Why Does Stress Make Your Stomach Feel Heavy and Bloated?

Hey, future acupuncturists! Welcome to another episode of Study Acupuncture With Me—I'm Dr. Richard Lai, and I’m here to support you every step of your TCM journey. Whether you’re prepping for exams or building your clinical confidence, you’re in the right place. Grab your notes, settle in, and let’s dig into a topic EVERY student encounters. In today’s episode, we explore how stress—and those bottled-up emotions—show up in your digestion. We’ll break down the essential liver-spleen relationship, explain the classic Liver Qi attacking Spleen pattern, and go over real-world tips for both diagnosis and treatment. This episode is packed with practical advice, clear explanations, and clinical pearls you can use right away. If you’ve ever wondered why emotional stress can literally make your stomach upset, this is the episode for you! Timestamps to guide your listening: 00:00:00 – Welcome & relatable patient stories 00:00:37 – The emotional connection to physical symptoms 00:01:05 – Stress, digestion, and Liver Qi/Spleen dynamics 00:01:47 – TCM roles of liver and spleen 00:02:13 – How stress disrupts harmony 00:02:46 – Clinical manifestations & patient language 00:03:49 – Mechanism in TCM (Five Elements explained) 00:04:27 – Emotions and digestion analogy 00:06:16 – Long-term consequences & triggers 00:08:40 – Lifestyle strategies for balance 00:09:31 – Dietary and mindful practice tips 00:10:01 – Key acupuncture points for Liver-Spleen balance 00:10:41 – Clinical treatment tips and reminders 00:11:33 – Recap & encouragement 00:12:21 – Special invitation to join the Quick Win newsletter I want to hear from YOU! Leave a comment on my socials and let’s keep this community going—share what’s working for you, or any tips you’d love to hear about next. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. Visit www.studyacuwithme.com/quickwin to join my email list for weekly practice questions. You got this—and I’m cheering you on every step of the way!