Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of the entire gastrointestinal tract that produces abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea. It is estimated that over 20 percent of the adult population has experienced IBS at one time or another, with women affected three times more often than men.

There are two major types of IBS: The spastic colon type, commonly triggered by eating, usually produces periodic constipation or diarrhea with pain. It is also common to have alternating constipation and diarrhea. The second main type produces painless diarrhea or relatively painless constipation. The diarrhea usually follows a meal, with urgency so strong that sometimes a person loses control before reaching a bathroom.

Interestingly, most people with IBS are in good general health, with medical tests normal, so diagnosis is based on reported symptoms. Certainly we do know that there are triggers for IBS. One of the biggest triggers seems to be stress; others are certain foods, coffee, dairy products, and some sweeteners. Conventional treatment, such as drugs to slow the gastrointestinal tract, haven't been proven effective.

Fortunately, holistic therapies and lifestyle adjustments have proven extremely effective in not only relieving immediate symptoms, but also in reducing and preventing future episodes. A 1997 study done in England, for example, showed that people with IBS who received acupuncture reported significantly less bloating as well as a greatly improved sense of well-being. One of my recent patients who has suffered from IBS for over 20 years, with painful attacks of diarrhea lasting as long as three months, noticed improvement after her first session, with complete cessation of her symptoms after her second treatment. This patient not only received acupuncture, but also herbal preparations individually selected for her particular makeup, as well as dietary and lifestyle advice. She found that the treatment not only helped relieve her IBS, but also helped dissipate her panic attacks.

If you are struggling with IBS and would like to know if holistic therapy might be helpful for your particular case, you are welcome to call me at 858/673-1397 for a free phone consultation.

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Rancho Bernardo Sun/ Diamond Gateway Signature
May 2001