Treatment Irritable Bowel Syndrome

There are many possible causes for irritable bowel syndrome. Some of these include:

• Food sensitivities;
• Lactose intolerance;
• Poor nutrient absorption;
• Endometriosis,
• Stress;
• Mind-body interaction;
• Hormonal imbalances;
• Environmental Sensitivities.

In 20% of cases irritable bowel syndrome is triggered by an infection (in these cases, people are more likely to have this syndrome with diarrhea as the dominant symptom). The infection causes inflammation in the mucosal tissues (the intestinal lining), which in turn stimulates immune and muscle changes. When the inflammatory response is continuous over time, the intestines learn to be over- or under-reactive to stimuli.

The gut is the foundation for all health. Containing over 70% of the immune system and a direct connection to the brain, a balanced gut is crucial to the health of the body and mind.

Naturopathy uses a systems biology approach to understand the underlying causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, such as:

• Motility disorders;
• Imbalances in the intestinal microflora, also known as dysbiosis;
• Overgrowth of certain bacteria associated with systemic diseases;
• Inflammation of the intestinal lining;
• Intestinal permeability causing systemic inflammation.

In the functional medicine model, we also pay close attention to the mental and emotional aspects of our patients' health. Since our body is a reflection of what is going on in our emotional life, then the importance of mental health cannot be underestimated.

Is it necessary to have a food intolerance test? There are numerous such tests available on the market. Although some of these tests can sometimes provide useful information, we prefer to use elimination diets with our patients - simply because this method yields better results.

There are many dietary approaches that can be effective in treating irritable bowel syndrome. Some examples include:

• Gluten-free diet;
• Grain-free diet;
• Specific Carbohydrate Diet;
• Low histamine diet;
• Gluten-free and dairy-free diet;
• FODMAP diet.

We are all different, so any diet for irritable bowel syndrome needs to be tailored to each individual. Based on clinical history and elimination tests, for example, we can figure out whether one person needs to follow a low FODMAP grain-free diet, while another would be indicated for a specific carbohydrate diet.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution.

We leave you here some tips that we find useful:

• Go on an elimination diet;
• Start practicing a relaxation technique, such as meditation. It has been proven that stimulating the relaxation response can relieve (if not cure) the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome;
• Start taking a probiotic, but be aware that different types of probiotics, are beneficial for different types of health problems;
• Take some antimicrobial herbs;
• Minimize your intake of additives. Many additives in food - even supposedly healthy foods - can contribute to the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Some examples include the emulsifier carrageenan and the sugars maltitol and sorbitol;
• Take digestive enzymes with meals. In some people it can relieve discomfort and promote healthy digestion.