IBS & Gastrointestinal Treatment in Vienna, VA | Medical Doctor + Licensed Acupuncturist

If abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, or irregular bowel movements are affecting your quality of life, you've come to the right place. At Mira Integrative Clinic, you'll receive treatment from Dr. Mira-a licensed medical doctor AND board-certified acupuncturist-a rare combination that ensures both medical precision and effective, natural gastrointestinal relief without the side effects and dependency issues of pharmaceutical treatments.

IBS affects millions: Approximately 6-7% of Americans are diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), with higher prevalence estimates reaching 11-16% when including those with undiagnosed symptoms. IBS costs the healthcare system billions annually and causes patients to miss three times as many days from work as those without bowel symptoms. Beyond physical discomfort, IBS is associated with anxiety (62% of patients), depression (48% of patients), and severely reduced quality of life. Yet most conventional treatments focus only on symptom suppression rather than restoring digestive function and gut health.

We specialize in treating IBS and gastrointestinal disorders through evidence-based acupuncture that addresses the root cause: gut-brain dysregulation and dysbiosis (imbalanced gut microbiota). Our patients report significant reductions in abdominal pain, normalized bowel function, improved mood, and restored energy within weeks of starting treatment-without pharmaceutical side effects.

Why Patients Choose Mira Integrative Clinic for IBS & Gastrointestinal Health

Medical Doctor + Acupuncturist (The Only Combination in Vienna)

Dr. Mira is both a licensed medical doctor and board-certified acupuncturist-credentials no other local clinic offers. This means:

• We understand the medical causes of IBS: gut-brain dysregulation, dysbiosis, intestinal dysmotility, visceral hypersensitivity, and impaired barrier function
• We can diagnose and rule out serious conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease, or bacterial overgrowth
• We understand when medication is necessary versus when acupuncture is a superior alternative
• We can assess your symptoms against Rome IV IBS diagnostic criteria to confirm diagnosis and treatment approach
• You receive evidence-based treatment addressing both immediate symptom relief and long-term digestive restoration
• We can coordinate care with your gastroenterologist if needed

Research-Backed IBS Treatment Protocols

We don't guess. Our treatments are based on extensive clinical research demonstrating acupuncture's effectiveness for IBS and gastrointestinal dysfunction:

• Refractory IBS relief: A 2024 randomized controlled trial found acupuncture significantly reduced IBS symptom severity scores by an average of 50+ points (p<0.0001) in patients who had failed standard therapies
• Quality of life improvement: Meta-analysis of 14 studies involving 2,038 IBS patients showed acupuncture significantly improved quality of life compared to conventional treatment (MD = 6.62, 95% CI)
• Abdominal pain reduction: Acupuncture outperformed placebo acupuncture (RR 1.69), no specific treatment (RR 1.86), and was comparable to pharmaceutical therapy while producing fewer side effects
• Microbiota restoration: Acupuncture restores beneficial bacteria (increased Lactobacillus, decreased pathogenic species), increases protective short-chain fatty acids (butyrate), and rebalances the gut microbiota composition
• Bowel function normalization: Both IBS-C (constipation-predominant) and IBS-D (diarrhea-predominant) improve significantly with persistent benefits after treatment ends
• Gut-brain axis healing: Functional MRI studies show acupuncture returns abnormal brain-gut connections to normal patterns, explaining symptom improvement
• Anxiety & mood improvement: Positive trend in reducing anxiety symptoms (associated with 62% of IBS patients)
• Excellent safety profile: Only mild, transient adverse events reported; significantly fewer side effects than pharmaceutical IBS treatments

Research consistently shows acupuncture regulates gastrointestinal motility (dual effect: normalizes both constipation and diarrhea), reduces visceral hypersensitivity (calms painful nerve endings), restores intestinal barrier function, modulates gut microbiota composition, and reestablishes healthy gut-brain communication.

