Effective Strategies for Management of IBS

Ask anyone suffering from chronic abdominal pain and a myriad of symptoms centered around the digestive system, such as bloating, gas, diarrhea, or constipation, if they view Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) as the minor issue often portrayed by the media and the medical system, and they'd likely be very upset. For many individuals grappling with IBS, the condition is not merely a trivial inconvenience; it profoundly affects their daily lives, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life.

Chronic abdominal pain can be debilitating, leading to missed workdays, social isolation, and a constant state of anxiety about when and where symptoms might strike. The media often simplifies IBS, reducing it to a comedic trope or a lighthearted discussion, which fails to capture the reality of those who live with it. The portrayal in popular culture typically downplays the severity and complexity of the condition, leading to misunderstandings and a lack of empathy from those who have never experienced it.

Moreover, the medical system sometimes contributes to this perception by not fully recognizing the impact of IBS on patients. Many healthcare providers may view IBS as a diagnosis of exclusion, suggesting that it is less serious than other gastrointestinal disorders. This can lead to frustration for patients who feel their pain and symptoms are dismissed, leaving them to navigate their condition with little support or understanding.

Furthermore, the journey to receiving a proper diagnosis can be long and arduous. Patients often undergo numerous tests and consultations with various specialists, only to be told that their symptoms align with IBS. This can create a sense of hopelessness, as individuals may feel trapped in a cycle of discomfort without clear answers or effective treatment options.

In essence, for those living with IBS, it is crucial to challenge the notion that it is a minor issue. The emotional toll, coupled with the physical discomfort, creates a complex condition that deserves more attention, research, and compassionate care. By fostering a deeper understanding of IBS, both the media and the medical community can help elevate the conversation and provide the support that those suffering from this condition truly need.

WHAT IS A SYNDROME?

According to Merriam-Webster, it is a group of signs or symptoms; that's all – it is not a disease or a diagnosis by itself. It comprises a collection of signs and symptom sets, which can include thoughts, emotions, feelings, outward appearance, sensory reactions, and even visible or obvious symptoms. However, it can be part of various disease states and is not necessarily a disease on its own. It is typically used for conditions that cannot be tested or diagnosed.

SO WHAT IS IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME?

IBS, as a GP friend once told me, is essentially a collection of symptoms indicating unexplained abdominal pain. While this definition seems simple, there's actually much more to it, and millions, if not billions, of sufferers are being failed worldwide. We should consider IBS a friend because, without these symptoms, you might not realize something is wrong. The truth is, your body has likely been signalling issues since birth, but it wasn't until the pain and other symptoms became unavoidable that you sought medical attention and received an IBS diagnosis.

While it can be associated with various genetic or pathological conditions such as Crohn’s or Cœliac disease, it can also serve as the body’s early warning system—often ignored until symptoms evolve into another diagnosis like bowel cancer or diverticulitis.

EARLY WARNING SIGNS AND WHEN TO TAKE ACTION

Many people will leave feeling relieved that they finally have a diagnosis and are content to take medication for the pain without making any further changes. This approach often continues until symptoms become severe enough to significantly harm their digestive system. At that point, a doctor might inform them that they have ulcers, cancer, or require a colostomy bag. Yes, it can get that serious. This is why IBS can be seen as a warning sign. It's time to take action.

Let's trace the development of your IBS. During pregnancy, many women feel it's acceptable to eat for two. However, that is merely an old wives' tale; she is not eating for two. The developing baby only requires nutrients, not excess food. The extra food often accumulates on the mother's hips and unfortunately remains there, but that is a different issue altogether. The baby needs a proper balance of nutrients, which is why expectant mothers who consume wholefood supplements and plant-based diets tend to have healthier babies compared to those who do not; and are healthier in themselves.

‘BUT THERE WAS NO WARNING….’

Everything a mother consumes or applies to her body will influence the baby in some way. Indulging in extreme cravings can harm both her and the rapidly developing new cells; are you nourishing healthy cells or unhealthy ones? Add genetics to the mix, and the new life arrives with a health imprint. Or an imprint of poor health. The new baby will already possess all the cells necessary for full body function, including the digestive lining, along with precursors to enzymes and hormones. This is where the foundation of the new person’s health is established.

After birth, the diet will impact the perfectly formed gastric lining. Through iridology, you can see the condition clearly from birth. I love examining the irises of newborns! Is there an acid ring around the bowel area? Are there already signs of inherited disorders and weaknesses? Believe it or not, toxins are already present—based on what was consumed during pregnancy (including the biological father's habits), and what the umbilical cord and then the liver/kidneys could not eliminate.

The most perfect food is mother’s milk, but if the mother eats rubbish, that new baby is already suffering. colic is just one of the few obvious symptoms something is already wrong. Poor immunity is never medically linked to the bowel; the truth is, that is exactly the source of all future illness, including chronic and terminal.

