort because of slowed digestion.
2
IBS-D (IBS with Diarrhea)
This includes frequent, loose, or watery stools. It can lead to an urgent need to use the bathroom, which can bring quite a lot of discomfort to your daily life. Cramping and abdominal discomfort are also common.
3
IBS-M (IBS with Mixed Bowel Habits)
Also called IBS-Mixed, this type includes alternating episodes of constipation and diarrhea. The unpredictability of bowel habits makes management more challenging, requiring a balanced diet and efficient treatment.
4
IBS-U (Unclassified IBS)
This category is for cases that don’t fit into the other types. Bowel habits are irregular but do not align with IBS-C, IBS-D, or IBS-M. Diagnosis and treatment focus on individual symptoms.
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What Causes IBS? Understanding the Underlying Factors
- First key factor is gut-brain interaction, where miscommunication between the digestive system and nervous system leads to irregular bowel movements and heightened sensitivity. Gut motility issues can also play a role, causing food to move too quickly or too slowly through the intestines.
- Other possible causes include changes in gut bacteria, which affect digestion, and increased gut sensitivity, leading to discomfort even with normal digestive processes. Stress and diet are also known to influence IBS, as emotional triggers and certain foods can worsen symptoms.
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Identifying Common IBS Triggers
IBS triggers vary greatly, but some known factors can worsen symptoms. Certain foods are frequent triggers, like dairy, fatty or fried foods, caffeine, artificial sweeteners, and high-FODMAP foods like onions and beans. Some people react to gluten or spicy foods as well.
Stress and anxiety can also worsen symptoms, as the gut and nervous system are closely connected. Emotional stress may lead to digestive discomfort and irregular bowel habits. Hormonal changes, especially in women, can affect IBS symptoms.
Other triggers include irregular eating habits, lack of sleep, and certain medications that affect digestion.
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Recognizing Common IBS Symptoms
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) presents with a range of digestive symptoms that can vary in severity and frequency. The most common symptom is abdominal pain or cramping, bowel movement often eases this pain. Many people experience bloating, which can cause discomfort and a feeling of fullness.
- IBS also affects bowel habits, leading to constipation (IBS-C), diarrhea (IBS-D), or a mix of both (IBS-M). Gas and excessive flatulence are also common. Some individuals notice mucus in the stool. It is not usually associated with serious conditions but is common in IBS. Symptoms are usually not constant, they tend to come and go.
Still have questions about whether acupuncture for IBS is right for you?
Schedule a consultation here to find out!
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Can Acupuncture Help Treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Acupuncture for Irritable Bowel Syndrome is an alternative treatment that can help manage symptoms by balancing the digestive system. This traditional Chinese medicine treatment works by stimulating specific acupuncture points for IBS to address gut function issues and reduce discomfort. Many people choose acupuncture for IBS to address common issues like bloating, irregular bowel movements, and abdominal pain.
Since IBS is often linked to stress, acupuncture for IBS and acupuncture for anxiety can be beneficial, helping to calm the nervous system and reduce gut sensitivity. Acupuncture improves gut motility, eases inflammation, and provides relaxation. While results vary, many people find acupuncture for IBS to be a highly valuable addition to symptoms management.
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Effective Acupuncture Points for IBS
Acupuncture focuses on specific points that help regulate digestion, reduce pain, and calm the nervous system. Some of the most commonly used acupuncture points for IBS are:
- ST36 (Zusanli). Located below the knee, this point supports digestion, reduces bloating, and strengthens the stomach.
- LI4 (Hegu). Located on the hand, it helps ease abdominal pain and regulates bowel function.
- SP6 (Sanyinjiao). Near the inner ankle, this point balances and reduces stress-related IBS symptoms.
- CV12 (Zhongwan). Located on the abdomen, it helps with bloating and indigestion.
- LV3 (Taichong). On the foot, this point is useful for acupuncture for IBS and anxiety, helping ease stress-related symptoms.
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Acupuncture for IBS Treatment at Copper Wellness in Chicago, IL
- At Copper Wellness in Chicago, IL, we offer a professional and compassionate approach to acupuncture for IBS, focusing on both digestive and your overall health. Our integrative health services mix traditional acupuncture with complementary therapies to help manage symptoms effectively.
