What gastritis is
The NHS describes gastritis as the lining of the stomach becoming irritated (inflamed). It can cause pain, indigestion and feeling sick [1]. Symptoms it lists include tummy pain, indigestion, feeling full and bloated, feeling or being sick, and not feeling as hungry as usual [1].
Causes the NHS lists include infection with a bacterium called helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), taking anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen, taking aspirin, drinking too much alcohol, and being very stressed and unwell. Treatment depends on the cause [1].
What the research says about acupuncture
Chronic atrophic gastritis. A methodological review published in 2026 looked at 55 randomised controlled trials of acupuncture for chronic atrophic gastritis, involving 5,311 patients, from Chinese and English databases [3]. It found notable methodological limitations:
- very few trials concealed which treatment each patient would get (3.6%) or used blinding (1.8%)
- no trial reported being registered in advance, and 34.5% did not mention ethical approval
- the trials used 57 different outcome measures, and few looked at patients' quality of life or long-term outcomes
The authors concluded that the lack of clear criteria hinders clinical use of the findings, and called for large, methodologically robust trials with long-term follow-up [3].
Acupuncture in Malaysia
What acupuncture is. NCCIH, part of the US National Institutes of Health, describes acupuncture as a technique in which practitioners insert fine needles into the skin. The needles may be manipulated by hand or stimulated with small electrical currents (electroacupuncture). Acupuncture originated from traditional Chinese medicine [2].
Registration. Malaysia's Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act 2016 (Act 775) defines traditional and complementary medicine to include traditional Chinese medicine [4]. Under section 25 of the Act, in force since 1 March 2021, a person who is not a registered practitioner shall not practise traditional and complementary medicine services [4][5]. A registered practitioner must hold a valid practising certificate, which is valid for not more than twelve months and must be displayed at the place of practice (section 26) [4].
Referral. Section 30 of the Act requires a registered practitioner to refer a patient to a medical or dental practitioner if the patient has an acute medical emergency, or if the condition is beyond the practitioner's skill, competency or expertise [4]. Under section 30(3) the practitioner must explain this duty to the patient, or the patient's guardian or representative, so that they can make an informed decision about whether to refuse being referred. Section 30(4) says that if the patient, guardian or representative gives written notice consenting not to be referred, the practitioner is not obliged to refer [4].
NCCIH's guidance is not to use acupuncture to postpone seeing a health care provider about a health problem [2].
Safety. According to NCCIH, relatively few complications from acupuncture have been reported, but complications have resulted from nonsterile needles and improper delivery. When not delivered properly, acupuncture can cause serious adverse effects, including infections, punctured organs and injury to the central nervous system [2]. The NHS lists two situations in which acupuncture may not be safe: taking blood-thinning medicine or being at increased risk of bleeding, and having a skin condition or skin infection [6].
When the sources say to get medical help
Each source below sets its own level of urgency.
Emergency. Malaysia's emergency line is 999 [7]. The regulator's numbering plan also lists 112 as the code for mobile phones routed to emergency services [8]. The NHS (UK) lists these as reasons to call 999 or go to A&E [1]:
- vomiting bright red blood, or vomit that looks like ground coffee
- black, sticky and extremely smelly poo
- severe tummy or chest pain that started suddenly
Urgent GP appointment or NHS 111 (NHS, UK) [1], for someone with symptoms of gastritis who also has any of these, which the NHS says can be serious and need to be checked quickly:
- loss of appetite
- feeling full after a very small meal
- recent weight loss without trying
- what feels like a lump in the tummy
- pain or difficulty when swallowing
- being sick again and again
See a GP (NHS, UK) [1]:
- tummy pain or indigestion for longer than 1 week
- tummy pain that is getting worse or keeps coming back
In Malaysia (Ministry of Health portals). Klinik Kesihatan Kuala Lumpur, a government health clinic, lists outpatient (Pesakit Luar) services. It lists its service hours as 8.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday, with extended hours on weekday evenings and on weekends and public holidays, and says it is closed on some festival days [9]. Hospital Kuala Lumpur's emergency department says it provides 24-hour emergency medical services to people in Kuala Lumpur [10].
Find a clinic
The clinic directory lists acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine clinics across Malaysia by state and town.
Sources
- NHS. Gastritis. Page last reviewed 5 August 2026.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), US National Institutes of Health. Acupuncture: Effectiveness and Safety. Last updated October 2022.
- Zhang H, et al. A methodological review of acupuncture for chronic atrophic gastritis: toward a core outcome set. Frontiers in Medicine, 2026. PubMed 42305969.
- Laws of Malaysia. Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act 2016 (Act 775), English text published by the Ministry of Health Malaysia. Sections 3, 25, 26 and 30.
- Federal Government Gazette P.U. (B) 118, 23 February 2021. Appointment of date of coming into operation, Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act 2016.
- NHS. Herbal medicines and complementary therapies. Page last reviewed 1 May 2026.
- Malaysia.gov.my (MyGovernment portal). Malaysia Emergency Response Services (MERS) 999. Page updated 25 September 2025.
- Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission. Numbering and Electronic Addressing Plan, issued 26 January 2006. Schedule D.
- Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya State Health Department, Ministry of Health Malaysia. Klinik Kesihatan Kuala Lumpur.
- Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Ministry of Health Malaysia. Kecemasan & Trauma.