Specialized Practitioners

Different gastrointestinal symptoms need different approaches. Our specialized team includes:

• Dr. Mira: Medical doctor, gastroenterology liaison, IBS diagnosis and comprehensive GI disorder management
• Dr. Sanaa: Electroacupuncture expert, IBS-D (diarrhea) specialist, rapid symptom normalization
• Yining: Stress-related GI dysfunction specialist, IBS-anxiety specialist, gut-brain axis expert
• Dr. Maysoun: Holistic GI support, herbal recommendations for digestive restoration, microbiota support

Real IBS Relief Success Stories from Vienna Patients

"Finally Pain-Free After Years of Suffering"

Patient Experience: IBS-C with Severe Abdominal Pain

"I had IBS-C for years-constant bloating, severe abdominal cramping, and straining with almost every bowel movement. I tried multiple medications (including expensive new biologics), dietary changes, and everything seemed to just mask symptoms without fixing the underlying problem. After my first acupuncture session at Mira Integrative, I felt relaxed for the first time in months. Within two weeks, my bowel movements became more regular and pain-free. After a month of treatment, I'm having normal bowel movements almost every day with no cramping. My energy is back and I feel like I got my life back."

What this means:

• Condition: IBS-C (constipation-predominant) with severe visceral pain and straining
• Timeline: Immediate relaxation, pain reduction within 2 weeks, normalized bowel function within 4 weeks
• Result: Regular pain-free bowel movements, restored energy, eliminated pharmaceutical dependence
• Long-term outcome: Sustained improvement without ongoing medication

"Goodbye Urgent Bathroom Runs, Hello Normal Life"

Patient Experience: IBS-D with Anxiety

"My IBS-D was destroying my social life. I couldn't go anywhere without needing a bathroom nearby-constant diarrhea, urgent bowel movements, and intense anxiety about having an episode in public. Dr. Mira helped me understand how my stress was literally controlling my gut. Within three weeks of acupuncture, the urgent bathroom runs stopped. My bowel movements became predictable and formed. After 8 weeks, I could go out with friends, travel, even go to the gym without fear. My mood is better too-less anxious overall."

What this means:

• Multiple issues addressed: IBS-D (diarrhea), urgency, unpredictability, anxiety, and social dysfunction
• Gut-brain axis healing: Patient experienced reduced stress, normalized gut motility, and predictable bowel function
• Quality of life restoration: Recovered ability to engage in normal social activities
• Anxiety reduction: Mood improvement accompanied physical symptom resolution

The pattern: Most IBS patients notice pain reduction within 1-2 weeks, normalized bowel movements within 2-4 weeks, and significant mood/anxiety improvement by weeks 4-8. Long-term treatment (10-20 sessions) produces stable symptom control lasting 3-6+ months after treatment ends. Many patients experience complete symptom resolution and remain symptom-free for years. Read more success stories on our reviews page.

How We Treat IBS & Gastrointestinal Disorders: Evidence-Based Acupuncture

Understanding IBS: The Gut-Brain Disorder

IBS is officially classified as a "disorder of gut-brain interaction" (DGBI)-not simply a digestive problem. Your symptoms result from dysregulation in how your brain communicates with your intestines and how your intestines process signals. Key mechanisms involved:

• Dysbiosis: Imbalanced gut microbiota with decreased beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium) and increased pathogenic species
• Intestinal dysmotility: Your intestinal muscles contract too fast (IBS-D), too slow (IBS-C), or irregularly (IBS-M), disrupting normal stool transit
• Visceral hypersensitivity: Nerve endings in your digestive tract are overactive, making normal intestinal sensations feel painful
• Impaired barrier function: Your intestinal lining becomes too permeable ("leaky gut"), allowing bacteria and toxins to trigger inflammation
• Gut-brain dysregulation: Altered neurotransmitter signaling between your enteric nervous system and central nervous system disrupts communication
• Immune activation: Persistent low-grade inflammation in your gut maintains symptoms

Acupuncture for IBS Abdominal Pain & Cramping

Abdominal pain is the hallmark IBS symptom, affecting virtually all IBS patients. Acupuncture treats this pain through multiple mechanisms:

• Reducing visceral hypersensitivity: Calms overactive nerve endings in the digestive tract, so normal intestinal movements don't trigger pain
• Normalizing intestinal motility: Acupuncture has a remarkable "dual regulatory effect"-it promotes healthy muscle contractions if motility is too slow (IBS-C) or reduces excessive contractions if motility is too fast (IBS-D)
• Decreasing inflammation: Reduces inflammatory markers in the gut and systemically, addressing the inflammatory basis of pain
• Increasing endorphins and serotonin: These neurotransmitters raise your pain threshold and improve mood
• Regulating the gut-brain axis: Restores normal signaling between your brain and intestines, eliminating the pain amplification loop
• Improving intestinal barrier function: Strengthens tight junctions in the intestinal lining, reducing bacterial translocation and triggering of pain signals

What patients experience: Relief begins within 1-2 sessions. Most patients report 50% reduction in abdominal pain intensity and frequency within 2-3 weeks. Research shows an average IBS pain reduction of 1.6+ points on validated symptom severity scales. By 4-6 weeks, many patients experience pain that's minimal to occasional rather than constant.

Acupuncture for IBS-C (Constipation-Predominant)

IBS-C affects 24% of IBS patients and is characterized by hard, infrequent stools, severe straining, and abdominal bloating. Acupuncture treatment works by:

• Promoting intestinal motility: Stimulates parasympathetic nervous system activity, increasing healthy muscle contractions that move stool through your colon
• Regulating myoelectric activity: Restores the electrical signals that coordinate intestinal muscle contractions
• Reducing straining sensation: Calms the spastic contractions that make bowel movements so difficult
• Restoring gut microbiota: Increases beneficial bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids (especially butyrate), which stimulate healthy bowel contractions
• Improving colonic function: Specific acupoints (ST36, ST37, BL25) directly enhance colon function

Research backing: Studies show acupuncture significantly improves spontaneous bowel movements, reduces straining, improves stool consistency, and increases the proportion of complete spontaneous bowel movement responders. Benefits are comparable to prucalopride (the FDA-approved IBS-C medication) without the side effects.

Patient timeline: Most IBS-C patients notice softer stools within 5-7 days, more frequent bowel movements within 2-3 weeks, and normalized daily functioning within 4-6 weeks.

Acupuncture for IBS-D (Diarrhea-Predominant)

IBS-D affects 25% of IBS patients and is characterized by urgent, watery bowel movements, unpredictability, and anxiety about bathroom access. Acupuncture helps by:

• Slowing excessive intestinal contractions: The dual regulatory effect reduces over-active peristalsis, normalizing transit time
• Strengthening intestinal barrier: Increases tight junction protein expression and butyrate production, reducing intestinal permeability
• Restoring dysbiotic microbiota: Rebalances bacteria composition, reducing gas-producing and pathogenic species
• Reducing urgency and frequency: Calms the hyperactive responses that drive immediate bowel movements
• Reducing anxiety: Addresses the gut-brain anxiety component that worsens diarrhea
• Stabilizing serotonin: Serotonin controls both mood and bowel motility; acupuncture normalizes both

Research showing: Recent 2025 clinical trial enrolling 326 IBS-D patients is testing personalized acupuncture at pain-sensitive acupoints-the latest advancement in IBS-D treatment. Prior studies confirm significant reductions in urgency and frequency with normalization of stool consistency.

Patient experience: Urgent bathroom runs typically decrease within 1-2 weeks. By week 3-4, bowel movements become predictable and formed. Most patients regain confidence in their bowel function and return to normal activities within 4-8 weeks.

Acupuncture for IBS-Associated Anxiety, Depression & Mood

The gut-brain connection means 62% of IBS patients experience anxiety and 48% experience depression. Acupuncture addresses this through:

• Regulating neurotransmitters: Increases serotonin and GABA (calming neurotransmitter), both depleted in IBS patients
• Reducing stress hormones: Lowers cortisol and adrenaline that maintain the anxiety-IBS cycle
• Improving sleep: Anxiety and IBS often disrupt sleep; improved sleep dramatically improves mood and stress resilience
• Activating parasympathetic nervous system: Shifts you from "fight-or-flight" anxiety mode to "rest-and-digest" calm mode
• Treating the gut-brain axis directly: Functional MRI shows acupuncture normalizes abnormal brain-gut connections characteristic of IBS

Patient benefit: Mood and anxiety improvement often parallels physical symptom improvement. Many patients notice reduced anxiety within 2-3 weeks as physical symptoms improve, with significant mood stabilization by weeks 4-6.

