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Irritible Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

What is IBS? IBS is a digestive disorder that occurs in 1 in 5 people, and most of these are women, according to the NIH*. The main symptoms of IBS are gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation and abdominal pain. Often times, IBS patients have a sluggish gastrointestinal tract, or low motility. This means that the peristaltic movements that pass the waste along the intestines are stalling. Sometimes, painful spasms occur (hence the term “spastic colon”). The degree of these symptoms may vary: for some people, it’s simply a nuisance, while for others it can be debilitating and may force them to be near a bathroom at all times.

How is IBS diagnosed? Usually when a person has such symptoms, other diseases must be ruled out by a physician. Colonoscopies, blood tests, stool samples, or x-rays may be used to investigate whether a more serious condition (e.g., ulcerative colitis or parasites) exists. Occasionally, a person will be checked for celiac disease, a digestive disorder caused by intolerance to wheat gluten. Other dietary allergies (e.g., lactose intolerance) may also be investigated. In IBS patients, there are no causes found- in effect, it is a diagnosis made by eliminating all other possible illnesses. Fortunately there is no increased risk of other diseases, like colon cancer, in patients who suffer from IBS.

What are conventional treatments for IBS? There is no known cure in western medicine for IBS, and doctors will often prescribe pharmaceuticals to regulate the bowels (zelnorm and even antidepressants are common drugs used to treat IBS). Patients frequently rely on over-the-counter medications like pepto-bismol, immodium, or beano for relief.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Perspective on IBS Symptoms and Therapy

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and western medicine both view IBS as a complex disease that is difficult to diagnose. However, in TCM, once the root cause is deciphered, the symptoms can be managed and the disease often cured.  TCM views the spleen as an integral organ in digestion, unlike western medicine.  The spleen is thought to transform the food we eat into energy that the rest of the body can utilize. If the spleen’s function is impaired, digestion will falter and symptoms will arise. Digestion may also be disturbed by other imbalances in the body, involving the liver, kidney and large intestine itself. Overeating greasy foods and sustaining high stress levels may also send a person into a state of disharmony.

Here are just a few of the potential causes of IBS in TCM theory: deficiency of the spleen energy (symptoms include fatigue, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hemorrhoids), spleen and kidney yang deficiency (symptoms include early morning diarrhea, feeling cold, frequent urination, low back pain, low libido), liver qi stagnation (symptoms include dry stool, belching, reflux, moodiness, depression, high stress, abdominal distension, symptoms aggravated by emotional upset) and damp-heat invasion (symptoms include diarrhea or constipation, abdominal distension or mucus in the stool, urgent bowel movements, often aggravated by eating greasy or fatty foods). Thus, in TCM, IBS is not simply chronic diarrhea or gas or constipation, but rather a complex energetic imbalance that must be accurately diagnosed in order to employ the proper treatment protocol. The point selection and general treatment approach for each IBS syndrome varies widely.

Acupuncture is extremely helpful for IBS symptoms. Most patients respond fairly quickly, but others may require more extended treatment. Chinese herbal formulas tailored to specific IBS syndromes may also be recommended to supplement the therapy. Digestive ailments generally respond very well to TCM and there’s no risk of scary side effects, as with some pharmaceuticals.

Helpful Hints for IBS Sufferers

In addition to TCM, there are many things that IBS sufferers can do for their condition. Dietary modifications (reducing consumption of caffeine, alcohol, carbonated beverages, artificial sweeteners, dairy and fats), exercise, stress reduction, adequate sleep and fiber are all generally helpful for reducing the symptoms. Probiotic supplements may also help- these are healthy bacteria found in the gastrointestinal tract that support the digestive and immune systems. When taken over time (more than one month), probiotics colonize in the intestines and promote healthy digestion. Foods like yogurt naturally contain probiotics and if you are not lactose intolerant, eating 1 cup of plain organic yogurt per day may help. Teas that are also helpful include: peppermint, fennel, parsley, slippery elm, and chamomile. Water soluble fiber supplements such as psyllium husks are beneficial, as is aloe vera juice.

If you feel that the source of the problem is dietary, pay close attention to your symptoms and when they occur, then backtrack and see if you can identify a pattern (beer, wheat products, dairy or soy, or preservatives are often the culprits). Keeping a food journal is always a helpful way to identify trigger foods.

Summertime may be a difficult season for IBS sufferers since the heat and humid weather can exacerbate symptoms, namely for damp-heat syndromes. To counter this, don’t stay in the sun for long periods, and drink lots of cooling tea (iced peppermint is a good one) and cooling foods: cucumbers, lettuce, radish, leafy greens, tomatoes, melons, etc.

*References- for more information on IBS, go to http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/ibs/