Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) occurs when muscles in your intestines contract faster or slower than normal. This causes pain, cramping, gassiness, sudden bouts of diarrhea, and constipation.

There are two types of IBS. People who suffer from spastic colon IBS haveconstipation, diarrhea, or both, and often feel pain after eating. Painless diarrhea IBS involves the sudden onset of diarrhea during or after meals, or upon waking.

Between 10 - 20% of the population has IBS at some time. IBS also makes up 20 - 50% of visits to gastroenterologists, or doctors dealing with digestive system problems. The syndrome often starts in adolescents or young adults. It affects almost twice as many women as men, and is often associated with stress.

• Cramping pain in your lower abdomen
• Bloating and gas
• Changes in your bowel habits
• Diarrhea or constipation, or both alternately
• Immediate need to move your bowels when you wake up or during or after meals
• Relief of pain after bowel movements
• Feeling of incomplete emptying after bowel movements
• Mucus in your stool

There are many possible causes of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). For instance, there may be a disturbance in the muscle movement of the intestine or a lower tolerance for stretching and movement of the intestine. There is no abnormality in the structure of the intestine.

IBS can occur at any age, but often begins in adolescence or early adulthood. It is more common in women. More than 80% of IBS patients in the United States are women, according to the American College of Gastroenterology. Predisposing factors may include a low-fiber diet, emotional stress, use of laxatives, a bout of infectious diarrhea, or other temporary bowel inflammation.

Up to 60% of individuals with the syndrome have psychological symptoms, such as anxiety and depression. Levels of the neurotransmitter (brain chemical) serotonin have been found to be low in individuals with IBS.

Diet is also a major cause of IBS. An increased sensitivity or intolerance to certain foods may trigger or worsen symptoms of IBS. Fatty foods, artificial sweeteners (sucralose or Splenda and saccharine or Sweet'N Low), chemical additives (dyes and preservatives), red meat, dairy products (milk, cheese, sour cream), chocolate, alcohol, and carbonated beverages (sodas) may trigger or aggravate episodes. Gluten contained in wheat and barley is also a common trigger for IBS. IBS may affect the absorption of nutrients, causing many individuals to have fewer nutrients available for use in the body.

Your doctor will feel your abdomen to check for signs of pain. Other tests may include a rectal exam, pelvic exam (for women), sigmoidoscopy, stool sample testing, blood and urine tests, ultrasound, and x-rays.

Doctors may also check to see if intolerances to lactose exist. Lactase is an enzyme needed to digest sugars found in dairy products. If an individual lacks this enzyme, they may have problems digesting milk sugars containing lactose. Removing milk and dairy products from the diet for several weeks may be enough to determine if the person is lactose intolerant.

The objective of treatment is to relieve symptoms and balance the gastrointestinal tract. Changes in diet may help alleviate symptoms in some. Increasing dietary fiber and eliminating gastrointestinal stimulants, such as caffeine, may help. Anxiety-reducing measures, such as getting regular exercise and seeking counseling for severe anxiety or depression, can also be effective. Balancing the normal bacterial flora in the colon, which include Lactobacillus acidophilus, and balancing the immune system can also be very important in alleviating the symptoms of IBS.

Drug Therapies

• Anticholinergic agents -- reduce the pain from bowel spasm by relaxing the muscles in intestines. Anticholinergic drugs include hyoscyamine (Levsin and Levsinex) and dicyclomine (Bentyl).
• Antiflatulents -- reduce gas. Antiflatulants influde simethicone (Phazyme or Mylicon).
• Antidiarrheal medications -- help decrease and stop diarrhea. Antidiarrheal drugs include loperamide (Imodium) and a combination of diphenoxylate & atropine (Lomotil).
• Bulk-producing agents -- such as psyllium (Metamucil) and other fiber supplements can help with diarrhea or constipation.

Complementary and Alternative Therapies

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has many underlying causes that can often be treated with alternative therapies. Stress reduction techniques, such as biofeedback, hypnosis, balancing the normal flora of the digestive system, or counseling, may help.

Nutrition and Supplements

Following these nutritional tips may help reduce symptoms:

• Remove known food allergens or irritants. The most common food allergens are dairy products, wheat, corn, peanuts, citrus, soy, eggs, fish, and tomatoes. Your health care provider may want to test for food sensitivities.
• Avoid refined foods such as white breads, pastas, and sugar.
• Eat fewer red meats and more lean meats, cold-water fish, tofu (soy, if no allergy) or beans for protein.
• Use healthy cooking oils, such as olive oil or vegetable oil.
• Reduce or eliminate trans-fatty acids, found in commercially baked goods such as cookies, crackers, cakes, French fries, onion rings, donuts, processed foods, and margarine
• If you suffer from gas, eliminate beans, cabbages, and other "gassy" vegetables from your diet, as well as apple juice, grape juice, bananas, nuts, and raisins.
• Fiber supplements can help reduce pain, cramping, and gas.
• Taking digestive enzymes 20 minutes before meals can help enhance digestion and normalize bowel function.
• One tsp. of raw bran added to each meal provides fiber.
• Avoid coffee, alcohol, and tobacco.
• Drink 6 - 8 glasses of filtered water daily.
• Exercise where possible, 30 minutes daily, 5 days a week.