- We use specific techniques like electroacupuncture, which further improves traditional stimulation for better gut regulation, and auricular acupuncture, which focuses on ear points to support digestion and reduce stress.
- To support treatment even better, we may add herbal medicine, offering natural supplements for IBS to balance the digestive system.
- By addressing both physical and emotional health factors, we create fully personalized treatment plans to help ease bloating, discomfort, and irregular bowel habits. Schedule an appointment today to see how acupuncture can support your IBS management.
About results
Reviews About Acupuncture IBS
I have been going to Copper Wellness for nearly 4 years and cannot say enough good things about the clinic and all of their providers. Dr. Madden is a truly exceptional acupuncturist. I worked with her almost weekly during my first pregnancy and postpartum, and now for my second pregnancy, and she has been such a blessing with hormone health, stress and anxiety management, digestion, and sleep. She has the most amazing presence and all of her guidance has always been spot on. I also saw Dr Mohr during my first pregnancy to help with pregnancy aches and pains and pelvic positioning - he is also wonderful, so knowledgeable and kind and helped relieve a lot of my physical symptoms during that time. I’ve gone to Benicia for massage too and she is one of the best! (and I’ve seen a lot of massage therapists in my life)
I am moving from Chicago soon and truly going to miss this amazing clinic.
I am moving from Chicago soon and truly going to miss this amazing clinic.
Response from the owner 11:44 03 Jun 25
Dear Marianna,Thank you so much for your kind words and for being with us all these years. We're honored to have supported you through both pregnancies. Dr. Madden, Dr. Mohr, and Benicia will be touched by your feedback. Wishing you all the best in your move — you'll always be part of the Copper Wellness family! 
Dr. Mohr helped me tremendously with lower back pain and SI joint pain years ago and I still use the exercises he provided me to sustain feeling better. He used multiple techniques and movement based therapies to improve my ability to bend and lie down without pain.
Response from the owner 07:57 26 May 25
Thank you so much, Jack! We're truly glad to hear you're still feeling better — your kind words mean a lot to us! 
I have received services and initially had good intentions for a relationship with this clinic, but the billing issues and poor customer service significantly affected my experience and I feel compelled to share.
From the beginning, I was clear that billing transparency was important to me. Despite that, I ran into repeated issues with billing. The clinic charged me estimated amounts that didn’t ultimately match my Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from UnitedHealthcare, and when I brought up the discrepancies—with actual documentation to back it up—I was met with defensiveness rather than a willingness to resolve things collaboratively.
One particularly strange policy I encountered was that this clinic might charge a “clinic fee” if UnitedHealthcare doesn’t accommodate their cash rates. This seems to blur the lines between in-network and out-of-network billing.
Meanwhile, claims weren’t submitted to insurance promptly, which delayed payments and caused unnecessary confusion—none of which was my fault as the patient.
Bottom line: I paid what I was invoiced on time, asked reasonable questions when things didn’t add up, and was made to feel like I was the problem for doing so. I’ve since paused services until this can be sorted out—and I feel compelled to share my experience here.
From the beginning, I was clear that billing transparency was important to me. Despite that, I ran into repeated issues with billing. The clinic charged me estimated amounts that didn’t ultimately match my Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from UnitedHealthcare, and when I brought up the discrepancies—with actual documentation to back it up—I was met with defensiveness rather than a willingness to resolve things collaboratively.
One particularly strange policy I encountered was that this clinic might charge a “clinic fee” if UnitedHealthcare doesn’t accommodate their cash rates. This seems to blur the lines between in-network and out-of-network billing.
Meanwhile, claims weren’t submitted to insurance promptly, which delayed payments and caused unnecessary confusion—none of which was my fault as the patient.
Bottom line: I paid what I was invoiced on time, asked reasonable questions when things didn’t add up, and was made to feel like I was the problem for doing so. I’ve since paused services until this can be sorted out—and I feel compelled to share my experience here.