Infant formula can sustain a child's life, but it lacks the micronutrients, enzymes, and factors present in mother's milk that are essential for the child. If a child is delivered via caesarean section, the complete natural bacterial and probiotic processes do not take place (it is partial, in utero). A crucial component is the transfer of beneficial bacteria during birth, which initiates a lifelong series of reactions.

Throughout life, if a child is not provided with the proper nutrition and consumes the standard Western diet, their immune function will deteriorate, ultimately leading them to experience a wide range of conditions now commonly associated with early aging. However, if the mother consumed genuinely healthy food during pregnancy, the baby was initially breastfed, and then shielded from sugars, processed grains, dairy, meat, and additives, the child's overall quality of life and vitality would be entirely different.

BUT I CAN JUST TAKE AN ANTACID OR NEXIUM AND IT WILL BE OKAY…

What really bothers me at the moment is the promotion of NEXIUM for indigestion. If you're experiencing indigestion, adjust your diet. Your body is signaling that you're causing harm. It's even more astonishing that Nexium is being advertised for infants!

Are you aware of what's in Nexium or concerned about its side effects? Like other indigestion medications, it's essentially a list of ingredients with difficult-to-pronounce names, including -

Ground insect remains

Talc (recognized for causing adhesions)

Acrylic

Polysorbate 80 (associated with brain, kidney, and uterine harm)

Aluminum

- and essentially a toxic mix with some contaminated magnesium added for effect (ironically, taking magnesium by itself is beneficial for indigestion, cramping, or any other type of pain).

For the record, what are some of the known side effects of Nexium? Keep in mind, this medication is used to treat indigestion symptoms; take a look at the digestive side effects. Also, remember that you can find this information on the manufacturer's website, as can your doctor or pharmacist. Note that this is not the complete list, which is available if you know where to look. All because maintaining a healthy diet is challenging…

• Dizziness, confusion (anyone thinking Alzheimer's?)

• Fast or irregular heart rate (but don't worry, it's not linked to indigestion)

• Jerking muscle movements and jitteriness (a legal high)

• Watery or bloody diarrhea (time for that bowel cancer screening)

• Muscle cramps, muscle weakness, or a limp feeling

• Cough or a choking sensation

• Seizures (convulsions)

• Headache, drowsiness

• Nausea, stomach pain, gas, constipation

• Dry mouth

• Gout symptoms

• Enlarged abdomen

• Allergic reaction

• Back pain and chest pain, substernal chest pain

• Edema

• Hot flashes

• Fatigue, fever, flu-like symptoms (chronic fatigue? Don't worry, there's a flu vaccine…)

• Hypertension & tachycardia

• Goiter

• Earache, tinnitus

• Anemia

• Lymphadenopathy

• Nosebleeds

• Leukocytosis, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia (blood cell disorders)

• Abnormal liver function

• Diabetic symptoms – glycosuria, hyperuricemia, hyponatremia, increased alkaline phosphatase, thirst, vitamin B12 deficiency, weight gain, weight loss

• Musculoskeletal: joint pain, aggravated arthritis, joint disease, cramps, fibromyalgia syndrome, hernia, polymyalgia rheumatica

• Nervous System/Psychiatric: loss of appetite, apathy, increased appetite, confusion, aggravated depression, dizziness, hypertonia, nervousness, decreased sensitivity, impotence, insomnia, migraines, aggravated migraines, tingling sensation, sleep disorders, drowsiness, tremors, vertigo, visual field defects

• Reproductive: painful menstruation, menstrual disorders, vaginitis;

• Respiratory: aggravated asthma, coughing, shortness of breath, larynx swelling, pharyngitis, rhinitis, sinusitis;

• Skin and Appendages: acne, angioedema, dermatitis, itching, anal itching, rash, erythematous rash, maculopapular rash, skin inflammation, increased sweating, hives;

• Special Senses: middle ear infection, distorted sense of smell, taste loss, altered taste perception;

• Urogenital: abnormal urine, albuminuria, bladder infection, painful urination, fungal infection, blood in urine, frequent urination, yeast infection, genital yeast infection, excessive urination;

• Visual: conjunctivitis, abnormal vision.

ADDITIONAL DIGESTIVE SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH NEXIUM

Indigestion

Difficulty swallowing

Gastrointestinal dysplasia

Pain in the upper abdomen

Burping

Esophageal disorder

Frequent bowel movements

Gastroenteritis, gastrointestinal bleeding

Throat disorder

Rectal disorder

Increased serum gastrin

Tongue disorder

Tongue swelling

Ulcerative inflammation of the mouth

Nausea and vomiting

… hang on….

SEVERE interactions with heart medication and sedatives… (yet many use Nexium to mitigate the effects of other medications)

‘MY DOCTOR TOLD ME I HAVE TO STICK TO THIS BLAND DIET…’

This is where medicine intervenes to maintain the pattern – diets that are milky white, sugary, and meaty, medications with side effects, surgeries that result in partial system function, chronic bowel habits, and related diseases – all traced back to that poor bowel that never had a chance. It's crucial to remember that doctors are not trained in nutrition, and many medical dieticians receive their education from the same sources as medical students, which are funded and published by the food and pharmaceutical industries rather than natural health experts.

