Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which includes chronic diarrhea and/or constipation, greatly impacts a person’s quality of life and can go undiagnosed for years. At our clinic, we have helped many people resolve their bowel issues with a thorough workup and advanced diagnostics. We have diagnosed conditions like Congenital Sucrose Isomaltase Deficiency (CSID), small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and fructose intolerance, as well as bacterial imbalances that cause inflammation and specific food intolerances. Most of our patients come to us after trying medications that barely contain their symptoms. By addressing the causes of symptoms, we are often able to help people feel better than they have in years.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Diagnosis
Many patients are diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Disease, also known as IBS, when they have an onset of symptoms affecting the gastrointestinal tract. It can be either diarrhea, constipation, or a combination. Not being able to make it to the bathroom or not being able to go both impact your lifestyle, hobbies, and peace of mind. It can come on suddenly or be something that gets worse over time.
Natural Treatments for IBS
There are a number of options that help patients manage their IBS symptoms, as well as create a long-term plan to resolve it and live without it. Tools such as diet modifications, stress management, gut soothing supplements, as well as assessing digestion, food triggers, and microbiome, all play a role in the treatment of IBS. Movement encourages the bowels to do their job, allowing easier stool and release of gas as well as calming the intestines. Addressing hormones can also help IBS symptoms.
A Holistic Plan for Healing IBS
Naturopathic doctors assess for IBS using diagnostic tools such as physical exam, lab tests, breath tests, stool and urine tests, food allergy or intolerance testing, dietary assessment, and assessment of lifestyle factors, including stress level, fatigue, sleep, etc. The goal is to identify sources of inflammation that have set the stage for developing IBS. Once identified, the doctor and patient, and sometimes a nutritionist, will develop a plan to minimize/ eliminate exposure to triggers, reduce inflammation, and promote healing.
The “healing plan” for IBS will be different for every person because so many factors interact to produce inflammation and symptoms. This plan can include following a low-FODMAP diet (useful for a variety of GI conditions), nutritional and herbal supplementation, stress management, avoiding smoking and caffeine, moderating alcohol intake, adjusting sleeping habits, homeopathy, and exercise.
If you suspect that you are affected by IBS, contact a Naturopathic Doctor about an evaluation and put yourself on the road to wellness. It is possible to enjoy food again and heal from Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
IBS Symptoms
Irritable Bowel Syndrome can cause symptoms of feeling full after eating a small amount or nausea. Bloating is frequently uncomfortable, with swelling or pressure that can extend up into the lungs or down into the pelvic area, often making it difficult to believe that just the gastrointestinal system is involved. Abdominal pain can progress or only occur at night, too. There can be mucus in the stool, rectal bleeding, or a sense of incomplete stool, and some of these symptoms can indicate conditions like Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis. We can help you get a complete diagnosis and feel better. It is not uncommon to improve and be without symptoms for a while.
The Gut-Brain Connection
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often associated with IBS, so trauma counseling is often indicated. The nervous system innervates the intestines to facilitate movement of the bowels, absorption of nutrients, and can affect your microbiome. The signaling goes both ways, and the microbiome contributes to your neurotransmitters, influencing how you feel – angry, happy, sad, etc. When you are relaxed, your digestion is able to work well. If you are consistently under stress, your digestion is likely to suffer. If it persists, you are likely to have some dysfunction in your gut, which is understood as IBS.
IBS Risk Factors
There are a few things that can increase the risk factors for Irritable Bowel Syndrome:
- Being female
- Age 40 or under
- Someone in your Family has IBS
- Depression, Anxiety, or PTSD
- Bacterial infections in the gut
Diet Tips for IBS Patients
- Eat smaller meals.
- Gradually increase high fiber foods such as grains, beans, fruits, and veggies (especially with constipation).
- Drink enough fluids to make your urine pale yellow.
- Lean toward a FODMAP diet if that is helpful for you.
- Consider a food journal to understand what foods may trigger you.
- Limit alcohol.
IBS Testing or Tools
Labs and so forth can be helpful in getting direction on where your body may need support to find its balance again. Here are some tests that can give information for making decisions about your health. This is not at all a complete list.
- Food intolerance testing
- Bacterial testing by stool and breath tests
- Calprotectin in the stool
- Ova and parasite screening
- Lysozyme and chymotrypsin in the stool
- Salivary Immunoglobulin A
- Microbiome testing
- Zonulin is experimental, but some patients find it helpful
- Hormone metabolite testing
- Macro and micronutrient testing
Complications of IBS
Patients may have the understanding that they have a diagnosis of IBS, and their condition may not be investigated further. They could actually have a different diagnosis of IBD, or Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or Crohn’s Disease, or even PTSD. They may not be receiving adequate treatment for their condition, which means not much seems to help them feel better. They also will not be able to analyze their prognosis or what their disease process will look like in the future if baseline markers are not run. As it progresses, a proper diagnosis will help plan for the disease and prevent its rapid progression of the disease.
Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, such as Crohn’s Disease, can also experience IBS when trying to recover from a flare, which can make it confusing.
Finding Help For Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Our San Diego Naturopathic Medical Clinic
We help patients find answers to their health challenges. It’s our specialty! This kind of thing is not a new idea for us. In fact, gastrointestinal symptoms are the number one reason why the public seeks out naturopathic doctors! We have heard many personal stories and have been blessed to see natural treatments for IBS lead to many successes. Getting the right care tailored to you or your child’s specific body and situation is key to success in your health! Please reach out and see if we can work together to get you feeling better.
BIOs:
Dr. Shannyn Fowl, ND, has been involved in patient care for over 30 years, and half of that as a Naturopathic Doctor. She has a great compassion for patients with stubborn and confusing gastrointestinal symptoms. Many patients describe her as the detective guide as they get to the bottom of their health problems. Most patients just need help exploring the right tools, labs, or path to find their journey to great health. Dr. Shannyn has also been adjunct faculty for her local community college for a decade, adjunct faculty at Bastyr Medical School for pediatrics, and a principal investigator in research.
Dr. Gwenn Rosenberg is the founder and medical director of New London Natural Health Center. She earned her medical degree from the National College of Natural Medicine and completed her residency with Bastyr University. She attained additional training in Holistic Pelvic Care with Tami Kent, MSPT, and training in manual therapy for relief of incontinence and pelvic pain with the Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute. Dr. Rosenberg has worked in multiple capacities in the healthcare field since 2000 and as a naturopathic physician since 2012.
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