Vermont Acupuncture

Category: supplements

  • The Gut is a Zen Universe – and the Vagus Nerve is the Inner Bridge

    Modern science is beginning to echo what ancient systems have long understood. At the center of this conversation is the vagus nerve—a powerful communication pathway linking the brain and the digestive system. When this connection is strong and harmonious, digestion improves, inflammation decreases, and the body shifts into a state of healing. When it is disrupted, we often see the opposite: bloating, discomfort, anxiety, and chronic imbalance.

    The Gut is a Zen universe: responsive, intelligent, and always seeking equilibrium. It likes to be in the middle.

    In Chinese medicine, the Earth element is in the middle of the 5 elements. The Spleen is an earth element organ and can be used to represent the whole digestive system. When the Spleen is out of balance, worry tends to arise. When there is worry, the Spleen will likely become unbalanced. Since ancient times, it has been known that the digestion affects the mind and the mind affects the digestion.  

    The Vagus Nerve: Your Inner Bridge

    The vagus nerve is a key component of the parasympathetic nervous system—often called the “rest and digest” system. It carries signals between the brain and the gut, influencing everything from stomach acid production to motility and even the composition of the microbiome.

    But here’s the important part: the vagus nerve functions best when the body feels safe.

    In a world that constantly pulls us into stress and urgency, many people spend most of their time in a sympathetic (“fight or flight”) state. In this mode, digestion is deprioritized. Blood flow shifts away from the gut, enzyme production decreases, and the delicate rhythm of digestion becomes disrupted.

    Returning to center—back to that Zen “middle”—is essential for restoring gut health.

    Relaxation as Medicine

    Because the vagus nerve thrives in a state of calm, relaxation is not a luxury—it’s a therapeutic necessity.

    There are many ways to gently activate and support the vagus nerve:

    • Meditation and mindful breathing help slow the heart rate and signal safety to the nervous system
    • Listening to calming music can shift brainwave patterns and reduce stress responses
    • Acupuncture works directly with the nervous system, helping to rebalance and regulate the vagal nerve. I have some favorite treatments that you may have already experienced.
    • Massage therapy encourages relaxation and improves circulation
    • Chinese herbal medicine supports internal harmony and digestive function at a deeper level

    These practices don’t just “feel good”—they create measurable changes in how the body functions.

    Simple Ways to Stimulate the Vagus Nerve

    In addition to relaxation, certain daily habits can gently stimulate the vagus nerve and support digestion:

    • Bitter flavors (like arugula, dandelion, and digestive bitters) help trigger digestive secretions. I’ve been using bitters before meals to aid digestions. Here’s my fav:
      BETTER BITTERS
    • Chewing thoroughly signals the body to prepare for digestion and reduces strain on the gut
    • Slow, mindful eating reinforces the “rest and digest” state
    • Singing or gargling (with gusto) activate muscles connected to the vagus nerve and can improve its tone

    These small, consistent actions can have a profound cumulative effect.

    I have learned some of these vagus nerve “life hacks” from Dr. Cheryl Karthaus ND, who I highly recommend. She and I have been geeking out on the results from my and my son’s Biome Fx results.

    Check out Cheryl’s website here.

    Returning to the Middle

    In both Eastern and Western perspectives, the message is clear: the gut functions best when the body is not pushed to extremes. It thrives in a state of balance, rhythm, and calm awareness.

    When we nourish the vagus nerve—through relaxation, mindful habits, and supportive therapies—we help the body return to its natural center. From this place, healing becomes not only possible, but sustainable.

    A Deeper Reset

    For patients looking to support the gut-brain connection more directly, we often recommend Microbiome Labs Gut-Brain Reset, a targeted probiotic supplement designed to nourish both digestive function and emotional balance. (See a more detailed post here.)

    This formula combines two specific strains of Bifidobacterium longum that have been studied for their ability to support the gut-brain axis—helping to ease occasional digestive discomfort while also promoting a more resilient stress response and balanced mood.

