Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very general term to describe a multitude of troublesome bowel symptoms.
IBS symptoms do effect both children and adults, however it is more common in adults. It is thought to effect more than 1 in 5 adults, however from what I have seen in my practice it is a lot more.
The symptoms can often be uncomfortable, embarrassing and have serious impact on the daily life of the people that I treat. While some individuals may experience mild symptoms, others need to focus their entire day around where the nearest toilet maybe at all times.
The main symptoms of IBS:
Reoccurring abdominal pain and cramps.
Constipation.
Diarrhoea.
Gas and bloating.
Increased flatus's.
Individuals suffering IBS symptoms may also suffer:
Disturbed sleep.
Anxiety.
Allergies.
Gastric reflux.
Fatigue.
Nausea
Candida.
Skin disturbances.
IBS is caused by the microbes in your gut becoming out of balance. This can be caused by many reasons including: genetics, environment, and lifestyle.
Lifestyle factors may include diet and food sensitivities, the bowels may be aggravated more by certain foods. A history of long term medications may also cause damage the wall of the gut, 'leaky gut', allowing bacteria and undigested food to pass through and cause further inflammatory issues.
Stress and emotional trauma may also aggravate IBS symptoms.
The symptoms of the GUT are closely related to the mental symptoms of the brain, so an individual with IBS symptoms may also be suffering with depression and anxiety.
Most individuals who come to see me for treatment for IBS have already undertaken medical investigations to rule out any other more serious conditions. If this has not been done at the point of consultation, I will always recommend that it is before any Homeopathic treatment plan can be discussed.
There are not many drug treatments available for IBS symptoms and they may need to be repeated frequently as they do not solve the root cause of the problem.
Clinical studies show Homeopathy to be useful in the treatment of IBS.
In Homeopathy we take a detailed case history to establish how and why your symptoms began, and based on you as an individual, develop your treatment plan.
Please contact me if you are interested in how Homeopathy could help you.
I never made the link between gut health and depression until I started having treatment with Kathy.