Managing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a health problem involving the digestive system.
There may be various symptoms and the cause is unknown. Up to 20% of people may experience IBS symptoms in their lifetime, but for some people the symptoms can become chronic.
Symptoms of IBS
Symptoms of IBS may include:
- Abdominal pain or cramping, that may be relieved by passing wind or bowel motions
- Diarrhoea, constipation or these symptoms alternating
- A feeling of incomplete passing of bowel motions
- Abdominal bloating
- Mucous in the stools
- Nausea
Types of IBS
Currently IBS is divided into types according to appearance of symptoms. Types include:
- Constipation-predominant – usually alternating constipation with normal stools. Pain and cramping may be triggered by eating.
- Diarrhoea-predominant – diarrhoea often first thing in the morning or after eating, often urgent need to go to the toilet.
- Alternating constipation and diarrhoea.
Causes of IBS
The cause is not currently known. Episode triggers may involve changes in routine, stress, infection, medication side effects or diet factors (such as lactose, gluten or fructose).
IBS may involve the immune system, the gut bacteria, changes in the gut lining, inflammation, certain neurotransmitters, nerve pathways and possible genetic factors.
Up to 25% of IBS might be triggered by a gastrointestinal infection, with symptoms persisting long after the virus or bacteria has been eliminated from the body.
Medical assessment for IBS
It is important to always have your symptoms assessed by your doctor, because they can overlap with more serious health issues or with disorders that have specific treatments available.
Treatments for IBS
There is no known “cure” for IBS. Symptoms may be managed by a range of therapies such as:
- Diet (for example, FODMAPS diet, lactose-free, high-fibre for constipation-type)
- Probiotics
- Medications for pain, diarrhoea, constipation or nausea
- Mind-body interventions and/or stress reduction
- Exercise programs or yoga
The Chinese medicine view of IBS
Chinese medicine strives to view the person in a wholistic way, where all signs and symptoms, strengths and weaknesses are operating in an interconnected web of cause and effect, connecting parts of the body within the person, and connecting the person to their natural and social environment.
There are different frameworks in Chinese medicine that may be referred to when assessing someone with IBS symptoms.
Chinese medicine and stress-related IBS
People with IBS symptoms that are affected by stress might be viewed according to the TCM pattern “Liver overacting on Spleen-Pancreas”. This is a short-hand label that refers to complex inter-relationships that occur when stress impacts the digestive system.
“Liver” refers to the way that the body calculates and harmonises many thousands of changes every second, coordinating the fluid and dynamic way that the body forms itself, moment by moment, in response to a person’s internal and external environment. Mental or emotional stress can impact the way that these calculations can be made and acted upon in real time. A useful image is like traffic congestion – it is hard for information to flow smoothly and in a timely fashion when there is congestion.
“Spleen-Pancreas” refers to bringing resources into the body (especially food and water), transforming these resources into nutrition for the living form, distributing this nutrition everywhere it is needed and assimilating this nutrition completely, so that it now becomes part of your living form.
People with this type may also be prone to stress-related conditions such as migraine or tension headache.
In more classical Chinese medicine approaches, this pattern may be referred to as “Wood overacting on Earth”.
How Chinese medicine and acupuncture may help IBS symptoms
When you have a chronic condition, especially involving unknown causes, it can become a rollercoaster of seeking out therapies or products that promise to relieve all your symptoms, raising your hopes and then potentially feeling disappointed when you don’t improve as expected.
We prefer to take a cautious, realistic approach. Because IBS is unlikely to be a single disease entity, for example with some people having more physical issues and others being more impacted by stress, it is helpful to take an individualised approach to managing your symptoms and wellbeing.
We really listen to you, taking into account all your signs and symptoms – not just digestion-related ones. These pieces of information are often interconnected, according to the Chinese medicine view.
We then help you to set goals and create a treatment plan that is targeted towards achievable positive steps forward that are tailored to you.
Chinese medicine treatment may help you manage the symptoms of IBS, for example using acupuncture for
Starting your treatment
Book now to begin your healing path – we look forward to supporting you towards your health goals.
Related posts
