Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional disorder of the large intestine, often caused by food intolerances and reactions.

Rather than being a disease, distinguishing it from coeliac and inflammatory bowel disease, it is categorised by a collection of symptoms.

Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) can include:

• Abdominal pain/cramping
• Chronic/episodic diarrhoea and/or constipation
• Bloated, swollen abdomen
• Flatulence
• Frequent, incomplete evacuation of stools
• Presence of undigested food or mucus in stools

What causes IBS?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) can slowly develop over time, but is often triggered by an illness or stressful event. IBS is often multi-factorial, as there are several contributing factors, such as:

• Food intolerances and sensitivities – most sufferers report that certain foods aggravate their symptoms. Different foods can trigger different reactions, and often only after consuming a certain amount over the persons “threshold”.
• Leaky gut – a condition where the lining of the gut becomes porous (“leaky”) and inflamed, allowing a greater amount of undigested food, bacteria and toxins to enter the bloodstream
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) – a condition where a large amount of certain bacteria nests in the small intestine, which can damage the cell lining of the gut

The correlation between gut health and allergies are often circular, gut conditions can cause food reactions and food reactions can cause gut conditions. When undetected, food reactions can spark an inflammatory cycle where the gut lining struggles to repair and new food reactions can develop, resulting in a progressive worsening in symptoms.

Food intolerances & IBS

A food intolerance (also known as a food sensitivity) occurs when a person has trouble breaking down the natural food chemicals or additives found in food.

Unlike food allergies, which affect the body’s immune system, food intolerances involve the digestive system. They can be tricky to diagnose because they often do not show up on allergy testing and reaction times may vary considerably from person to person. In fact, food intolerance symptoms can even rear their ugly heads up to three days after you’ve eaten!

Common food triggers include:

• sugars
• caffeine
• gluten, wheat and other grains
• dairy
• soy products
• processed foods
• spicy foods
• onions and garlic

Natural and synthetic food chemicals can also trigger reactions, such as:

• salicylates – high in colourful fruits and vegetables
• amines – high in aged foods, such as cheese, wine, chocolate and cured meats
• glutamates – high in processed foods and sauces (e.g. MSG)
• food additives – including preservatives, sweeteners, flavour enhancers and colourings
• FODMAPS – a group of carbohydrates found naturally in a wide range of foods and food additives

Many sufferers find that they have a tolerance “threshold” of certain foods, and once they surpass this “threshold” it can result in a flare-up in symptoms.

Natural Treatment for IBS

At Health & Wellness Australia & Auckland, we use a technique called muscle testing (or kinesiology) to help identify which substances you may be reacting to.

Following testing, you can work with your practitioner to address your reactions using a natural allergy treatment called Positive Association Technique (PAT) as a natural treatment for IBS.

PAT is a non-invasive, holistic therapy, which:

• draws on acupressure and kinesiology techniques
• aims to re-train your body
• may reduce your reactions to food and environmental substances triggering your IBS symptoms

Some IBS cases can be complex, so our Naturopaths may also recommend supplements, herbs and lifestyle advice to help you achieve the best long-term results.

• Send our PAT Practitioners a Question HERE
• Request a FREE PAT Information E-PACK HERE
• Book online HERE

Please note PAT cannot “cure” irritable bowel syndrome – we aim to reduce your reactions and help manage irritable bowel syndrome-related symptoms. We do not intend to raise unrealistic expectations. If symptoms persist, consult your health care professional.