Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS, Ruining Your Health?IBS is a relatively new disorder and because there does not seem to be a direct connection with a single cause, there is a lot of mystery and misinformation about the disorder. Irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder of the intestines that leads to abdominal cramps, gassiness, bloating and changes in bowel habits. The symptoms can vary from one person to the next. You may suffer with constipation, or diarrhea or you may suffer from both. The severity of IBS symptoms varies greatly from person to person.
The exact cause of IBS is still yet unknown. There are, however, a number of factors that may affect you if you suffer from this disorder. Factors such as stress, diet and even genetic predisposition may be involved.
If you suffer from IBS, you are not alone. It is estimated that approximately 20 percent of adults are affected, and of those, more women than men. This disorder seems to go through periods when it gets better, only to come back again. 
In Chinese medicine(TCM), the term IBS was not used, but the etiology is usually "liver over acting on the spleen" and can be for a number of reasons. Most common is toxic overload and poor digestion. This, unfortunately is a vicious cycle and can continue to feed into itself. Looking at the above image, you will notice that each organ in TCM theory, supports the next. They are interdependent on each other. For instance, if the digestion is weak (spleen) it can not nourish the lungs. It is common to see a person with allergies that also suffers from digestive disorders. The connection between allergies was thought to be "unscientifically proven" until not too long ago, when it was discovered that your digestive tract places a major role in immune system function. Looking back at the graphic, you will also notice 5 straight arrows. This is the "controlling cycle" in TCM. Liver, when too congested, becomes stagnant, and will over control the spleen, or digestion. Again, this was thought to be "unproven" until more recent times. Stress in the body (which affects the liver) can induce a fight or flight response, which slows digestion. "Great! So now what? There are many places to start. The important thing is to start. Since the liver is impacted by stress, both internal and external, this is a good starting point. You can help the liver function by either doing a detox, or eating foods that aide the liver in its functions. Foods such as: Raw foods (but don't over do it.) Apple cider vinagar Sour foods (such as lemon or lime in your water) Romaine lettuce Rye Asparagus Quinoa Mung beans Seaweeds Sprouts Cucumbers Chlorophyl rich foods It is also important to know what not to eat as well. As a general rule, foods that congest the liver may include: Alcohol Greasy foods Drugs (do not discontinue prescription drugs) Processed foods Artificial sweeteners Chemicals, pesticides, additives, and pollution Just as important is emotional health... anger and stress also act to congest the liver. Long standing liver congestion also may increase the "heat" in your body. This may manifest in many ways, but burning sensations, red face, red spots, red tongue, red eyes, high blood pressure, and more... all may indicate a presence of heat. Next is the digestive system. It's difficult to say what came first. IBS is usually from a gradual imbalance of the system. A poor digestive system usually is a result of improper diet, over time. It can also be a result of antibiotic use, poor chewing habits, NSAID use and too many supplements. When the ecology of the gut is off, this is known as Dysbiosis and it just means the delicate balance between beneficial and pathogenic bacteria is off. There are 500 different types of beneficial bacteria in your digestive tract. These "good" bacteria help keep the "bad" bacteria down, as well as aid in digestion. The imbalance between good and bad bacteria is essential to health. As the old saying goes "Death begins in the intestines." The percentage of people over 50 with health problems, that is estimated to have weak digestive function, can be up to 90% ! Most people go undiagnosed as having weak HCL, and even worse, sometimes, people are diagnosed as having an "acidic stomach." Some common problems associated with this disorder are: Allergies Chronic fatigue Autoimmune Diseases Weak nails Thyroid disorders Dry skin Diabetes mellitus Poor night vision Gallbladder disease Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) Asthma Adrenals dysfunction Vitiligo Arthritis Acne rosacea Lupus erythematosis Chronic hepatitis Yeast infections Prone to catching colds, or the "latest bug" Parasites Celiac disease Flatulence Candida Osteoporosis Thyroid disorders This is because your hydrochloric acid in your stomach provides many more functions than simply breaking down food. In addition to aiding in the digestion of protein, it also protects against orally ingested pathogens (germs). It also inhibits growth of bad bacteria, and stimulates movement of food through the intestines. It's easy to see why having weak digestion could cause problems. Fortunately you can detect this problem with a simple metabolic test (urinalysis) done through our E-Clinic. If you suffer from hypochlrohydria, some symptoms you may experience may include: -Gas and bloating -Loss of taste for meat -Lower bowel gas -Bad breath Food sensitivity -Asthma -Acid reflux -Diarrhea -Spoon shaped nails -Belching -Fullness with meals -Sores in the corner of your mouth -Indigestion You may not have all the above symptoms, but if you have quite a few, you should be tested to find out more. This imbalance is relatively easy to deal with, but ignoring it could have far reaching effects. All of this is before we even account for imbalances in the intestines! If your intestines are out of balance, digestion will be disrupted. Taking intestinal flora supplements may also be a good idea. Especially after antibiotic use. The best way, of course, is to find the imbalances, so they can be accounted for, and adapt an IBS diet to overcome those imbalances.
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