Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Irritable Bowel syndrome is a chronic disorder that interferes with the normal functions of the colon. IBS affects up to 20% of the population. It is more common in women than men, and is often diagnosed between the ages of 30 and 50. It can, and does, affect people in other age groups as well.



The primary symptoms related to IBS include:

• Constipation

• Diarrhea

• Gas (rumbling, flatulence, or wind)

• Bloating or abdominal distension

• Abdominal pain

Irritable Bowel Syndrome may be described as constipation-predominant, diarrhea-predominant, alternating, or pain-predominant. Traditional treatment is usually directed at the most troubling symptoms.

Origin of IBS
The origins of IBS are not well understood. The symptoms can arise from various combinations of the following factors:

• Abnormal contraction and relaxation of the intestinal muscles that move food through the gastrointestinal system. This may cause intestinal muscle spasms to occur.

• Low pain threshold for distention in the intestines of affected individuals, known as "visceral hypersensitivity".

• Miscommunication between the gut and the brain, possibly relating to a nervous system dysfunction. Stress may be a factor in this.

• Low-grade inflammation and immune activation by foods or food components, for example non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

• Imbalance in the community of normal gut bacteria perhaps in the wake of gastroenteritis, food poisoning or antibiotics.

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Using Chinese Medicine to Treat IBS
At Bodyscapes, the treatment of IBS includes a number of different therapies:

• Acupuncture

• Chinese herbs

• Chinese nutritional therapy

• Abdominal acupressure massage

The combination of these four healing modalities treat not only the symptoms of IBS, but address some of the root causes associated with IBS. In Chinese medicine, we treat all medical conditions based on what we refer to as "patterns". A pattern is usually a group of symptoms that occur in the body. The foundation pattern that is most commonly seen in patients with IBS is called "Spleen Qi Deficiency". Imbalances in the spleen can be caused by excessive worry, poor dietary and lifestyle habits, and over-consumption of sugar, dairy, and fat in the diet.

Case Study
Bob is a 54 year old man that came in to see me for the treatment of a number of different conditions. He was diagnosed with IBS and was also pre-diabetic, had elevated cholesterol levels, suffered from fatigue, and was overweight. He was treated two times per week for approximately 3 months using the above therapies. At the end of three months, he went back to his doctor and had another round of blood tests done. All of his blood work came back normal! His IBS symptoms completely disappeared and he lost 40 lbs. during the course of his treatment. Bob was very compliant with all of the nutritional recommendations I gave him, received his treatments regularly, and took his herbs as I prescribed them for him. He still does not feel completely rested after a night's sleep, but we feel that is due to his lengthy work hours - up to 72 hours per week.

Proper Diagnosis
Before receiving Chinese medicine for the treatment of IBS, you should be properly diagnosed by your medical doctor. You should not diagnose yourself with IBS. If you experience symptoms suggestive of IBS, seek a thorough medical evaluation to rule out other potentially serious conditions.

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