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/

This is a great tea for the summer. Chrysanthemum flowers have heat-clearing properties, so even if you drink a hot cup of this tea, it will cool you down. The Chinese customarily drink this tea with sugar. Goji berries (these look like bright red raisins) have recently become popular because of their amazing health benefits, and can be eaten as raisins or tossed into hot cereal or tea. Goji berries are good for the kidneys, the lungs, the liver, and also for the yin of the body. I usually brew a pot of chrysanthemum tea and then throw a small handful of goji berries into it; they absorb the water and plump up as they float in the tea. This combination is great for vision problems. You can find these ingredients at health food stores and tea shops. I can also order goji berries if you want them.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the heart controls body fluids and sweating profusely can result in a depletion of one’s heart energy. The liver controls ligaments and tendons and over-exercise or injury (sprains, tendonitis, strains…) puts more demand on the liver to nourish and care for these tissues. Mild or moderate exercise quickens the flow of the body’s qi, which is beneficial- but by straining our bodies and sweating excessively, we can lose a lot of the precious qi that we should be trying to preserve.

My Personal View

I run on a regular basis and while it is hard on the joints, I firmly believe in its benefits. Not only can proper training and regular cardiovascular exercise benefit the body and the immune system, but the mental health benefits are significant. Most of us have very sedentary lives compared with the way people used to live; regular physical activity is necessary to keep the heart and muscles in good shape and to relieve the stress that we all feel.  However, I also agree with the TCM perspective that moderation is important; there is a difference between invigorating exercise and excessive exercise. Working out responsibly is imperative. If you are a lover of cardiovascular workouts, take care to stretch after your activity, too; drink plenty of water and fluids on a regular basis, not just after you exercise (coconut water is supposedly a great drink for rehydration); summer heat is dangerous, so avoid daytime exertion (morning and evening are much cooler and safer); make sure to build REST days into your weekly workout schedule, as these are essential for the body’s recovery and repair; listen to your body when it tells you to stop or slow down- pain is a warning sign that something is wrong. Your body needs to grow into the cardio workout regimen in a gradual way. Be realistic and build up slowly toward your goals.

No matter what activity you choose, the best exercise routine is one you can stick to! From my own experience, I think a fantastic regimen involves a moderate amount of cardio and weight bearing exercises, plus incorporating regular meditation or tai chi or yoga to quiet the mind, relieve stress and to strengthen internal qi. This is a recipe for balance and true fitness!

Yin and yang wax and wane and can transform into one another as well (e.g., daytime giving way to night). Furthermore, everything in the universe- despite its yin or yang character- possesses BOTH yin and yang properties. For example, daytime is yang and nighttime is yin, but within daytime, there is yang (the early half of day) and yin (the later half of day). Thus, everything can be infinitely divided into yin and yang aspects.

The familiar symbol of yin and yang (below) is a circle divided into two halves (black yin and white yang) flowing into one another. Within each portion exists some of the other: there is a bit of yang within the yin (the white dot inside the black area), a little yin within the yang (the black dot within the white area). The swirling shapes of the symbol convey the nature of yin and yang: ever-changing, never static, constantly interacting.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) draws from ancient Chinese thought, and so the yin and yang theory plays and integral role in this approach to healing. In TCM, there are yin and yang aspects to the body and the various physiological functions. For instance, the outside of the body is considered yang, the inside of the body is yin; the upper part of the body is yang, the lower part yin. The organs possess yin and yang energies and the meridians are also classified as yang and yin types. Vitality is considered to be a balance between the yin and yang energies of the body; the internal organs and the meridians must contain a yin-yang harmony for optimum health.

Yin and yang may seem like an abstract concept, but it is one that can easily apply to explain the root of a disharmony within a person. Point selection for acupuncture treatment is also dependent on whether a patient has a yin or yang-type problem. For instance, if a woman goes through menopause, her hormone levels change and menstruation eventually stops. Usually, as this hormonal shift happens, the yin of the woman’s body becomes deficient resulting in a preponderance of yang. This condition is termed a “yin deficiency.” Symptoms might include hot flashes, sweating, feeling warm, restless sleep, irritability, a red tongue, rapid pulse- these are all of yang character. Acupuncture treatments should address this imbalance and focus on quelling the yang-type symptoms while nourishing the yin of the woman’s body. So, yin and yang are not only significant concepts in the fundamentals of Chinese medicine, but they are essential principles used in diagnosing and treating pathological changes of disease and disharmony.

So, what can injure the liver, aside from obvious things like alcohol, certain drugs and viruses?  Rage and excessive anger can also damage the liver’s qi, or energy. In turn, if a person’s liver qi is already impaired, he or she may experience mood swings, depression or anger as a result. (By the way, everyone should be aware that many drugs are metabolized by the liver (including birth control).  Things like acetaminophen or Tylenol, if taken frequently or by a regular alcohol consumer, can be dangerous to the liver!)

What Can You Do To Help Your Liver?

1) Control Your Anger

Human emotions serve a purpose. Rage, however, has no place in your daily life and can make you ill in every sense of the word.  If you experience rage or frequent anger, now is the time to do something about it.  Being kind to your liver is a good place to start.  Recognize when you are feeling angry; then realize that if it persists, it will have an adverse effect on you (and possibly those around you) and try to let it go- for your own health!!!

2) Reduce Your Stress with Meditation or Yoga Practice

Any technique that helps you REDUCE STRESS is fantastic to do on a regular basis. I recommend meditation or yoga, but any other ritual (chanting, visualization, prayer, etc.) that works for you can be utilized, so long as you do it regularly. Daily practice will greatly reduce the effect stress has on your liver.

3) Eat Liver-Healthy Foods, Supplement if Necessary

There are many foods that are good for the liver. Some of them are:  green vegetables, fruits, raw vegetable juices, artichokes, dandelion, cabbage (and other cole crops), lemon, garlic, cayenne, almonds, pumpkin and sesame seeds.

The best diet for liver health is one that has little or no alcohol and is simple, such as steamed vegetables and whole grains.

Lemon juice (1/2 lemon) in a cup of hot water is beneficial to the liver.  If you drink fresh juices, try this combo: carrot, celery, parsley, ginger, cabbage. Milk thistle is a great herbal supplement to take because it is said to protect liver cells, act as an antioxidant, detoxify the liver, and promote liver cells regeneration. (The liver is a very unique organ in that it can regenerate itself even if it has been damaged.) Turmeric, schisandra, dandelion, mugwort, licorice, artichoke and other antioxidants are also helpful supplements.