    Rather than acting as a short-term “reset,” this supplement works gently over time to support microbial balance, digestive regularity, and communication between the gut and nervous system.

    When used alongside acupuncture, mindful eating, and nervous system regulation practices, it can be a valuable tool in helping the body return to its natural center—where both digestion and calm awareness can thrive.

    The gut, like a Zen garden, does not need force—it needs attention, rhythm, and balance. When we learn to meet it in the middle, it responds with clarity, resilience, and ease.

  • Better Bitters

    Better Bitters

    The bitter flavor assists digestion by stimulating the digestion juices, and also the vagus nerve. Bitter has a downward-directing quality and supports the proper descent of Stomach Qi. I use Herb Pharm’s Better Bitters spray on my tongue before meals to prime my digestive process and signal my body to be ready to receive nourishment.

    For patients who present with mild digestive stagnation, or signs of damp or heat accumulation, this simple practice can be a helpful adjunct to acupuncture and dietary therapy. I’ve had feedback that just adding bitters has made a noticeable difference in their digestive function.

    Herb Pharm’s Better Bitters features herbs such as gentian, artichoke, and burdock—each contributing to the bitter profile that stimulates digestive function. Bitter herbs clear heat by moving it down and out, and cut through dampness which can clog digestion. From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, these herbs encourage the smooth flow of Qi in the middle burner, supporting the Spleen’s transformative role and the Stomach’s descending function.

    In TCM, healthy digestion is at the root of overall vitality. When the Spleen and Stomach systems are functioning harmoniously, we efficiently transform food into Qi and Blood. It’s the main way we get energy.

    Better Bitters formula also contains ginger, anise and orange peel, which in addition to aiding digestion, also add a nice balanced flavor, which I prefer over other bitter combinations that I’ve tried. I also appreciate that it comes in a spray, so I can spray it right in the middle of my tongue, which is where the bitter taste buds are located (towards the back).

    Stimulating the tongue with bitter also awakens the vagus nerve. In today’s fast-paced world—marked by rushed meals, stress, and irregular eating habits—the digestive system is often taxed, leading to patterns such as dampness, bloating, and sluggish digestion. Our nervous systems are often stressed and we spend a lot of our day in a ‘fight or flight’ sympathetic state. When the vagus nerve is turned on, it signals the nervous system to be in a ‘rest and digest’ parasympathetic state, which benefits digestion. Bitters is one way to signal the body to relax and be ready to receive nourishment.

    Taken just before meals, bitters can act as a gentle signal to the body—awakening digestion, promoting enzyme secretion, and supporting a more mindful connection to eating.

    Better Bitters brings the therapeutic benefits of bitter flavor into a modern, accessible format. It’s a small ritual that aligns beautifully with TCM’s emphasis on balance, awareness, and supporting the body’s natural rhythms. Pick some up in our office today!

  • Gut-Brain Reset by Microbiome Labs

    In both modern research and Traditional Chinese Medicine, the connection between digestion and emotional health is well recognized. In TCM, the Spleen and Stomach play a central role not only in digestion, but also in supporting mental clarity and emotional balance.

    Microbiome Labs’ Gut-Brain Reset (formerly Zenbiome Dual) is a targeted probiotic designed to support both digestive comfort and mood regulation through the gut-brain axis. This dual approach reflects how closely the gut and nervous system communicate.

    The formula features two researched strains—Bifidobacterium longum 1714 and 35624—chosen for their ability to support gastrointestinal function while also promoting a balanced stress response.

    Clinically, this may help support:

    • Digestive comfort and regularity
    • Healthy gut-brain communication
    • Mood self-regulation

    From a TCM perspective, this kind of support can be useful in patterns such as Spleen Qi deficiency or Liver overacting on the Spleen, where both digestion and emotional balance are affected.