Acupuncture for Bloating & Excess Gas

Bloating and gas distress patients more than constipation or diarrhea alone. Acupuncture reduces bloating by:

• Normalizing intestinal gas production: Dysbiotic bacteria produce excess gas; acupuncture rebalances microbiota, reducing gas-producing species
• Improving gut motility: Stagnant bowels trap gas; normalized motility moves gas through intestines, reducing bloating sensation
• Reducing visceral sensitivity: Small amounts of normal gas feel excruciating to IBS patients; acupuncture calms hypersensitive nerves so gas doesn't cause pain
• Healing intestinal barrier: Improves barrier function and reduces inflammatory response to gas production

How Dysbiosis Maintains IBS Symptoms

Recent research revolutionized IBS understanding: your gut microbiota isn't just affected by IBS-it actively maintains your symptoms. Here's how acupuncture fixes this:

• Dysbiosis characteristics in IBS: Decreased beneficial bacteria, increased pathogenic species, reduced microbial diversity, decreased short-chain fatty acid production
• Consequences: Dysbiotic bacteria produce gas (bloating), trigger inflammation (pain), weaken intestinal barrier (permeability), and disrupt neurotransmitter production (anxiety/depression)
• Acupuncture microbiota effects: Increases Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, decreases pathogenic Pseudomonas, restores microbial diversity, increases butyrate production
• Clinical translation: As microbiota normalizes, pain decreases, bowel function stabilizes, and anxiety improves-creating a positive feedback loop

Key finding: Specific bacterial genera (Coprobacter, Lactobacillus, Eubacterium coprostanoligenes_group) predict acupuncture treatment response, suggesting microbiota restoration is central to how acupuncture works.

Your Treatment Protocol

Initial Consultation (60-75 minutes):

• Comprehensive IBS assessment: which symptoms you're experiencing (pain, constipation, diarrhea, bloating, urgency), severity, frequency, and impact on daily life
• Rome IV IBS criteria assessment to confirm diagnosis and identify IBS subtype (IBS-C, IBS-D, IBS-M)
• Gastrointestinal history: family history of GI disorders, food intolerances, previous infections, dietary triggers, stress patterns
• Medical evaluation: rule out IBD, celiac disease, bacterial overgrowth, or other conditions requiring different treatment
• Medication and supplement review: identifying which treatments help versus which perpetuate symptoms
• Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis: reveals patterns of imbalance underlying your specific symptoms
• Customized treatment plan: typically 10-20 sessions for significant symptom improvement, scheduled weekly initially
• Your first acupuncture treatment to begin symptom relief

Typical Treatment Sessions (45-60 minutes):

• Comfortable positioning in a quiet, temperature-controlled room
• Hair-thin sterile needles inserted at key gastrointestinal-regulating acupoints
• Standardized points proven effective for IBS: ST36, ST37, CV4, CV12, SP6, SP9, BL25, plus additional points based on your specific symptoms
• Electroacupuncture applied if recommended for stubborn pain, slow motility, or rapid motility requiring greater regulatory effect
• Needles remain 20-30 minutes while you rest
• Additional therapies as needed: herbal recommendations for microbiota support and digestive restoration, dietary and stress management guidance, lifestyle optimization

Expected Timeline & Results:

Realistic expectations: Research shows significant improvements within 3-4 weeks of starting treatment. Most patients achieve 50%+ improvement in primary symptoms by week 6-8. Pain typically decreases first (weeks 1-3), bowel function normalizes (weeks 2-6), then anxiety/mood stabilization follows (weeks 4-8). Benefits persist for 3-6+ months after treatment completion, with many patients maintaining improvement long-term.

Complementary Gastrointestinal Support

We recommend combining acupuncture with complementary therapies available at Mira Integrative Clinic:

IM Vitamin Therapy: B vitamins support energy and stress resilience, magnesium reduces visceral pain and improves bowel motility, probiotics restore dysbiotic microbiota.