Response from the owner 18:14 28 May 25
Hi Tina, I am sorry that your experience was not as you had hoped at Copper Wellness. Before starting treatment all patients using insurance are given a breakdown of what their benefits cover at the clinic. Because of your shared concern about billing transparency, we also provided a breakdown of all potential charges for every type of appointment covered by insurance after your first treatment and before continuing care. We are happy to do this with any patient. Insurance billing is not an automated process, we submit the claims based on our insurance contracts with these companies and are paid as such. If there is a discrepancy in an overpayment it is issued back to the patient.We understand insurance can be frustrating and confusing which is why we contract a certified outside billing team to ensure the efficiency and accuracy of our billing practices. After reviewing all the communication I thought it was best to refer you to another practice which is local to you and within your network. As the owner and a practitioner I believe it is best that your healthcare environment be in a place that makes you feel relaxed and supported. I am sorry that cannot be us however we all wish you the best of luck with your journey. 
Copper Wellness has been a pivotal part of my wellness routine since moving to Chicago - can’t the imagine the city without them!
Response from the owner 14:31 21 Feb 25
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re grateful to be part of your integrative health and wellness journey and truly appreciate your support. Looking forward to seeing you again! 
I've been seeing Dr Stephanie Madden since last year, and the experience has been truly transformative. Overall, Copper Wellness is both calming and welcoming. Stephanie is always attentive to my needs, whether they are physical, mental or emotional. I always leave feeling more balanced than when I came. It's obvious that she truly cares about the well-being of her patients. If you are considering acupuncture, this is the place to go!
Response from the owner 08:17 10 Feb 25
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so glad to hear that your experience at Copper Wellness has been transformative. We appreciate your trust and look forward to continuing to support you on your wellness journey! 
I can't say enough great things about my experience at Copper Wellness! Dr. Madden is truly incredible. She has been instrumental in helping me manage my weight and find relief from stress, something I've struggled with for a long time. Her personalized approach, calm demeanor, and deep knowledge made me feel completely comfortable and cared for during each session!
Response from the owner 08:17 10 Feb 25
Thank you for your kind words! We're so happy to hear you’ve had a great experience at Copper Wellness. Dr. Madden is dedicated to personalized care, and we’re grateful to be part of your health journey! 
Copper Wellness has been a blessing in my life, I cant stop talking about the progress that Dr. Madden's treatment plan has made in my mental and physical health. The environment is calm, welcoming, and always filled with positive energy. I discovered Dr. Madden during a period of self reflection, I felt an imbalance in my life. When we met, she explained the practice and how it can impact the symptoms I was feeling. Acupuncture as a whole can change your life - it has mine, and Dr. Madden is the perfect provider to guide you to your ultimate wellness. Thank You Copper!
Response from the owner 18:17 27 Jan 25
You're a true testament to you get out what you put in. You've been so dedicated to your care and it's a gift to see you thriving in the happiness you've created for yourself. We love to be along for the ride and see how feeling your best helps you tackle your dreams. 
I've been seeing Dr. Mohr for a number of years now and the results have been amazing! From the first visit, I felt welcomed and listened to. My back pain has significantly improved, and I feel more energized and aligned (pun intended). Highly recommend if you're looking for top-notch care!
Response from the owner 18:18 27 Jan 25
Thanks Joe! We love the dad jokes, keep 'em coming 🙂 
Copper Wellness has been my point of care for everything related to my body and immune system consistently for 3 years now. I started my journey when my low back and glute were bothering me. Between Adam for muscle and movement work in addition to adjustments and Stephanie for my first round of acupuncture continued through to two of the hardest athletic years of my life running 7 marathons and competing in 6 IM events I owe my body to this group. They always keep my races top of mind when treating me but more importantly work on exercise and life habit changes to improve any issues I’m experiencing rather than just putting a “bandaid” on something that hurts. Also note that the massage therapy is unbelievable, Blu as a MT is life changing and all of the practitioners communicate across practices so that all care is tailored to areas I need focused on. I HIGHLY recommend this group.
Response from the owner 18:40 27 Jan 25
Whitney! Literally always keeping us on our toes keeping up with your impressive and successful yearly race schedule. It's been awesome to see you achieve your goals while enjoying the process. Can't wait to see what you have scheduled for this year. 
Absolutely love this place. I go to Dr. Madden for Acupuncture and she not only will take time to sit and listen to what is going on with my body, but she'll also curate a plan of attack that is personalized to my needs. I absolutely love coming here and appreciate everything that they do.
Response from the owner 18:38 27 Jan 25
Thank you Lauren 
I. Love. This. Place! I see both Dr. Mimosa for chiropractic and Dr. Madden for acupuncture, and they are two of the best practitioners of *any* type of medicine I've EVER worked with. They listen. They care. They genuinely want to help you feel your best. I can't recommend them and Copper Wellness enough.
