August 15, 2025

August is Gastroparesis Awareness Month

August is Gastroparesis Awareness Month, which helps bring attention and awareness to a topic that may be unknown to many people. Gastroparesis is a gastrointestinal motility disorder where the stomach empties more slowly than it should, resulting in an overall slower digestive process. Patients with gastroparesis often experience symptoms of nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating, abdominal pain, and a sensation of early fullness during meals. Most cases of gastroparesis are idiopathic, meaning we do not know precisely what caused the condition. Other cases can develop after surgery, certain illnesses, traumatic injuries, or starting certain medications. It is also more common for patients with diabetes to develop gastroparesis. 

Naturopathic Perspective on Gastroparesis 

As naturopathic doctors, we look at the big picture and try to see each patient as a whole being. Sometimes, focusing only on the digestive tract is easy when working with gastroparesis. But we must remember, especially in cases of unknown causes, that other contributing factors outside the gastrointestinal system could contribute to the symptoms. 

When a patient with gastroparesis comes into my office, I immediately start by collecting a thorough digestive history to understand what is happening and when it started happening. Then, I see if I can make any connections about why it may be happening. My next steps are to investigate their stress levels and better understand how their nervous system is functioning. Are they in a calm, relaxed parasympathetic state or in a sympathetic fight or flight mode? 

The vagus nerve controls our autonomic nervous system, which is the portion of the nervous system that functions involuntarily and automatically. Regarding digestion, the vagus nerve regulates the gastric emptying process (how quickly or slowly our food leaves our stomach) and controls gastric secretions in the gut that help break down food. Without proper vagal nerve tone, there may not be enough stomach acid readily available to break down food, which could slow the rest of the digestive process. 

 

Naturopathic Support for Gastroparesis

If you experience gastroparesis, here are a few tricks that may support your digestion and alleviate some of your symptoms: 

  • Mindful Meals: Take time to sit at the table, away from all screens, and fully immerse yourself in your meal. Instead of rushing through your meal, try slowing down and chewing each bite thoroughly. This helps ensure a smoother digestive process.
  • Meal Sizes: Consider eating smaller meals more frequently throughout the day. This helps reduce the burden on the stomach at each meal and may allow it to function more efficiently. This will also help reduce the chances of feeling uncomfortably full after meals. 
  • Postprandial Meals: Taking a short walk after meals can help stimulate the digestive process and ensure food is moving through your system more effectively
  • Stress and Nervous System Support 

 

If you or someone you know is struggling with gastroparesis, connect with one of our naturopathic doctors today! 

 

References:
  1. Reddivari AKR, Mehta P. Gastroparesis. [Updated 2024 Feb 28]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551528/
  2. Gottfried-Blackmore A, Adler EP, Fernandez-Becker N, Clarke J, Habtezion A, Nguyen L. Open-label pilot study: Non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation improves symptoms and gastric emptying in patients with idiopathic gastroparesis. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2020;32(4):e13769. doi:10.1111/nmo.13769