Herbal Medicine: Specific herbs reduce GI inflammation, strengthen intestinal barrier, promote beneficial bacteria, and improve digestion without pharmaceutical side effects.

Moxibustion Therapy: Warming therapy particularly effective for IBS-C and cold-pattern digestive dysfunction, improving circulation and motility.

When to Seek Treatment for IBS & Gastrointestinal Disorders

Signs You Should Seek Treatment

Consider acupuncture treatment if you experience:

• Chronic abdominal pain: Recurring pain/cramping associated with bowel movements, interfering with daily activities
• Constipation: Hard or infrequent stools (fewer than 3 per week), straining, sense of incomplete evacuation
• Diarrhea: Frequent watery stools (3+ daily), urgency, unpredictability, inability to control bowel movements
• Alternating bowel habits: IBS-M with cycling between constipation and diarrhea
• Bloating and distension: Uncomfortable fullness, visible abdominal swelling, excessive gas
• Anxiety and GI symptoms: Gut-related anxiety, panic about bowel access, symptoms worse with stress
• Medication intolerance: Side effects from IBS medications (antispasmodics, laxatives, antidiarrheals)
• Failed conventional treatment: Dietary changes, medications, or behavioral interventions haven't helped
• Quality of life impact: Symptoms affecting work, relationships, social activities, or mental health
• Associated anxiety or depression: Mood symptoms accompanying gastrointestinal dysfunction

IBS Diagnostic Criteria (Rome IV)

IBS is defined by symptom patterns, not by lab tests or imaging. Rome IV criteria require:

• Recurrent abdominal pain at least 1 day per week for at least 3 months
• Associated with two or more of: (1) related to bowel movements, (2) change in stool frequency, (3) change in stool form/appearance
• Symptoms begin at least 6 months prior to diagnosis

We assess your symptoms against these criteria to confirm diagnosis and determine whether acupuncture is your best treatment option or whether other evaluation is needed.

When Other Conditions Must Be Ruled Out

While most chronic GI symptoms are IBS, Dr. Mira's medical background means we evaluate for serious conditions first:

• Red flag symptoms requiring further investigation: Blood in stool, unexplained weight loss, fever, symptoms waking you at night, family history of IBD or colorectal cancer
• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis): Similar symptoms but involves tissue inflammation visible on colonoscopy; requires different treatment
• Celiac disease: Caused by gluten-triggered immune response; requires gluten elimination rather than acupuncture alone
• Bacterial overgrowth (SIBO): Excess bacteria produce symptoms; may require antibiotic treatment initially
• Food intolerances (lactose, fructose, sorbitol): Symptoms improve with dietary elimination

We can help coordinate testing if needed and determine whether acupuncture alone is appropriate or whether concurrent medical treatment is necessary.

Acupuncture vs. Pharmaceutical IBS Treatment

Many patients ask: why acupuncture instead of IBS medications? Here's the comparison:

The bottom line: Acupuncture addresses underlying dysfunction, restores normal GI function, and provides lasting relief. Medications suppress symptoms temporarily while potentially worsening the underlying dysbiosis. For most IBS patients, acupuncture offers superior long-term outcomes without pharmaceutical side effects or dependency.

Understanding IBS & Gastrointestinal Dysfunction

Common IBS Symptoms

Primary symptoms: Abdominal pain or cramping (the defining feature, affecting 100% of IBS patients), constipation or diarrhea (or both), bloating and abdominal distension.

Secondary symptoms: Excess gas/flatulence, mucus in stools, nausea, urgency or frequent bowel movements, straining with bowel movements, sensation of incomplete bowel evacuation, fatigue and low energy, reduced libido.

Associated symptoms: Anxiety (62% of IBS patients), depression (48%), sleep problems, headaches, muscle aches, problems with urination (frequency, urgency, incomplete emptying).

IBS Subtypes & Their Characteristics

IBS-C (Constipation-Predominant, 24% of IBS patients): Hard, lumpy stools; fewer than 3 bowel movements per week; straining; sensation of incomplete evacuation; severe bloating and distension.

