Treatment of IBS:

Symptoms of IBS can include any or all of the following: • A 'lump in the throat' • Abdominal pains and spasms • Anxiety • Bowel urgency or incontinence • Diarrhea and/or constipation (often alternating) • Fatigue • Heartburn • Nausea (with or without vomiting) • Urinary frequency • Depression • Difficulty swallowing • Excess mucus in the colon and stool

Food-and-Diet Triggers that may Stimulate Symptoms of IBS • Eating large meals • Consuming too much:   -rye   -wheat   -barley   -alcohol   -chocolate   -dairy products • Eating foods high in sulfur:   -garlic   -leeks   -onions   -broccoli   -cabbage   -cauliflower   -Brussels sprouts • Eating foods high in fat:   -oils   -avocados   -meat   -poultry skin • Drinking caffeinated beverages:   -tea   -coffee   -colas Perhaps the largest diet-related contributor to IBS is lack of fiber.

Treatment of IBS Since IBS can be caused by a number of different factors, finding a solution for the treatment of IBS can be difficult. To reduce symptoms of IBS, one must be dedicated and, in some cases, make difficult diet & lifestyle changes. It is also important for an individual with IBS to understand that reversing the effects of IBS can be a time-intensive process. In fact, relieving IBS symptoms is often a slow process; it may take six months or more for definite improvement to be realized. Patience is extremely important in dealing with this problem. It is essential that IBS sufferers incorporate into their daily routine a maintenance program that addresses the many factors that can contribute to IBS. According to the FDA, many doctors believe that the key to achieving relief is to understand that IBS is a complex disorder with physical and stress-related dimensions. An example of one such maintenance program is as follows: Rule out underlying causes (such as Candida and parasites); Exclude irritating foods from your diet; Increase your fiber intake with a healthy balance of soluble/insoluble fiber (flax); Maintain healthy balance of intestinal flora w/ probiotics (acidophilus & bifidus) Use supportive herbs to help soothe the digestive tract; Use L-glutamine and N-acetyl D-glucosamine to support intestinal lining; Use gamma oryzanol to soothe the colon; Drink plenty of water; and Try colon hydrotherapy Instituting a comprehensive maintenance plan is the first step toward overcoming IBS, and one that includes an effective supplementation regimen can greatly reduce symptoms of IBS. At ReNew Life we recommend starting with the following: Reduce Symptoms of IBS with Natural Supplementation Intestinal Bowel Support™ is a combination of two products—Intestinal Bowel Soother™ and IntestiNEW™—developed specifically to help relieve the symptoms associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and support a healthy intestinal lining.‡ The 2-part formula should be taken in the morning and at night: Intestinal Bowel Support I (Intestinal Lining Support) combines amino acids L-glutamine and N-acetyl D-glucosamine to support a healthy intestinal lining & help prevent toxins and undigested food particles from entering the bloodstream.‡ Part 1 also contains gamma oryzanol from rice bran oil to help soothe the digestive tract.‡ Intestinal Bowel Support II (Colon Support) contains a combination of Western and Chinese herbs clinically proven to be effective for IBS sufferers, including skullcap, peppermint, chamomile, slippery elm and fenugreek. The herbal ingredients in Part 2 help relax and soothe the bowel as well as strengthen and tone the colon muscles to promote regular, healthy bowel movements.‡ Additional herbs help relieve occasional gas and bloating.‡

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How Symptoms of IBS Can Create a Confusing Condition

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is the most common gastrointestinal disorder seen by doctors. For years it was considered a psychological condition rather than a physical one, but today the medical establishment acknowledges the opposite.

Although IBS has been called by several names, including colitis, mucous colitis, spastic colon, spastic bowel, and functional bowel disease, it is typically defined as a disorder of the intestine that shows no sign of disease that can be seen or measured. According to the FDA, it is second only to the common cold as a cause of missed work days, and it may affect up to 20 percent of Americans – roughly 54 million people.

