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If you answered YES to number 1, and to at least two from number 2-4, then you quite possibly have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
The shape, size, consistency, smell, frequency, and colour of stool varies widely from person to person – and sometimes from day to day.
Looking at the Bristol Stool Chart, what is your predominant stool form? Number 4 is the “perfect poop”, though types 3 & 5 are considered within normal range too. Any deviation from this indicates abnormal bowel function.
IBS comes in many forms. Some are predominantly constipated, some mostly diarrhoea. Some are mixed (variable) and yet others can be difficult to allocate to a group. These are all different – and not normal – types of bowel function.
Most folk know that it’s not uncommon for children to empty their bowels after each meal. This is due to a reflex action from the stomach filling up.. Think of it as a strategy to “make room for incoming”. We become desensitised to this by “toilet training”, but a type 3-5 bowel movement after each meal is not considered abnormal.
Emptying your bowels at least once every day is ideal. Many people go less frequently and for them that is “normal”. But it’s not ideal.
However, how LONG it takes for what you have eaten to pass through you is considered an excellent indicator of bowel function and a good predictor of a healthy microbiome.
A reliable way to find this out is to take the Blue Poop Challenge. Find out how here.
Women are affected three times more likely to suffer from this condition than men. The condition commonly begins in teenage to early adulthood.
IBS is now recognized to be exacerbated by a number of stimuli. For some people it is foods such as wheat, dairy products (although often yoghurt is OK), citrus fruit, tea, coffee and alcohol. An imbalance in the normal intestinal flora (SIBO) caused by a previous round of antibiotics or a viral, bacterial or parasitic infection can lead to inflammation and spasm of IBS. Anxiety and stress reactions seem to be strongly associated.
During symptomatic episodes the digestive tract contracts excessively, creating abnormal bowel function. Pain is often crampy, caused by strong contractions of the large intestine, coupled with a heightened sensitivity of pain receptor nerves in the small intestine.
Breath testing can determine the role of excessive bacteria in the small intestine (SIBO) or the role of undigested sugars.
Firstly, follow some simple dietary guidelines:
Hypersensitivity of organs in IBS sufferers contributes to a heightened perception of pain. A healthy gut produces natural factors that help with sensitivity, for example, strains of Lactobacillus act on opioid receptors in the cells that line the intestine and help to bring pain relief. When constipation is a problem, probiotic organisms can increase stool frequency and also reduce moderate to severe abdominal pain and bloating. However, recent research has made a very strong connection between excess hydrogen-gas production in cases of diarrhoea-predominant IBS (who tend to experience more pain) and excessive production of methane gas in those with constipation-dominant IBS. Both of these situations can easily be assessed using a breath test.
If foods are often contributing to the problem – other than those mentioned above – you might have some that are a specific problem for you. Many gut problems are aggravated by foods, which does not mean you have an allergy. If you think you have an allergy, we recommend working with one of our experienced clinicians who will assess your situation and work through the possible scenarios and diagnostic options.
Once your problem foods have been identified your clinician can work through a dietary plan with you.
In addition to following the dietary advice of your practitioner, certain herbs that are effective in soothing inflammation and pain in the gastrointestinal tract may be prescribed. It is also important to stimulate the digestive juices of the stomach, liver and gallbladder to support optimal digestion.
Bitter herbs such as milk thistle (Silybum marianum), globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus), schisandra (Schisandra chinensis), gentian (Gentiana lutea) and hops (Humulus lupulus) may be used for this.
Slippery elm (Ulmus fulva) bark powder is a nutritive herb that tones and soothes the irritated intestines and acts as a gentle bulking laxative. Add 2 teaspoons of slippery elm powder in a cup of hot rice milk or water, sweeten with a little honey if you like and add a dash of cinnamon. A pinch of clove powder has a mild pain-killing action.
Medical herbalists also value the following herbs for IBS:
These can be components of a herbal formula or can also be taken as teas. There are many other herbs that might be used – your Health care practitioner will select those that are most suitable for you based on your symptoms and other factors.
The gut-brain connection is now generally accepted as a major factor to consider when addressing any gut problem.
We have long known that holistically, the whole mind-body-medicine perspective is important. We have a range of effective methods available at House of Health. Herbs can also be used to nourish and relax the nervous system and reduce stress and anxiety responses. Your clinician may choose herbs that have a specific benefit to the gut as well, such as Chamomile (Matricaria recutita), which is well known for soothing the gut and as a nervous system relaxant and tonic.
IBS can be successfully alleviated with natural approaches. Reducing stress, testing for SIBO, lactose intolerance or fructose malabsorption are important first steps. Dietary changes, supplements and herbal remedies as prescribed by your health consultant are important to help soothe and heal the gut. Generally, however, food is NOT the problem. Food aggravates the problem!
REFERENCES
Contact us here or phone the clinic on 09 846 5566
House of Health Ltd