IBS-D (Diarrhea-Predominant, 25% of IBS patients): Watery or loose stools; frequent bowel movements (often 3+ daily); urgency; unpredictability; anxiety about bathroom access; fatigue from constant urgency.

IBS-M (Mixed/Alternating, 37% of IBS patients): Cycling between constipation and diarrhea; sometimes within same day; most severe symptoms; most complex treatment challenges.

IBS-U (Unspecified, 14% of IBS patients): Symptoms don't clearly fit C, D, or M patterns; often mild but persistent.

How Common Is IBS?

Prevalence: 6-7% of Americans have diagnosed IBS; up to 16% when including undiagnosed cases; 11% global prevalence.

Healthcare burden: IBS patients miss 3x more work days than those without bowel symptoms; significant workplace productivity loss.

Rising prevalence: IBS diagnosis has increased 16.5% between 2010-2022, possibly due to increased stress, dysbiotic diets, and post-viral conditions (including COVID-19 related IBS).

Demographic patterns: More common in women than men; typically begins in 20s-40s; rarely begins after age 50; affects all racial and ethnic groups (though specific symptom patterns vary).

Root Causes of IBS

Gut dysbiosis: Imbalanced microbiota is found in 80%+ of IBS patients; specific bacterial imbalances correlate with IBS subtypes.

Intestinal barrier dysfunction: Increased intestinal permeability ("leaky gut") allows bacterial toxins to trigger immune responses and pain signals.

Gut-brain axis dysregulation: Abnormal communication between your enteric nervous system (digestive system's "second brain") and central nervous system amplifies digestive sensations into pain.

Visceral hypersensitivity: Nerve endings in the digestive tract become overactive, making normal intestinal movements feel painful.

Previous infections: Acute gastroenteritis (severe food poisoning or infectious diarrhea) can trigger IBS that lasts months to years afterward; bacteria may persist as dysbiosis.

Stress and trauma: Early-life stress, chronic stress, and trauma increase IBS risk; stress worsens symptom flares through gut-brain connections.

Dietary factors: Dysbiotic diets (low fiber, high processed foods, high FODMAPs for sensitive individuals) perpetuate dysbiosis and symptoms.

Post-viral syndromes: COVID-19 and other viral infections can trigger IBS that persists after acute infection resolves.

Frequently Asked Questions About IBS & Acupuncture

Q: How does acupuncture help IBS pain?

A: Acupuncture reduces IBS pain through multiple mechanisms: it calms overactive nerve endings in your digestive tract (visceral hypersensitivity), normalizes intestinal muscle contractions, reduces inflammation, increases pain-relieving neurotransmitters (endorphins, serotonin), and reestablishes healthy gut-brain communication. Research shows 50%+ pain reduction within 3-6 weeks, with 80% of patients reporting beneficial effects and benefits persisting 3-6+ months after treatment ends.

Q: Will acupuncture help both my constipation and diarrhea?

A: Yes. Acupuncture has a remarkable "dual regulatory effect"-it normalizes intestinal motility regardless of whether it's too slow (constipation) or too fast (diarrhea). For IBS-M patients alternating between both, acupuncture stabilizes bowel function so you achieve consistent, normal bowel movements. This dual effect is unique to acupuncture and explains why it works for all IBS subtypes where medications typically worsen the opposite problem.

Q: How many sessions will I need?

A: Most patients need 10-20 sessions for significant IBS symptom improvement. You'll likely notice pain reduction within 1-2 weeks, normalized bowel movements within 2-4 weeks, and substantial overall improvement by weeks 6-8. Some patients require fewer sessions if symptoms are mild; others benefit from 20+ sessions if symptoms are severe or have been present for many years. During your consultation, Dr. Mira will create a personalized timeline based on your specific situation.

Q: Can acupuncture help if medications haven't worked?

