IBS Irritable Bowel Syndrome
What is IBS?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or “spastic colon” is a functional bowel disorder. Simply put, this means neither the small nor large intestine work correctly, yet there is no structural damage to the intestinal tissue found through diagnostic testing.
IBS is fairly common.
20-50% of visits to gastroenterologists are for IBS, and the average age of onset for those who suffer is between 20 and 40 years of age. Women are three times more likely than men to have IBS, which may be due to hormonal influences that are not yet fully understood. Menstruation frequently triggers or exacerbates IBS symptoms, while pregnancy and menopause can either worsen or improve symptoms. Hormone replacement therapy is associated with an increased risk of developing IBS.
Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
There is a wide range of symptoms, and severity of symptoms, for each person afflicted.
The condition has several forms, all characterized by abdominal pain and cramping, with variable changes in bowel habits. There is often also bloating, gas, nausea and dyspepsia.
Types of IBS
IBS is categorized into Lower Abdominal Pain IBS and a related functional disorder called Non-Ulcer Dyspepsia. There is also a new clinical subtype being studied, called Post-Infectious IBS (IBS-P).
Lower Abdominal Pain IBS
This type can be either diarrhea-predominant (IBS-D), constipation-predominant (IBS-C) or of alternating pattern (IBS-A). The primary symptom of IBS-D is diarrhea immediately on waking or immediately after eating, along with pain, bloating, urgency and urinary incontinence. Constipation-predominant (IBS-C), also called “spastic colon,” produces pain over at least one area of the colon, often the lower left, and periodic constipation. This pain may be continuous or it may come in bouts, and is frequently relieved by moving the bowels. Alternating stool pattern IBS (IBS-A) is either constipation alternating with normal stools or constipation alternating with diarrhea. The stool often contains mucus.
Non-Ulcer Dyspepsia
This is indigestion not caused by peptic ulcers. It is sometimes called Functional Dyspepsia since, as with Lower Abdominal Pain IBS, while the system does not work properly, there is no structural damage to the tissue. Symptoms are bloating, upper-abdominal pain and discomfort.
Post-Infectious IBS
IBS-PI begins suddenly after a bout of infection in the stomach and intestines, (gastroenteritis). Symptoms are triggered by stress, emotional factors, ingestion of food, chronic pelvic pain, fibromyalgia and in a small percentage of persons, mental disorders. While no explanation for (IBS-P) exists, it does reinforce the belief that there are neurological and psychological components to IBS.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatment
IBS is a difficult problem to live with. Gaining relief from IBS can also be difficult. The syndrome does not have a “one size fits all” diagnosis.
Western medicine treats IBS with a general protocol of anti-spasmodic or anti-diarrhea medication, diet modification and stress-reduction techniques.
IBS Treatment at Regenerative Health Clinic
We approach Irritable Bowel Syndrom (IBS) on a totally individualized and uniquely tailored symptom-by-symptom basis which seeks to treat the cause of your IBS.
Our personalized approach to IBS relief uses some or all of the following techniques or tests:
- Acupuncture – By stimulating certain points along specific meridians, acupuncture helps IBS symptoms to dissipate. Simultaneously, other points stimulated during the same treatment relieve stress, thereby preventing future exacerbation of the disorder.
- Personalized Nutrition Plan – This plan will give you a list of clean foods and tailored meal plans that are formulated specifically to you, the individual.
- Hydrogen Gas Test – A hydrogen breath test provides information about the digestion of certain sugars or carbohydrates, such as milk sugar (lactose) or fruit sugar (fructose). This will help determine if you are intolerant to certain sugars which might be triggering your IBS.
- uBiome (Digestive Bacteria) Testing – The uBiome system helps determine the different populations of bacteria in your intestines, which knowledge can help in treatment of your IBS.
- OPUS23 Genetic Test Analysis – OPUS23 takes the genetic data supplied by 23andMe and turns it into clinically meaningful information which is used to fine-tune your IBS treatment plan.
By Dr. Maria Zangara ND, L.Ac, MIFHI