Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, is a disorder affecting the large intestine and causing symptoms, such as painful gas, bloating, diarrhea and constipation. Naturopathic medicine, explained by the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, holds the belief that the body has an innate healing ability. Naturopathic doctors treat IBS by finding and correcting the root cause of the disorder.
Features of Treatment
Experts at the Mayo Clinic describe several potential causes for IBS, including stress, dietary triggers, hormonal changes and other diseases, such as infectious diarrhea. While most cases of IBS do not resolve when a single trigger is removed, a study done in Germany in 2006 at the Medical University of Berlin found that the Naturopathic method of tracking and adjusting diet to be very effective in IBS when also combined with psychotherapy, relaxation techniques and manual therapies.
Identify Dietary Triggers
A study released in the "Journal of the American College of Nutrition" in 2006 found that identifying and removing food allergens from the diet of people with IBS successfully improved symptoms in 20 IBS patients who had not responded to conventional treatment. This process of identifying food triggers can be done via a blood test for food allergens. Naturopaths will often use an elimination diet in which potentially offending foods are removed from the diet, then reintroduced one at a time to identify foods that exacerbate symptoms.
Healing the Digestive Tract
Andrew Rubman, N.D writing for the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, or AANP, suggests digestive enzymes, particularly for people over 35 years of age, in whom these enzyme levels can be lower. Digestive enzymes help break food up and reduce harmful bacteria in the upper GI tract. Probiotics help increase the amount of good bacteria in the colon; important if this level is low. Always work with a trained professional when exploring these options.
Addressing Stress
People with IBS may be more sensitive to stressful stimuli than people without IBS. Naturopathic doctors may recommend various ways of helping with stress management to improve IBS symptoms, including these alternative therapies recognized by the Mayo Clinic as treatments for IBS: yoga, exercise, massage and meditation. Researchers in Shanghai reported in the "International Journal of Psychiatry" in Medicine in 2010 that the anti-depressant herb St. John's Wort can be helpful in IBS. Herbal medicine should always be used under the guidance of a trained professional.
Use of Medications
The colon of people with IBS can be very sensitive and use of medications may exacerbate symptoms. Andrew Rubman, N.D, writing for the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, cautions that medications labeled to treat the symptoms of constipation or diarrhea associated with IBS may actually make these symptoms worse. Dr. Rubman explains that the side effects, such as decreased blood flow to the colon, can cause further disruption to the digestive system.
References
- "MMW Fortschritte der Medizin;" Naturopathic Dietary Treatment in Functional Disorders; Stange R. Feb 16 2006;148(7):34-6
- "Journal of the American College of Nutrition;" Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome With a Food Elimination Diet Followed by Food Challenge and Probiotics; Drisko J, et al; 2006:25(6):514-522
- Naturopathic.org: Natural Elimination of IBS Symptoms
- "Int'l J Psy Med;" Effects of SJW Extract Related to ANS function in IBS; Wan H; 2010;40(1):45-56