  • Pomegranate Extract

    Pomegranate is one of several foods rich in polyphenols—plant compounds that act as antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties. Polyphenols help protect the body from oxidative stress and chronic disease. They may support heart and brain health and contribute to better blood sugar control. Some chronic diseases linked to oxidative stress include cancer, autoimmune diseases, and heart disease. Aging skin is also partly caused by oxidative stress.

    Polyphenols work by supporting the microbiome, regulating inflammation, reducing oxidative stress, and promoting brain health. Through these processes, they help train the body to become more resilient.

    Pomegranate polyphenols benefit metabolic health by stimulating the growth of Akkermansia muciniphila, a beneficial bacteria that lives in the gut. Akkermansia plays a vital role in gut health and gut barrier integrity. Higher levels of Akkermansia have been linked to lower levels of obesity and inflammation, and better blood glucose balance. This may be useful for those with chronic diseases such as cancer, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes.

    This is why we now carry Pomegranate Extract by Life Extension in the office. All of us experience oxidative stress as part of living in a stressful world with exposure to environmental toxins. Our bodies can manage some of that stress, but we also benefit from support. Supplementing with pomegranate extract can make it easier to incorporate these beneficial compounds into our daily lives.

  • HU58 & MegaSporeBiotic

    Here are a couple Microbiome Labs probiotic products that I carry in my office: HU58 and MegaSporeBiotic. MegaSpore is Microbiome Labs’ flagship product and HU58 is its little sister. I love this company’s top of the line products.

    HU58 is a single-strain probiotic with a concentrated dose of Bacillus subtilis HU58, formulated to support healthy immune function and maintain a healthy balance of intestinal microflora. It is a good probiotic to use in cases of gut infections and elevated ammonia levels. This product is gentler than many other more diverse probiotic supplements and is well tolerated by many people. It’s a good place to begin to restore the gut microbiome and then move to MegaSporeBiotic

    MegaSporeBiotic is a probiotic blend of 5 Bacillus spores that have been shown to maintain healthy gut barrier and immune function:

    • Bacillus Licheniformis – Produces proteases that aid protein digestion, Produces full spectrum of B vitamins
    • Bacillus Indicus HU36 – Produces carotenoids: lycopene, astaxanthin, beta-carotene, and lutein, Produces quinols and vitamins
    • Bacillus Subtilis HU58 – Produces nattokinase and vitamin K2, Supports healthy GALT development
    • Bacillus Clausii – Supports immune function
    • Bacillus Coagulans – Produces L+ optical form of lactic acid, Supports immune function

    The function of these strains of bacillus is to shift the pH of the gut and crowd out pathogenic bacteria to create space for keystone species.

    Both of these products are spore based. The bi-phasic life cycle of the Bacillus spores allows them to remain dormant in harsh environments such as the stomach until they reach more favorable environments like the human gastrointestinal tract.

    Once inside the large intestine, these dormant spores can change into their active, vegetative forms and begin colonizing in the gut. MegaSporeBiotic aims to RECONDITION the gut instead of reseeding with probiotic strains that cannot survive digestion or colonize the gut.

  • Liver Cleanse by Gaia Herbs’

    Spring is the season of the liver and gallbladder, and of growth and transformation, the season when life is exploding everywhere around us. But that rising, expansive energy can get stuck and lead to stagnation symptoms such as irritability, frustration, explosive anger, tight shoulders and neck, headaches, and PMS.

    When in balance, the liver gives us the capacity for vision, planning, flexibility, and assertiveness. Exercise is a great way to keep your qi moving and and your liver energy at its best. Acupuncture, zero balancing and herbal medicine can also help.

    While not a classical Chinese formula, Gaia Herbs’ Liver Cleanse, with milk thistle, turmeric, dandelion, and burdock, as well as other liver supportive herbs, can help free that stagnation. It encourages the movement of Liver Qi, supports both phases of liver detoxification, helping to fully clear toxins and stimulating bile production and release.

    Find this fantastic Liver Cleanse supplement in our online store!