4.8
Gastroparesis: natural remedies and the evidence behind them
Gastroparesis is a condition where the stomach empties too slowly, causing nausea, bloating, and fullness after eating.
6 options · 1 graded B · 1 graded C · 4 traditional or ungraded
What does your gastroparesis feel like most days?
Food just sits there — my stomach feels heavy and takes hours to empty
Acupuncture
Supported by smaller clinical studies· Centuries of traditional use (Evidence grade B · Traditional use long-standing)Long-standing traditional stapleMost human-trial support of the options here
- Why this matches
- If nausea and a sluggish, slow-to-empty stomach are your main concern, acupuncture has the most human-trial support of the options here. Randomized trials across diabetic, surgical, and idiopathic gastroparesis have been pooled in systematic reviews suggesting it may ease symptoms and speed stomach emptying, though the individual studies are small and mixed in quality.
- Why try it
- Acupuncture is thought to help stimulate nerve pathways that regulate stomach muscle movement and reduce nausea.
- Dose or use
- Delivered by a licensed acupuncturist as a course of sessions, usually once or twice weekly.
- Time to results
- Typically 4–8 weeks of regular sessions
- Key study
- Systematic review (2018, PMID 30560568): "Acupuncture for symptomatic gastroparesis" pooled 32 randomized controlled trials (2,601 participants, mostly diabetic gastroparesis) and found low-certainty evidence that acupuncture may improve symptoms and the rate of gastric emptying; most trials had a high risk of bias, so the benefit is suggestive rather than firmly established.
- Caution
- Seek a licensed acupuncturist; inform them of any bleeding disorders or medications.
Ginger
Centuries of traditional use across more than one tradition· Human evidence not yet assessed (Evidence grade not assigned · Traditional use classical)Classical use across multiple traditionsNatural prokinetic; eases nausea, aids emptying
- Why this matches
- If nausea and that heavy, slow-to-empty feeling after meals are your main issue, ginger is a traditional digestive aid used to calm nausea and help the stomach move food along.
- Why try it
- Ginger's active compounds (gingerols and shogaols) are traditionally used to stimulate stomach motility and settle nausea and vomiting.
- Dose or use
- Commonly taken as tea, capsules, or fresh root; around 1–1.5 g of dried ginger daily is typical. Follow product labeling.
- Time to results
- Nausea relief can be felt within days; motility benefits build over weeks.
- Key study
- Traditionally and widely used to ease nausea and vomiting and to support gastric emptying; no controlled trial specific to gastroparesis is cited here.
- Caution
- May have a mild blood-thinning effect and can worsen reflux in some people; check with your doctor if you take anticoagulants.
ST36 (Zusanli)
Centuries of traditional use across more than one tradition· Human evidence not yet assessed (Evidence grade not assigned · Traditional use classical)Classical use across multiple traditionsStomach-meridian point for digestion & motility
- Why this matches
- If your stomach feels slow to empty, ST36 (Zusanli) below the knee is the main Stomach-meridian point used to support digestion and gastric movement.
- Why try it
- ST36 is traditionally used to regulate stomach function and is the point most often chosen in acupuncture work for sluggish digestion.
- Dose or use
- Find it about four finger-widths below the kneecap and one finger-width outside the shinbone; press firmly for 2–3 minutes on each leg.
- Time to results
- Best used regularly; effects build over days to weeks.
- Key study
- Traditional Stomach-meridian point for digestive support; no controlled gastroparesis trial is cited here for acupressure at this point.
- Caution
- Low-risk self-care; avoid firm pressure over injured or inflamed skin.
Mine is tied to a nerve-related condition like Parkinson's or diabetes
Acupuncture
Supported by smaller clinical studies· Centuries of traditional use (Evidence grade B · Traditional use long-standing)Long-standing traditional stapleMost human-trial support of the options here
- Why this matches
- If nausea and a sluggish, slow-to-empty stomach are your main concern, acupuncture has the most human-trial support of the options here. Randomized trials across diabetic, surgical, and idiopathic gastroparesis have been pooled in systematic reviews suggesting it may ease symptoms and speed stomach emptying, though the individual studies are small and mixed in quality.
- Why try it
- Acupuncture is thought to help stimulate nerve pathways that regulate stomach muscle movement and reduce nausea.
- Dose or use
- Delivered by a licensed acupuncturist as a course of sessions, usually once or twice weekly.
- Time to results
- Typically 4–8 weeks of regular sessions
- Key study
- Systematic review (2018, PMID 30560568): "Acupuncture for symptomatic gastroparesis" pooled 32 randomized controlled trials (2,601 participants, mostly diabetic gastroparesis) and found low-certainty evidence that acupuncture may improve symptoms and the rate of gastric emptying; most trials had a high risk of bias, so the benefit is suggestive rather than firmly established.
- Caution
- Seek a licensed acupuncturist; inform them of any bleeding disorders or medications.
Rikkunshito
Limited human trials so far· Most of the research is laboratory or animal work (Evidence grade C · No traditional record)Pilot study in Parkinson's-related gastroparesis
- Why this matches
- If your gastroparesis is connected to a neurological condition like Parkinson's, rikkunshito has been explored in a pilot study specifically for this overlap.
- Why try it
- This traditional Japanese herbal formula is traditionally used to support digestive motility and may help ease stomach sluggishness in certain neurological contexts.
- Dose or use
- Follow product labeling; consult a healthcare practitioner.
- Time to results
- Typically 4–8 weeks
- Key study
- Clinical trial (2014, PMID 24457529): Dietary herb extract rikkunshi-to ameliorates gastroparesis in Parkinson's disease: a pilot study.
