Pain in the Gut? It could signal IBS by Carol FergusonThe most common digestive disorder seen by healthcare providers, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) makes life difficult for an estimated 20 percent of Americans. Also known as nervous indigestion or spastic colon, this malady is twice as likely to drive women as men to the doctor.
A malfunction of the digestive tract, IBS is characterized by erratic and uncoordinated (rather than rhythmic) contractions of the intestines and painful bowel movements, accompanied by constipation or diarrhea, sometimes alternating between the two.
This condition interferes with the normal passage of food and wastes through the digestive tract, causing mucus and toxins to accumulate in the intestines. Feeling bloated and nauseated, often troubled by fatigue, flatulence, a gurgling or rumbling abdomen, headache, heartburn, and insomnia, people with irritable bowel often complain that they can no longer tolerate certain foods. And, indeed, food allergies appear to play a role.
What Causes IBS? Today’s fast‐food, highly processed diet contributes to irritable bowel:
Dairy, sugar, and wheat commonly trigger symptoms.
Saturated and trans fats disturb the intestinal tract and are hard to digest.
Alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods all irritate the lining of the digestive tract.
Poor stress management in our 24/7 culture can cause nervous system reactions that lead to IBS.
Low levels of beneficial bacteria, gastrointestinal infections, and genetic heritage are also factors in this condition.
A Tough Diagnosis
“Diagnosing IBS can be challenging because many of the symptoms associated with this syndrome are nonspecific and can be found in other gastrointestinal disorders,” says Jonathan M. Berkowitz, MD.
A change in bowel habits is reason enough to see a healthcare provider to rule out celiac disease or Crohn’s disease, colon cancer, diverticulitis, endometriosis, fecal impaction, food poisoning, infectious diarrhea, lactose intolerance, or ulcerative colitis.
“Be forewarned: When you visit a doctor for IBS, be prepared to be asked some very blunt questions,” says Dr. Berkowitz. “While some of these questions may seem intrusive and even ‘gross,’ they are vital and necessary to arrive at an accurate diagnosis.”
At the very minimum, expect a physician to take your complete medical history, along with a physical exam and blood tests. A healthcare provider may also recommend a barium enema, colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, rectal biopsy, and stool exam to check for bacteria, blood, and/or parasites.
The good news is that, while painful, irritable bowel is not a serious disorder, and most sufferers can lead active, productive lives with a few changes. Natural solutions make sense, as they treat the underlying causes of IBS.
Holistic Solutions
“The most reliable way to calm an irritable bowel is to adhere to a good diet,” says James F. Balch, MD.
Most experts recommend a high‐fiber diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, brown rice, and legumes, if the latter doesn’t produce gas. For supplemental fiber, consider psyllium powder or alternate with oat bran and ground flaxseeds. Because IBS can deplete friendly bacteria in the intestines, consume kefir, sauerkraut,
and yogurt with live, active cultures every day.
It’s important to eliminate any foods that cause digestive distress, as allergies play a role in this condition.
Avoid large meals, which often cause cramping and diarrhea.
Chew your food
thoroughly, and drink water every couple of hours to promote the transit of waste
through the intestines and to keep your whole body functioning smoothly.
Wait at least two hours after eating before lying down.
A three‐day vegetable juice fast is a good way to eliminate toxins that have built up from poor bowel function.
Practice deep breathing; shallow breaths reduce the oxygen
available for normal bowel function.
Both stress management (regular exercise like walking and yoga, getting enough sleep)and hypnotherapy successfully treat IBS.
A heating pad or warm compresses can relieve abdominal cramps while hydrotherapy may be useful in improving overall digestive function.
Supplements v. Drugs
Because psychological factors play a role in IBS, some physicians prescribe antidepressants and tranquilizers. Mainstream physicians are even more likely to offer antispasmodic and antidiarrheal drugs for this condition, despite serious side effects with all these meds. Also be aware that a number of medications—taken for entirely different problems—can aggravate malabsorption problems associated with irritable bowel.
Even when someone with IBS eats a healthy diet, malnutrition can still result because nutrients may not be absorbed properly. Up your intake of water‐soluble vitamins and minerals, which can become quickly depleted with diarrhea. Look for enzymes in your daily multiple vitamin/mineral formula, or take enzymes with meals. Also consider probiotic supplements: A recent meta‐analysis of treatments for IBS shows that a combination of probiotics and prebiotics.
Essential fatty acids from fish, flaxseed, and evening primrose oils help protect the intestinal lining, and colostrum works to heal it and supports nutrient absorption. Quercetin helps control food allergies. Calcium and magnesium support the central nervous system, helping to relieve “nervous stomach.”
Dr. Balch recommends a number of herbs for irritable bowel. Take one to two entericcoated peppermint (Mentha piperita) oil capsules twice daily between meals to relieve cramps and alleviate gas. But use peppermint tea (after meals) with caution if you also suffer from acid reflux.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is effective against bloating, diarrhea,
and gas while improving digestion. Drink ginger tea or real ginger ale, or take 500 mg capsules with meals.
Other herbs to consider?
Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) promotes digestion and relaxes the nervous system, and slippery elm (Ulmus fulva) is a traditional way to soothe irritable bowel.
Alternative practitioners also recommend frankincense (Boswellia serrata) extract, aloe vera gel, and wheat grass juice for people with irritable bowel.
Similar But Not the Same
Mild celiac disease produces symptoms much like IBS in some people. Individuals with celiac disease cannot digest gluten (a protein found in barley, rye, and wheat). A blood test is necessary to determine if celiac disease is present.
Symptoms of lactose (a sugar in milk) intolerance are also similar to irritable bowel syndrome: abdominal pain, diarrhea, and gas.
Interestingly, this food allergy issignificantly more common in people with IBS, making it even harder to distinguish between the two conditions. “Lactose malabsorption, which is easily treatable, should be excluded as a possibility before you accept a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome,” advises Jonathan M. Berkowitz, MD. Several tests measure the absorption of lactose in the digestive system.
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