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Natural Solutions for IBS

March 16th, 2009 | Author: acupunk62

Chronic disease wreaks havoc on the American populace. One million Americans suffer from AIDS; eight million have cancer, and twelve million battle heart disease. However, there is one disorder that afflicts more individuals than the combined total of all of these other potentially deadly disorders, and, surprisingly, it is rarely mentioned.

Thirty-eight million Americans suffer from digestive disorders, including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, celiac disease, IBS, constipation, diarrhea, GERD, Candida and food allergies.

Digestive illnesses as a group are the #1 ranked chronic diseases in the U.S. According to Society for Women’s Health Research, IBS alone is estimated to cost the healthcare system over $30 billion annually in lost productivity and this does not include the costs of medications to treat IBS.

The cause of IBS is not clearly understood and in terms of western medicine is a “garbage can diagnosis”. Suffers of IBS are put in this category because there is no clear “cause”.  A combination of factors–including hypersensitivity of the intestinal tract and an imbalance of neurotransmitters, the chemicals that send messages between nerve cells–is thought to play a role. The colon has many connections to the brain and central nervous system, which responds to stress and emotional upsets. More than half of the patients seen by a physician for IBS report stressful life events just before, or at the same time, as the onset of symptoms.

Infection may also play a role in causing IBS symptoms. The theory is that infections of the intestinal lining prompt an immune-system response that makes the intestine hypersensitive.

Some of the more common symptoms or problems that one might experience due to IBS include: Abdominal pain or discomfort; Change in bowel habits; Constipation; Diarrhea; Bloating or Gassiness; Chest pain or Nausea; Difficulty swallowing.

Medical options for treatment are not aimed at curing the disease but at suppressing symptoms. These include: Fiber supplements or mild laxatives; Anti-motility medications such as Loperamide  (Imodium) or Kaopectate; Anti-depressants; Zelnorm (Constipation primary IBS); Lotronex.

IBS and other chronic digestive problems reduce the quality and enjoyment of life and affect emotional health, personal relationships and work productivity.

While there are many predisposing factors for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, the two main culprits are diet and stress.

So how does Stress affect the bowel? The human body has two brains, the familiar one encased in our skulls and a lesser known but vitally important “brain” found in the human gut. This is known as the “Enteric Brain” and is possibly the origin of the term “gut feeling”.

The human small intestine contains over one hundred million nerve cells, about the same number found in the spinal cord. There are actually more nerve cells in the overall digestive system than in the peripheral nervous system. Furthermore, major neurotransmitters found in the brain-including serotonin, dopamine, glutamate, norepinephrine and nitric oxide-occur plentifully in the gut as well. In fact, 95% of Serotonin in the body is produced in the gut!

Serotonin in the gut is thought to initiate peristalsis, the rhythmic movement of food through the digestive tract. Drugs like Prozac actually divert serotonin from the intestinal tract to the brain, leading to digestive problems including constipation in many patients.

Many Stressors that affect neurotransmitter production in the brain can affect the digestive tract as well.

According to a study published by the Davidson College, stress can inhibit the function of the nervous system and the adrenal glands where adrenaline and cortisone-like hormones are produced. It is no wonder then, that these two areas are directly involved with the development, prevention and treatment of digestive illness.

Long-term stress has been proven to suppress immune function. Stress also creates a constant stimulation to the adrenal glands leading to anxiety and adrenal “burnout”

Everyone is familiar with Adrenaline but the Adrenal glands also produce Cortisol, an  adrenal-hormone, that acts like cortisone and reduces swelling. It is the body’s own natural anti-inflammatory agent. Cortisol will not be secreted in proper amounts to stop inflammation if the adrenal glands are exhausted from stress.

One of the complicating factors here is that inflammation disrupts the epithelial lining of the small intestine (Enterocytes) and the Colon (Colonocytes). The tight gaps between these cells is compromised and allows the bacterium and funguses that normally inhabit our gut into surrounding tissue. This is “Leaky Gut” syndrome.
There are three options for handling digestive problems:

The first is to avoid contact with substances that trigger bowel reactions, if you know what they are. The best option here is to keep a food diary for several months and catalog your reactions to various foods.

Another method for handling digestive problems is to take medications to suppress your symptoms. This is a common route for many people and can create an endless cycle of treatment side effects that can be as difficult as the IBS itself. Drugs have side effects and some can be severe. Drug treatment is something you have to discuss with your physician and needs to be closely monitored.

A third solution, and one without side effects, involves helping your organ system and your immune system to heal the body naturally. This is a more holistic approach and address’s many factors not taken in to consideration in the more “medical approaches” to IBS.
I break this idea into 3 essential self-care routines.
First: Control your stress!

Exercise, meditation, laughter are all great stress relievers. All have been proven to improve immune function, lessen pain and reduce depression. There are plethora of resources out there that address stress reduction, just Google “stress reduction” and you will see what I mean.

Find stress reducing activities that you enjoy and make them a priority! That means putting them into your day planner and making it as essential as showing up at work or any other priority. In fact, they should be the top priority. If you are feeling healthy you have more energy and are more effective in all other areas of your life!
Second: Eat Healthy

Sounds simple doesn’t it? Eating healthy in this day and age is a lot more difficult than it sounds. We are bombarded with health claims and over processed foods full of chemicals and poor nutrition.

So what do we do? Well, to begin with, eat a simpler diet with more whole foods, less processed foods. Most sufferers of IBS have a general idea of what foods trigger episodes of diarrhea or constipation and tend to avoid them. Food cannot only be a trigger of IBS but can be an essential part of the solution.
Expanding on this idea it is essential to avoid foods that cause inflammation in the body:

* Carbohydrates (Simple processed carbs!)
* White Sugar
* High fructose corn syrup
* White flour
* White Rice
* Nightshades (Tomatoes, Eggplant, Peppers, Potatoes)
* Hydrogenated Oils
* Trans fats
* Excess Levels of Omega 6 Fatty Acids

Simultaneously it is important to include more foods that fight inflammation and support healthy immune function.

Coconut oil: has anti-microbial properties that help to combat yeast, fungi, parasites, and viruses.

Organic Butter: from grass fed cows also has anti-microbial properties that fight microbes and help heal the gut lining.

Soups and Stocks: made from the bones of chicken, turkey, duck, beef, lamb and fish are anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and contain nutrients that help build the integrity of the digestive tract.

Whole food pro-biotics: these organisms can reduce the number of bad gut “flora” in the intestinal tract. These can be found in organic non-pasteurized milk and yogurt, sauerkraut as well as in food supplement form.

Digestive Enzymes: Enzymes help break down the foods we eat. People with digestive problems often cannot break down complex chains of sugars or protein very well. Digestive enzymes help break down these foods and can help break the vicious cycle that afflicts so many with digestive problems.
Third: Proactive wellness care with Acupuncture!

Acupuncture is amazing at reducing the frequency and intensity of IBS episodes. Many of my patients have achieved effective relief with a program of acupuncture and stress reduction. In my practice, it has been typical that symptoms can be reduced dramatically within the first month of treatment and the effects can last years.

The patients who respond the best to care typically come in for 4 to 6 initial treatments over 3 to 6 weeks. After that monthly visits for 4 to 8 months maintain the improvements made.

How does acupuncture work to relieve IBS? That topic will be covered in my next post. Stay tuned…

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