- Caution
- Consult your neurologist before adding herbal supplements if you are on Parkinson's medications.
Nausea is my biggest struggle — I feel queasy after meals and want something to settle it
Acupuncture
Supported by smaller clinical studies· Centuries of traditional use (Evidence grade B · Traditional use long-standing)Long-standing traditional stapleMost human-trial support of the options here
- Why this matches
- If nausea and a sluggish, slow-to-empty stomach are your main concern, acupuncture has the most human-trial support of the options here. Randomized trials across diabetic, surgical, and idiopathic gastroparesis have been pooled in systematic reviews suggesting it may ease symptoms and speed stomach emptying, though the individual studies are small and mixed in quality.
- Why try it
- Acupuncture is thought to help stimulate nerve pathways that regulate stomach muscle movement and reduce nausea.
- Dose or use
- Delivered by a licensed acupuncturist as a course of sessions, usually once or twice weekly.
- Time to results
- Typically 4–8 weeks of regular sessions
- Key study
- Systematic review (2018, PMID 30560568): "Acupuncture for symptomatic gastroparesis" pooled 32 randomized controlled trials (2,601 participants, mostly diabetic gastroparesis) and found low-certainty evidence that acupuncture may improve symptoms and the rate of gastric emptying; most trials had a high risk of bias, so the benefit is suggestive rather than firmly established.
- Caution
- Seek a licensed acupuncturist; inform them of any bleeding disorders or medications.
Ginger
Centuries of traditional use across more than one tradition· Human evidence not yet assessed (Evidence grade not assigned · Traditional use classical)Classical use across multiple traditionsNatural prokinetic; eases nausea, aids emptying
- Why this matches
- If nausea and that heavy, slow-to-empty feeling after meals are your main issue, ginger is a traditional digestive aid used to calm nausea and help the stomach move food along.
- Why try it
- Ginger's active compounds (gingerols and shogaols) are traditionally used to stimulate stomach motility and settle nausea and vomiting.
- Dose or use
- Commonly taken as tea, capsules, or fresh root; around 1–1.5 g of dried ginger daily is typical. Follow product labeling.
- Time to results
- Nausea relief can be felt within days; motility benefits build over weeks.
- Key study
- Traditionally and widely used to ease nausea and vomiting and to support gastric emptying; no controlled trial specific to gastroparesis is cited here.
- Caution
- May have a mild blood-thinning effect and can worsen reflux in some people; check with your doctor if you take anticoagulants.
PC6 (Neiguan) - Pericardium 6
Centuries of traditional use across more than one tradition· Human evidence not yet assessed (Evidence grade not assigned · Traditional use classical)Classical use across multiple traditionsClassic acupressure point for nausea relief
- Why this matches
- Since nausea is your main struggle, PC6 (Neiguan) on the inner forearm is the best-known acupressure point for calming nausea and vomiting.
- Why try it
- Pressing PC6 is traditionally used to relieve nausea from motion sickness, pregnancy, and chemotherapy, and it is a simple, drug-free thing you can do yourself.
- Dose or use
- Press the point about three finger-widths below the wrist crease, between the two tendons, firmly for 2–3 minutes on each arm as needed.
- Time to results
- Many people feel nausea ease within minutes of pressing.
- Key study
- Long-standing traditional acupressure point for nausea; not studied as a stand-alone treatment for gastroparesis here.
- Caution
- Gentle and low-risk; avoid pressing over broken or irritated skin.
Bloating and getting uncomfortably full after just a few bites
REN12 (Zhongwan)
Centuries of traditional use across more than one tradition· Human evidence not yet assessed (Evidence grade not assigned · Traditional use classical)Classical use across multiple traditionsMidline stomach point for bloating & fullness
- Why this matches
- If bloating and getting full quickly are your main issue, REN12 (Zhongwan) on the midline above the navel is a core point for stomach fullness and indigestion.
- Why try it
- REN12 is traditionally used to ease bloating, gastritis, and that over-full, heavy feeling after meals.
- Dose or use
- Locate it midway between the navel and the base of the breastbone; press gently for 2–3 minutes while breathing slowly.
- Time to results
- Some ease in fullness can be felt during or shortly after pressing.
- Key study
- Traditional abdominal acupressure point for bloating and indigestion; not studied as a stand-alone gastroparesis treatment here.
- Caution
- Press gently and not right after a large meal; avoid pressing over broken skin.
ST36 (Zusanli)
Centuries of traditional use across more than one tradition· Human evidence not yet assessed (Evidence grade not assigned · Traditional use classical)Classical use across multiple traditionsStomach-meridian point for digestion & motility
- Why this matches
- If your stomach feels slow to empty, ST36 (Zusanli) below the knee is the main Stomach-meridian point used to support digestion and gastric movement.
- Why try it
- ST36 is traditionally used to regulate stomach function and is the point most often chosen in acupuncture work for sluggish digestion.
- Dose or use
- Find it about four finger-widths below the kneecap and one finger-width outside the shinbone; press firmly for 2–3 minutes on each leg.
- Time to results
- Best used regularly; effects build over days to weeks.
- Key study
- Traditional Stomach-meridian point for digestive support; no controlled gastroparesis trial is cited here for acupressure at this point.
- Caution
- Low-risk self-care; avoid firm pressure over injured or inflamed skin.
Evidence grades describe the strength of published research for Gastroparesis, not a promise of results. Nothing here is medical advice — talk to your clinician before starting anything, especially alongside prescription medication.