Nutritional deficiencies may be addressed with the following supplements:

• Omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish oil, 1 - 2 capsules or 1 tbsp. oil daily, to help decrease inflammation and improve immunity.
• A multivitamin daily, containing the antioxidant vitamins A, C, D, E, the B-vitamins and trace minerals, such as magnesium, calcium, zinc, and selenium.
• Coenzyme Q10, 100 - 200 mg at bedtime, for antioxidant, immune, and muscular support.
• Alpha-lipoic acid, 25 - 50 mg twice daily, for antioxidant effects.
• N-acetyl cysteine, 200 mg daily, for antioxidant effects.
• Probiotic supplement (containing Lactobacillus acidophilus), 5 - 10 billion CFUs (colony forming units) a day, for maintenance of gastrointestinal and immune health. Some probiotic supplements may need refrigeration for best results. Check the label carefully.
• Grapefruit seed extract (Citrus paradisi), 100 mg capsule or 5 - 10 drops (in favorite beverage) three times daily, for antibacterial or antifungal activity and immunity.
• Vitamin C, 500 - 1000 mg one to three times daily, as an antioxidant, and for immune support.
• SAMe (s-adenosyl-L-methionine), 100 - 200 mg before breakfast daily, for mood improvement.
• L-theanine, 200 mg one to three times daily, for stress and nervous system support.
• Melatonin, 2 - 5 mg one hour before bedtime, for symptoms of IBS. Ask your health care provider about potential drug interactions with the use of melatonin.

Herbs

You can use herbs in the form of dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Unless otherwise indicated, make teas with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 - 10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10 - 20 minutes for roots. Drink two to four cups per day.

• Green tea (Camelia sinensis) standardized extract, 250 - 500 mg daily, for antioxidant effects. Use caffeine-free products. You may also prepare teas from the leaf of this herb.
• Cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) standardized extract, 20 mg three times a day, for inflammation and antibacterial or antifungal activity.
• Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum), 150 - 300 mg two to three times daily, for inflammation and for immunity. You may also take a tincture of this mushroom extract, 30 - 60 drops two to three times a day.
• Olive leaf (Olea europaea) standardized extract, 250 - 500 mg one to three times daily, for antibacterial or antifungal activity and immunity. You may also prepare teas from the leaf of this herb.
• Garlic (Allium sativum), standardized extract, 400 mg two to three times daily, for antibacterial or antifungal and immune activity.
• Enteric-coated, standardized peppermint oil, one to two capsules three times a day after meals, for antispasmodic activity.

Homeopathy

There have been few studies examining the effectiveness of specific homeopathic remedies. Professional homeopaths, however, may recommend treatments for Lyme disease based on their knowledge and clinical experience. Before prescribing a remedy, homeopaths take into account a person’s constitutional type -- your physical, emotional, and intellectual makeup. In some cases, such as Lyme disease, a professional homeopath may prescribe specific remedies without considering the individual's constitutional state. Such remedies for Lyme disease include:

• Argentum nitricum
• Colchicum autumnale
• Colocynthis

Acupuncture

Several small studies suggest that acupuncture may be helpful for people who have IBS. Research shows that acupuncture may improve general well-being and reduce bloating. Large-scale trials are still needed.

Acupuncturists treat people with IBS based on an individualized assessment of the excesses and deficiencies of qi located in various meridians. In the case of IBS, an acupuncturist usually detects a qi deficiency in the spleen and lung meridians. Acupuncturists frequently use moxibustion (a technique in which the herb mugwort is burned over specific acupuncture points) for treatment of IBS because they believe its effects reach deeper into the body. Because acupuncture is considered safe, and IBS is not easily treated by currently available conventional methods, people with IBS may wish to try acupuncture therapy to improve symptoms.

Chiropractic

There have been no well-designed studies on the effects of chiropractic on individuals with IBS. However, chiropractors report that spinal manipulation may improve symptoms of the condition in some individuals. In these cases, spinal manipulation may have a balancing effect on the nerves that supply impulses to the intestinal tract.

Other Treatments

• Electric heating pads, hot water bottles, and long hot baths can relieve painful spasms and cramping in the abdomen.
• Regular exercise, such as walking, can reduce stress and encourage bowel movements if you are constipated.
• Castor oil pack. Apply oil directly to skin, cover with a clean soft cloth and plastic wrap. Place a heat source over the pack, and let it sit for 30 - 60 minutes.
• Abdominal breathing helps induce the relaxation response and may aid normal physiological functioning (such as digestion).
• Osteopathy is a manual treatment that relies on mobilizing and manipulating procedures in order to relieve complaints. A clinical study found that osteopathy is a promising alternative in the treatment of patients with IBS.
• Therapeutic massage may help reduce the effects of stress.
• Yoga has been reported in small clinical studies to be helpful in reducing pain and other symptoms of IBS.
• Hypnotherapy has been reported also to be beneficial in alleviating symptoms of IBS.

Be aware that irritable bowel syndrome itself may cause stress. Strick adherence to an approved diet is very important.

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