Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Definition:
Irritable Bowel Syndrome - a condition in which the colon muscle contracts more readily and causes abdominal pain and cramps, excess gas, bloating and a change in bowel habits. Some people with IBS have constipation, which means hard, difficult-to-pass, or infrequent bowel movements, while others experience diarrhoea, which is frequent, loose, watery stools. Other people with IBS alternate between constipation and diarrhoea.
Mr Stefan Chmelik on IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), bloating, gas, gut dysbiosis, constipation, diarrhoea
You may have ended up with a diagnosis of IBS because most other possibilities have been eliminated. This is nearly always what happens when someone has these digestive symptoms but tests don’t reveal anything. This then tends to be regarded as psychosomatic and you are told to relax more. Although relaxation is certainly relevant, it only paints part of the picture, and most people find it very hard to relax without proper guidance and training.
Chinese Medicine has a great track record for dealing with all of these symptoms. Acupuncture is excellent at reducing the intestinal spasm, which causes many of the symptoms, and the right herbs, dietary advice and exercises stop the problem from re occurring.
Dr Brian Kaplan on Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS):
Background: Whenever the word ‘syndrome’ is used in medicine, it means that there is a slight lack of understanding of the causes of a group of symptoms that occur in patients.
In IBS the symptoms are: lower abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhoea and constipation (both of which may occur in the same person at different times. This ‘syndrome’ of symptoms dramatically decrease the sufferer’s quality of life.
Conventional treatment of this condition tends to be symptomatic with few doctors really grappling to get to grips with the root causes of the condition. The diagnosis of IBS can only be made when all serious medical conditions have been excluded and I will ensure that this has been done in your case.
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In my clinical experience this condition responds well to various combinations of the following approaches.
- Nutritional advice: The patient must be put on the diet that best suits both his/her constitution, lifestyle and particular presentation of IBS. They must then be encouraged to stay on it. Many cases of IBS respond to appropriate dietary advice and this will be done in all cases that consult me for this condition.
- Autogenic Therapy: Almost all cases of IBS are worsened by stress and the regular practise of stress reducing techniques like AT can have a very therapeutic effect. Patients with IBS almost always benefit from a course of this powerful relaxation technique.
- Homeopathy: is well suited to treating this problem and my approach would be to find a remedy that suits both the IBS and the constitution of the patient. The prescription of a homeopathic remedy is an important part of my management plan in nearly all cases of IBS because homeopathy has a very good reputation in treating this condition.
- Provocative Therapy: one or two sessions may be needed to deal with a prevailing source of stress.
- Juice Fasting: This is sometimes needed in selected cases and can be an invigorating experience for the whole individual.
The choice of approaches will depend on the characteristics of each individual case but this problem really does respond to a whole person orientated approach and many patients are able to either eliminate their symptoms or at least diminish them significantly. With a combination of approaches, each capable of really helping this condition, I am very confident about helping the vast majority of cases suffering from this very distressing condition.
David Peters on Irritable Bowel Syndrome
IBS which affects as many as a fifth of the population is the most common gastrointestinal complaint. It is particularly common among women aged 20 to 45, and may come and go for years. For no obvious reason the rhythmic motion of the intestine muscles (peristalsis) becomes irregular, making bowel movements erratic. This leads to constipation and/or diarrhea, bloating, gas and intermittent abdominal pain. Related symptoms can include mucus in the faeces, an urgent need for the toilet, and a feeling of not having completely finished. Most people find these problems come and go, and that the bouts don’t interfere too much with life. For others however, IBS causes disabling pain and distressing digestive upsets. IBS is not life-threatening, but symptoms can be difficult to control. If you’ve developed a recent change in bowel habit that persists for more than a few weeks get medical advice ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE OVER 40, because it’s more unusual to develop IBS for the first time in middle age, so other causes should be excluded.
Sometimes IBS is triggered by certain food substances which interfere with contractions of the colon, the release of digestive enzymes, and the absorption of food through the wall of the gut. Intolerance to wheat and dairy products is not uncommon. Some people react to other foods. There is also evidence indicating that people are more likely to develop IBS after a gut infection.
Over 50 percent of people with IBS report a history of emotional problems. The body’s response to stress can affect digestion and absorption by changing peristaltic rhythm, altering the secretion of digestive juices and enzymes, and by affecting blood circulation in the gut wall. Poor sleep also seems to trigger IBS symptoms.
Treatment Options
Doctor can prescribe antispasmodic drugs to relieve the pain of muscular spasms and cramps. A short course of anti-diarrhoeal drugs can be useful at times.
I generally investigate a person’s diet, as reducing intake of irritant foods often helps. Sometime the balance of gut bacteria has been disturbed (by certain kinds of medication and stress) and needs to be corrected.
I find acupuncture very useful too. Traditional acupuncturists usually link IBS to 'stagnant Liver qi' (stress or hostility), 'deficient Kidney or Spleen' (poor digestion and food absorption), or 'damp heat' (such as a disturbance in gut bacteria). Some western acupuncturists think that stimulating acu-points can positively affect the nerve system controlling the gut's contractions. Sometime trigger points on the abdominal wall can cause pain I sometimes teach patients stress management (e.g. relaxation and breathing techniques) and simple self-hypnosis techniques (e.g. using imagery) to help relax the colon.
Homeopathy may helps and herbal medicine are worth trying in conjunction with the other approaches.