Best Chiropractors in the city yall!! Dr.Mimosa is sweet and easy to talk to. Dr. Adam is very easy to talk to as well. Highly recommend!!!
Can't say enough good things about Anais. Very professional, very knowledgably, and just an amazing caring person! You are in the best of hands with her, would highly recommend!
I have been seeing Dr. Madden for acupuncture for almost a year now and I don't know where I'd be without her. She's incredible at what she does and the entire staff is awesome.
Anais is simply the best! Had a great review, consultation of problem areas and left feeling like I was on a cloud! Can't wait to go back, highly recommend the electrode therapy, it was amazing.
Dr Madden is a miracle worker. For over a year I had issues with my feet. She was the 1st to say my calf’s were right! Her acupuncture was spot on and helped right away. The stress caused issues in my neck as well that she helped not only with acupuncture but cupping as well. Her care and compassion is amazing. I will continue on maintenance because she is so amazing. ‼️
Copper Wellness has been a pivotal part of my health journey! The integrative services that are offered are tailored to my needs/situation. Specifically, when I needed to start doing massage therapy for upper and lower back pain, Cameron Sand did a great job from the start making me feel comfortable. Whenever I have a question, they answer it readily and explain how and what they are doing during our session. I’ve seen a huge improvement since working with them and couldn’t recommend them enough!
I sincerely wish that I could give Dr. Stephanie Madden 1 million stars. From the time that I met her for consultation through my entire acupuncture journey with her, she was incredibly attentive, genuine, personable, professional, precise, safe, knowledgeable, skilled, and wise with her work. I saw Dr. Madden for about 1 a little over a year to help resolve physical issues from emotional traumas and sufferings in my life. I cannot stress how different my life is from when I first saw her. She helped me get to core issues in my physical health that other doctors never came close to articulating, let alone being aware. Working those physical issues directly helped me so much with my emotional health. My quality of life now is so much better because of her contributions to my healing journey. After working with Dr. Madden, she is a practitioner that I trust and deeply respect. If anyone ever asks me to recommend an acupuncturist, I would never hesitate to recommend anyone to her. I even recommended her to one of my friends on his journey to receive a heart transplant, and she made a positive impact on his quality of life. He had nothing but positive things to say about her (and now he is thriving with a new heart!). Dr. Stephanie Madden has made a wonderful impact on my life, and I can only imagine the impact she is making on the lives of others whom encounter her. She is someone that has answered her call in life, and is absolutely brilliant at it. Brilliant!
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FAQs About IBS Acupuncture
Does acupuncture work for IBS in Chicago, IL?
Yes, acupuncture can be effective for managing IBS symptoms in Chicago, IL. It helps reduce inflammation, alleviate pain, and improve digestive function, offering relief from common IBS symptoms like bloating, cramping, and irregular bowel movements.
What to eat during IBS flare up?
During an IBS flare-up, it’s best to eat easily digestible foods such as plain rice, bananas, applesauce, and boiled potatoes. Avoid fatty, spicy, or dairy-heavy foods, as well as caffeine and alcohol. Focus on smaller, frequent meals and stay hydrated to help manage symptoms.
How long does acupuncture take to work for IBS?
Acupuncture for IBS typically starts showing results within 3–5 sessions, though it may vary depending on the severity of symptoms. Some patients experience relief after the first few treatments, while others may require ongoing sessions for optimal results.
Is acupuncture safe for IBS patients?
Yes, acupuncture is generally safe for IBS patients. It can help reduce symptoms like pain, bloating, and digestive discomfort by promoting relaxation and improving gut function. Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting acupuncture, especially if you have underlying health conditions.
Does IBS cause nausea?
Yes, IBS can cause nausea, especially during flare-ups. It is often associated with other symptoms like bloating, cramping, and changes in bowel movements. Acupuncture, managing stress and dietary triggers can help reduce nausea in many cases.
How much does acupuncture for IBS cost in Chicago, IL?
The cost of acupuncture for IBS in Chicago, IL, varies depending on the treatment plan and session length. For specific pricing details, please contact Copper Wellness directly. We offer personalized care to address your unique needs.
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