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IBS- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Biomedical Causes of IBS:Although it is not clearly understood what causes IBS, there are many clues in the scientific literature. For some people it begins in childhood with a ‘sensitive stomach’ that develops into more intense symptoms in adulthood; while for others, the IBS symptoms start suddenly during a period of stress or persist after a bout of gastroenteritis, a condition known as Post-infective IBS. However there are underlying vulnerabilities that may cause IBS and that may be common causes to all sufferers of IBS. In simple terms, we believe that there is ample evidence to suggest that IBS is the result of a dysfunctional interaction between genetic vulnerability, a lack of certain specific nutrients and disordered gut bacteria, leading to a dysfunctional gut and less than optimum brain function. Read more... symptoms associated with IBS-There are also recent scientific findings that may also explain why 70 to 90% of people with IBS also suffer from anxiety, depression and sleep difficulties. Frequently people with IBS also report chronic tiredness or fatigue, cognitive deficits, foggy head and difficulties concentrating. Treating these suspected causes of IBS often resolves or significantly reduces the cognitive, psychiatric, fatigue and sleep problems. Psychological techniques can then be more effective at treating psychological factors that may contribute to stress, depression and anxiety. Read more... Testing for IBS causesTo investigate whether we are on the right track, we use Biomedical tests (specialised blood, faeces and urine tests) from NATA* accredited pathology Laboratories. If our suspicions are confirmed, we then use specific medical and nutritional treatment protocols to treat the underlying causal mechanisms that may be responsible for the symptoms, as suggested by the results of the tests. Some aspects of these protocols have been around in Nutritional and Environmental medicine for years but have rarely been used in mainstream Medicine. Read more... Treatment for IBS at the ClinicThe treatment protocols used at the Clinic address what we believe may be the fundamental causes and triggers to IBS. From a study of relevant scientific findings from Medicine, Nutritional science, Nutrigenomics, Gastroenterology, Enteric Microbiology and Psychiatry we have assembled a theoretical model that not only seems to explain the vulnerability to IBS but also seems to explain the mechanisms that underpin the symptoms. There are no effective drugs to treat IBS and there may never be, because the causes are due to Nutrigenomic (genetic and nutrient) interactions and comensal gut bacteria (normal community of bacteria) imbalance. We cannot change our genes but we certainly can improve our nutrient uptake and normalise our gut bacteria ecology. Read more... *NATA- National Association of Testing Laboratories |
Irritable Bowel Syndrome(IBS) symptoms include abdominal pain or discomfort, mucus in the
stools, irregular stools and alternating diarrhea and
constipation. Studies indicate that up to twenty percent of
people in western Society may suffer from irritable bowel syndrome
(IBS). Women are more prone to IBS than men. Research
suggests that people with IBS experience abnormal gut motility
(changes in the rate of contractions of the gut muscles) and
enhanced visceral sensitivity (an increased sensitivity in the
brain to normal and painful gut activity such as painful
swelling in the gut. IBS is diagnosed based on the Rome II
criteria.