The Gut-Mind Connection
- Claire Skinner
- May 1
- 4 min read
A Traditional Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture Perspective on Digestion, Mood, and Emotional Resilience
Meraki Acupuncture | May 2025 Blog
Introduction
Have you ever lost your appetite when you're overwhelmed? Or felt "butterflies" before a big moment? These common experiences reveal something powerful: your gut and your mind are speaking to each other.
This connection isn’t just emotional - it’s biological, energetic, and deeply respected within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). At Meraki Acupuncture, we support clients every day who experience digestive concerns linked to stress, low mood, or hormonal shifts. The more we support the whole system, the more it restores its own balance.
This blog explores the connection between digestion and emotional wellbeing from a TCM lens, supported by emerging medical research - and offers a gentle, holistic path to feeling better in your body.
What Is the Gut-Brain Axis?
In modern science, the gut-brain axis refers to the two-way communication system between your digestive system and your brain. This system includes the vagus nerve — a kind of highway of messages - and the enteric nervous system, sometimes called our "second brain."
Roughly 90% of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that influences mood, is made in the gut. If the gut is inflamed, sluggish, or out of balance, our emotional state often reflects that.
More people now experience this connection first-hand through conditions like:
IBS or bloating that worsens with stress
Anxiety accompanied by appetite loss
Brain fog or poor sleep tied to digestion
This isn’t a coincidence — it’s communication.
The TCM Understanding: Spleen, Stomach & Shen
From a TCM perspective, digestion is much more than nutrient breakdown. The Spleen and Stomach transform food into Qi (vital energy) and Blood. These organs are also linked to clarity, focus, and emotional stability.
When the Spleen is weakened — through worry, irregular meals, or overwork — it struggles to do its job. You might feel:
Heavy or bloated after eating
Foggy or forgetful
Low in mood or motivation
Meanwhile, the Heart governs the Shen — our emotional and mental presence. If the digestive system isn’t nourished, the Shen can become unsettled, contributing to poor sleep, low mood, and anxiety.
This is why in our clinic we always consider both emotional and digestive health together.
How Acupuncture Supports the Gut-Mind Connection
Acupuncture isn’t just about needles — it’s a way to remind the body how to regulate itself.
Here's how it helps:
1. Calms the Nervous SystemAcupuncture promotes the parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) state, reducing stress hormones and helping the gut function more efficiently.
2. Influences Brain ChemistryScientific research has shown that acupuncture affects serotonin and dopamine production, key players in both mood and digestive motility (Liu et al., 2021).
3. Strengthens Digestive QiBy tonifying the Spleen and harmonising the Heart, acupuncture addresses fatigue, bloating, low appetite, and mental fog.
Some More Commonly Used Points:
ST36 (Zusanli) – Encourages digestive flow and energy
SP6 (Sanyinjiao) – Balances hormonal, digestive, and emotional health
You may not feel dramatic change overnight. But over several sessions, most clients notice they feel more grounded, lighter, and emotionally steady.
Daily Rituals to Support Gut & Mood
Acupuncture works best alongside small daily shifts. Here are practices we often recommend:
1. Warm, Cooked Meal: Avoid cold breakfasts. Opt for porridge, soup, or congee to nourish the Spleen and prevent bloating.
2. Mindful Eating: No screens. No multitasking. Just a few minutes to focus on your food and breath.
3. Rhythmic Living: Eat and sleep at regular times. Your digestion and nervous system thrive with consistency.
4. Gentle Movement: Try breath-led practices like Qi Gong or slow yoga. Even a mindful walk can support Liver Qi and emotional flow.
5. Acupressure at Home: Apply gentle pressure to Yintang (between the eyebrows) and SP6 (above the ankle) when you feel tension or unease.
Top Tip:Try journaling for one week about your digestion and mood. You might notice valuable patterns.
Who Is This For?
This approach may benefit you if you experience:
Bloating, gas, or irregular digestion
Emotional eating or erratic appetite
Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
PMS or perimenopausal mood shifts
Low energy or difficulty unwinding
If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. At Meraki Acupuncture, we see this constellation of symptoms every day — and more importantly, we see them improve.
In Closing
The gut-mind connection isn’t a trend. It’s a reflection of how our bodies truly function: interdependent, responsive, and intelligent.
By supporting both your digestion and your emotions through acupuncture and simple lifestyle changes, you give your system permission to reset — gently and effectively.
You deserve to feel clear, calm, and connected in your own body. If you’re ready to begin, we’re here.
References:
Cryan, J. F., et al. (2019). The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis. Physiological Reviews.
Liu, Y., et al. (2021). Acupuncture and GI motility. Neurogastroenterology & Motility.
Mayer, E. A. (2011). Gut-brain communication. Nature Reviews Neuroscience.
O'Mahony, S. M., et al. (2015). Gut microbiome & visceral pain. Pain.
Ma, T., et al. (2012). Acupuncture & IBS. World Journal of Gastroenterology.