A: Absolutely. In fact, acupuncture may be especially effective for patients who haven't responded to conventional therapy (called "refractory IBS"). A 2024 randomized controlled trial specifically tested acupuncture in 170 patients with refractory IBS and found significantly greater symptom improvement compared to sham acupuncture, with benefits persisting throughout the 4-week follow-up period. If medications have failed, acupuncture addresses the underlying dysfunction rather than just suppressing symptoms.

Q: Does acupuncture really restore gut bacteria?

A: Yes. Research shows acupuncture increases beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium) while decreasing pathogenic species, restores microbial diversity, and increases protective short-chain fatty acids (butyrate). Gene sequencing studies confirm measurable changes in microbiota composition after acupuncture treatment, directly correlating with symptom improvement. This microbiota restoration is a key mechanism explaining acupuncture's effectiveness.

Q: How long do benefits last after I stop treatment?

A: Research shows benefits persist for 3-6+ months after completing your acupuncture course. Many patients maintain significant improvement long-term, with 50%+ of patients experiencing sustained symptom improvement at 6-12 month follow-up. Some patients benefit from occasional maintenance sessions (monthly or quarterly) to sustain long-term improvement and prevent symptom recurrence.

Q: Can acupuncture help my anxiety related to IBS?

A: Yes, very effectively. Since 62% of IBS patients experience anxiety and the gut-brain axis is central to both conditions, acupuncture addresses both simultaneously. By healing the dysregulated gut-brain communication, improving sleep, reducing stress hormones, and increasing calming neurotransmitters, acupuncture reduces anxiety accompanying IBS. Most patients notice mood improvement within 4-6 weeks as physical symptoms improve.

Q: Should I change my diet while getting acupuncture?

A: Dietary modification supports acupuncture treatment but isn't required to experience benefit. Many patients benefit from identifying and avoiding personal food triggers (common triggers include high-fat foods, high-FODMAP foods, caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods). Dr. Mira or Dr. Maysoun can discuss dietary approaches during your treatment. Some patients prefer addressing triggers with acupuncture first, then optimizing diet as symptoms improve. Others combine both approaches immediately for faster results.

Q: What should I expect during my first acupuncture session?

A: Your first session lasts 60-75 minutes. We'll discuss your IBS symptoms in detail, review your medical history, perform an evaluation to determine your IBS subtype and underlying patterns, and create your customized treatment plan. Then you'll receive your first acupuncture treatment in a comfortable, quiet, temperature-controlled room. Most patients feel relaxed immediately; many notice improved sleep that same night. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing and bring a list of medications and supplements you're taking.

Schedule Your IBS Consultation Today

Don't suffer through years of abdominal pain, unpredictable bowel movements, and anxiety about your digestive health. Natural, effective relief is available through evidence-based acupuncture that addresses the root cause of IBS rather than just suppressing symptoms.

What you'll receive:

• Evaluation by a medical doctor and licensed acupuncturist who understands both IBS physiology and treatment mechanisms
• Confirmation of IBS diagnosis using Rome IV criteria to ensure accurate treatment approach
• Ruling out of serious conditions that might mimic IBS symptoms
• Customized treatment plan addressing your specific IBS subtype and symptom pattern
• Evidence-based acupuncture proven to reduce pain, normalize bowel function, improve microbiota, and restore quality of life
• Natural relief without pharmaceutical side effects, dependency, or risk of treatment-induced opposite problems
• Coordination with your gastroenterologist or primary care physician if needed
• Clear timeline and realistic expectations for symptom improvement

Next Steps:

1. Call us or book online to schedule your initial IBS consultation
2. We'll verify your insurance coverage before your first appointment
3. Bring a list of gastrointestinal symptoms and their frequency/severity
4. Bring any recent lab work or gastroenterological test results if available
5. Bring a list of all medications and supplements you're taking
6. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing
7. Plan for 60-75 minutes for your initial consultation and first treatment

Join the thousands of IBS patients who have found lasting relief at Mira Integrative Clinic and returned to normal, pain-free digestive function.

Mira Integrative Clinic
2557 Chain Bridge Road
Vienna, VA 22181

Serving: Vienna, Tysons, McLean, Fairfax, Oakton, and surrounding Northern Virginia areas

Parking: Ample free parking available in our lot