IBS

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a term for digestive issues with people experiencing a wide range of different digestive symptoms.

IBS can be activated by different triggers and there are many underlying reasons for developing digestive issues. What functional medicine does best is to understand what these triggers are for each person.

What are the symptoms of IBS?

Constipation or diahorrea or both
Bloating
Flatulence
Abdominal Pain
Changes in the colour, appearance, and consistency of the stool
Mucus in the stool
Nausea
Fatigue
Anaemia

What causes IBS?

Leaky gut
Gut-immune issues
Gut motility issues
Stress
Low fibre diet
Food intolerances or allergies
Inflammation
Nutritional Deficiencies
Medication side effects (especially for constipation)
Smoking
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
Hormonal changes

Conventional approach

Once other potential conditions have been ruled out (celiac disease, IBD’s, colorectal cancer) then medications are usually the next option;

Laxatives for constipation
Anti-diahorrea medications
Anti-spasmodics for abdominal cramping
Fibre supplements
Antibiotics
Anti-depressants

Things you can do:

Eliminate the typical trigger foods for one month and then reintroduce one at a time to identify your triggers – dairy, gluten, grains, sugar, caffeine, raw fruit, cruciferous vegetables, beans and lentils.
Include more healing foods for the gut; bone broth, probiotic foods like sauerkraut, kefir, kombucha, healthy fats like egg yolk, salmon, ghee, avocado, coconut oil, steamed apples.
Reduce stress levels – take up meditation, deep breathing, yoga or tai chi or walk in nature daily. Stress is known to trigger flares.

What can Functional Medicine do to support?

Investigate your own individual triggers to IBS, it is not a one size fits all.
Use functional testing to understand what is going on in your gut and look at your capacity to digest your food. Poor digestion can cause fermentation of food particles leading to many IBS related symptoms. It will also help to identify if there are any bacteria, yeasts or parasites that are disrupting the lining of the gut allowing food particles to pass through the gut lining and upset the immune system leading to symptoms. SIBO can also be tested and be addressed through diet, herbs and supplements to eradicate the unwanted bacterial overgrowth and repair the gut lining.
Provide individual dietary advice and guidance with herbs, supplements and lifestyle suggestions.