IBS itself is a syndrome, not a disease, which means that it is a combination of signs and symptoms. It cannot be caught or transmitted from person to person as a cold can, nor can it be cured by an operation or medication, thus making the treatment of IBS rather difficult. Furthermore, IBS is one of the three major ‘functional intestinal disorders, (Dyspepsia and Inflammatory Bowel Disease are the other two) and is a general term for conditions that show no physical evidence or disease in the intestines upon examination, and the cause of which does not show up in a blood test or an x-ray. Because symptoms of IBS vary, the term is often overused. According to the National Digestive Disease Information Clearinghouse, IBS is defined by having:

• Abdominal pain or discomfort for at least 12 weeks out of the previous 12 months (the 12 weeks do not have to be consecutive); and
• The abdominal pain or discomfort has two of the following three features:

1. It is relieved by a bowel movement;
2. When it begins, there is a change in how often
   you have a bowel movement; and
3. When it begins, there is a change in the form of the stool or the way it looks.

Essentially, IBS is a disturbance in the function of the colon, and sufferers may experience chronic diarrhea or constipation, or alternating bouts of the two.

The colon of an individual with IBS seems more sensitive and reactive than usual, so it responds to stimuli that normally would not bother the average person. Researchers have found that the colon muscle of an IBS sufferer begins to spasm after only mild stimulation.

This stimulation can be caused by numerous factors and can vary from person to person.

The causes of this ‘overly sensitive’ colon result from a number of factors. Some of the following can exacerbate symptoms of IBS: emotional stress, diet, and medication. While these factors usually do not cause gastrointestinal distress in the average person, for an IBS sufferer they can trigger painful abdominal spasms.

Stress

The brain and the intestines are closely connected by nerve fibers that control the automatic functioning of the intestinal muscles, and many people may experience nausea or diarrhea when they are nervous or anxious. While we may not be able to control the effects of stress on our intestines, reducing the sources of stress in our lives (high-pressure jobs, family tension, etc.) may alleviate the symptoms of IBS.

Expanding on this concept, an expert from the Division of Gastrointestinal and Coagulation Drug Products at the Food and Drug Administration explains that the gut has its own independent nervous system that regulates the processes of digesting food and eliminating solid waste.

According to Marcelo A. Barreiro M.D., “There’s a network of nerve cells within the wall of the gut – the gut nervous system – that does not depend on the brain for its minute-to-minute function,” Barreiro says, but rather “responds to its inputs under various conditions. Under stress, for example, the brain sends conflicting messages to the gut that may exaggerate the irritability of the gut nervous system.”

Diet

Diet is another major factor that contributes to the occurrence of IBS. Perhaps the largest diet-related contributor is the lack of fiber. High-fiber diets keep the colon mildly distended, which may help prevent spasms from developing. Some forms of fiber also help keep the stool hydrated, thereby preventing the development of hard stools that are difficult to pass. A good example of this type is flax fiber, which provides a natural balance of soluble and insoluble fiber, which work together to absorb waste and “sweep” it from the intestines.

Getting the proper balance of both types of fiber can reduce IBS symptoms by increasing food transit time in the colon for those experiencing constipation and decreasing food transit time for those experiencing diarrhea.

Medication

While there is no direct link between IBS and the use of medication, some medications may contribute to IBS. For example, antibiotics are known to cause gastrointestinal problems and diarrhea, and certain steroids may upset the balance of intestinal flora (bacteria in the gut), which can contribute to IBS.

Widespread use of both prescribed and over-the-counter medication in the U.S. could be a major cause of many cases of IBS.

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Disclaimer: Nothing in this website is intended as, or should be construed as, medical advice. Consumers should consult with their own health care practitioners for individual, medical recommendations. The information in this website concerns dietary supplements, over-the-counter products that are not drugs. Our dietary supplement products are not intended for use as a means to cure, treat, prevent, diagnose, or mitigate any disease or other medical or abnormal condition.