Irritable Bowel SYNDROME (IBS)
(different than Inflammatory Bowel DISEASE- (IBD)

Definition​

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition that affects the stomach and intestines. Symptoms vary and may be triggered by food or stress.  IBS is an ongoing condition that needs long-term management.  Only a small number of people with IBS have severe symptoms.

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IBS doesn't cause changes in bowel tissue or increase risk of colorectal cancer like Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis.

Possible Causes

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• Muscle contractions in the intestine.  Contractions that are stronger and last longer than usual can cause gas, bloating and diarrhea. Weak contractions can slow food passage and lead to hard, dry stools.

• Nervous system. Issues with the nerves in the digestive system may cause discomfort when the abdomen. Poorly coordinated signals between the brain and the intestines can cause the body to overreact to changes that typically occur in the digestive process. This can result in pain, diarrhea or constipation.

• Severe infection. IBS can develop after a severe bout of diarrhea caused by bacteria or a virus. This is called gastroenteritis. IBS also might be associated with a surplus of bacteria in the intestines, known as bacterial overgrowth.

• Early-life stress. People exposed to stressful events, especially in childhood, tend to have more symptoms of IBS.

• Changes in gut microbes. Examples include changes in bacteria, fungi and viruses, which typically live in the intestines and play a key role in health. Research indicates that the microbes in people with IBS might differ from those in people who don't have IBS.

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Functional medicine addresses all of these causes!

Symptoms

• Belly pain, cramping or bloating that is related to passing stool

• feeling of incomplete evacuation after bowel movement, spasm

• Changes in appearance of stool

• Changes in how often you are passing stool

• Increased gas or mucous in stool

• Alternating diarrhea and constipation​​​​​​​​​​​

Functional Medicine Approach

• You will have a full assessment of your current lifestyle, nutrition, stress level and management, and sleep health and hygiene.

• Individualized plans of care will be created by the practitioner and patient. 

• Depending on your specific symptoms, there may be more targeted assessment and testing of blood sugar metabolism, thyroid function, pituitary. or hypothalamus function and cardiovascular assessment, gut imbalances, food intolerances, toxin screening, hormone imbalance, antibody intolerances, inflammatory markers, and/or deficiencies of nutrients.  

• After finding the root cause of illness plans may be revised.  Solutions can be multi-layered and take time, especially auto-immune disease and hormone imbalance.  We may need to integrate care with a specialist after referral.

• Detox plans are gentle and supervised if necessary.