How does a human, naturally designed to consume raw, healthy foods, become so unwell that they cannot tolerate the very foods meant to heal them? This is precisely what occurs with food sensitivities and allergies. Even as infants, some individuals are already acidic. Medications cannot resolve this issue; they merely cover it up. By the time a person reaches such a severe, deficient health condition, their digestive lining is so compromised that even basic functions become impossible.

SO HOW DO WE CORRECT IT?

If you experience abdominal pain, indigestion, or either chronic diarrhea or constipation without a clear cause, and if food exacerbates these symptoms, you may be classified under IBS – irritable bowel 'syndrome' – which is a collection of seemingly unrelated symptoms. However, these symptoms are indeed related, primarily due to our diet and lifestyle.

If you're weary of the pain, bloating, and discomfort, you have little to lose and much to gain. Please check my posts on the diet—it's not just a suggestion, it's essential if you want to improve. Your body has warned you; this isn't a half-hearted attempt. To achieve full health, you must commit fully to your recovery. Or you should.

Feel free to take my online assessment for a thorough evaluation of your overall health—it's far more comprehensive than any other consultation or protocol and addresses your entire body holistically. Just as your IBS didn't develop overnight or from a single cause, your recovery won't come from a single remedy that merely masks the symptoms.

Heal your gut. Heal your body at a cellular level. At Edenic level.

• First thing in the morning, line the digestive tract with a fine film – it prevents irritation, inflammation and pain like nothing else can – Order here

• Probiotics and soothing herbs – Order here

• Alkalising minerals – Order here

• Homeopathic soothing remedy - Order here

Your symptoms did not just happen. It may take a little more effort to unwind the long process which landed you here. But if you had the choice of feeling like you do now, or changing your lifestyle - and turning your life around, isn't it worth it?

Research:

• Bijkerk, C. J., et al. (2004). "Dietary fibre, prebiotics, and probiotics in the management of irritable bowel syndrome." The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 99(8), 1484-1492.

• Messaoudi, M., et al. (2011). "Evaluation of the effects of a probiotic on anxiety and depression in healthy adults: a randomized controlled trial." Psychopharmacology, 219(1), 145-152.

• Zhou, Y., et al. (2017). "Effects of acupuncture on irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis." Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 32(6), 1151-1160.

• Ford, A. C., et al. (2008). "Effect of fibre, antispasmodics, and peppermint oil in irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis." The Lancet, 371(9616), 2123-2130.

• Eun, C. S., et al. (2016). "The role of gut microbiota in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome." Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, 22(3), 367-378.

• Lacy, B. E., et al. (2016). "Review article: the role of diet in the management of irritable bowel syndrome." Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 44(6), 577-594.

• Gerson, L., et al. (2009). "Integrative medicine in the management of irritable bowel syndrome." Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, 43(5), 444-451.

• Aro, P., et al. (2015). "Prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome in the general population: a systematic review." The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 110(5), 690-693.

• Lefebvre, C., et al. (2011). "Herbal medicines in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome." Phytomedicine, 18(2-3), 168-177.

• Chedid, V., & Pimentel, M. (2015). "The role of probiotics in the management of irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review." American Journal of Gastroenterology, 110(11), 1713-1721.

• Koloski, N. A., et al. (2012). "The misdiagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome: the role of psychological and psychiatric factors." Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 57(1), 147-154.

• Thompson, W. G., et al. (2002). "Irritable bowel syndrome: the importance of identifying functional gastrointestinal disorders." Gastroenterology, 123(6), 1928-1931.

• Lacy, B. E., et al. (2016). "Diagnosis and management of irritable bowel syndrome: review and guideline update." American Journal of Gastroenterology, 111(1), 116-129.

• Ford, A. C., et al. (2014). "Effect of gastrointestinal medications on irritable bowel syndrome: systematic review and network meta-analysis." The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 109(6), 800-811.

• Pimentel, M., et al. (2004). "Irritable bowel syndrome: diagnosis and management." The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 99(4), 1061-1070.

• Longstreth, G. F., et al. (2006). "Irritable bowel syndrome and health care utilization in the United States: results of a population-based survey." The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 101(7), 1465-1472.

• Hollis, M. A., et al. (2009). "Irritable bowel syndrome: its impact on health care utilization and the burden on primary care." Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, 43(7), 620-626.

• Drossman, D. A., et al. (2016). "Rome IV: Functional GI disorders: disorders of gut-brain interaction." Gastroenterology, 150(6), 1257-1267.

• Gerson, L., et al. (2009). "Integrative medicine in the management of irritable bowel syndrome." Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, 43(5), 444-451.

• Williams, J. G., et al. (2007). "Impact of irritable bowel syndrome on quality of life: a population-based study." Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 26(1), 73-83.

  
  
  
  

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