Natural IBS Treatment in Brighton
 
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Laurel Alexander: Complementary Therapist for M&S and MSD

 
 

Natural IBS Treatment in Brighton

Natural IBS Treatment , Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatment, Brighton, Laurel Alexander
member of Association Of Reflexologists

 

What is IBS?

IBS - Irritable Bowel Syndrome - is the name doctors have given to a collection of otherwise unexplained symptoms relating to a disturbance of the large bowel. These may include:

  • crampy abdominal pain, often relieved by defecation
  • an alteration in bowel habit (diarrhea, constipation or alternating diarrhea and constipation)
  • bloating and swelling of the abdomen
  • rumbling noises and excessive passage of wind
  • urgency – a need to rush to the toilet and incontinence (if a toilet is not nearby)
  • a sharp pain felt low down inside the rectum
  • sensation of incomplete bowel movement.

When X-rays, blood tests, examination of the stool, endoscopy and other diagnostic tests are carried out, the results do not reveal any obvious abnormality. For that reason, IBS is often called ‘a functional disorder’ of the bowel; in other words, an illness associated with a disturbance of bowel function without any change in structure or obvious cause.

Symptoms frequently occur in other parts of the body. These may include; headaches, dizziness, backache, passing urine frequently, tiredness, muscle and joint pains, ringing in the ears, indigestion, belching, nausea, shortness of breath, anxiety and depression. Patients with other medically unexplained illnesses, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, food intolerance and functional dyspepsia, report a similar range of symptoms.

A qualified medical practitioner should always diagnose IBS, since the symptoms of IBS can resemble those of other bowel diseases. Nevertheless, doctors can usually be quite confident at diagnosing IBS on the basis of the pattern of symptoms alone without recourse to tests to rule out every other possible condition. According to the most recent criteria, set out by an international panel of specialists, a diagnosis of IBS can only be made if you have frequent abdominal discomfort that is either relieved by going to the loo or associated with changes in the frequency or form of stool (a tendency to diarrhea or constipation). The diagnosis is supported if you experience difficulty passing motions, you pass mucus, or you have bloating and feelings of abdominal distension. IBS is a condition that can start at any time, but frequently begins in early adulthood and comes and goes over the course of many years. That fact alone is an important diagnostic pointer, but you should always seek further advice if your symptoms change.

Members Articles relating to IBS:

You may well need to undergo specific tests such as an endoscopy, a scan or an X-ray to exclude other conditions if any of the following red warning flags are present:

  • recent weight loss
  • passage of blood in the stools
  • fever
  • an abrupt and persistent unexplained change in bowel habit in somebody above the age of 40

What causes IBS? We do not know for sure. Many specific causes have been suggested. They include Candida or yeast infection, fluoride toxicity, mercury poisoning and many, many others, but there is no convincing evidence to support any of these possibilities. In recent years, research in IBS has concentrated on factors that might make the gut more sensitive. These include food allergy, inflammation and stress.

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Food allergy and intolerance
 Since eating a meal often triggers the symptoms of IBS, it is not surprising that many people believe that it is caused by an allergy to specific foods. Blood and skin tests for food allergy, however are usually negative, and allergies confined to the gut can only be established by testing the reactions to foods concealed inside a capsule. This is rarely carried out. People with IBS are more likely to be intolerant to a whole range of common foods. This suggests that it is not so much the food that it causing the problem but the sensitive gut that is overreacting to its contents. And since emotional tension can make the bowel more sensitive, intolerances can come and go according to how a person feels. A sensitive gut is often a more permeable gut and the detection of serum antibodies to common food substances may be a useful guide to dietary management of IBS. Allergies and intolerances can be unmasked by emotional upset and so dietary management of IBS often needs to be combined with appropriate counseling.
Inflammation

A small proportion of people develop IBS for the first time after a bout of gastroenteritis, raising speculation that, although the infection clears up, the experience might make the gut more sensitive. In support of this, recent research has shown that the small proportion of people with post-infectious IBS also tends to have a mild ongoing inflammation of the gut. This begs the question, why do some people have persistent bowel symptoms after an attack of gastroenteritis while most others get better? Research has shown that post-infectious IBS is much more likely if the person was anxious, depressed and was experiencing difficult life situations at the time of the original illness. Perhaps on ongoing emotional upset created the nervous tension that maintained a low-grade bowel inflammation. Alternatively, the memory of the bowel upset was recruited by brain gut connections to express an unresolved life situation. Similar observations have been made for IBS occurring for the first time after hysterectomy.

An attack of gastroenteritis or the antibiotics given to treat it can alter the balance of the bacteria in the colon, reducing populations of beneficial anaerobic bacteria and encouraging the overgrowth of more malign species. Although it is not established whether this mechanisms can result in chronic symptoms of IBS, restoring beneficial populations of colonic bacteria with probiotics or live yoghurts has become a popular treatment of IBS.

Stress
There is strong association between emotional upset and IBS. Not only do patients with moderate to severe IBS have more emotional upset than healthy people or patients with other gastrointestinal diseases, but they also have experienced more traumatic life events and difficult life situations both in adulthood and childhood. Emotional tension sensitises the gut, making it more reactive to whatever is inside it. This means that the gut is an important route by which emotion is expressed in the body. We only have to think of how anxiety can give all of us diarrhea, depression may make us constipated, and fear can make us sick to. It is, therefore, always important to enquire what was going on in the patient’s lives before the attack started, what is associated with relapses and remissions of symptoms or whether the symptoms remind them of any particular event.

There is no cure for IBS. It is one of those illnesses that may come and go according to what is going on your life, but that doesn’t mean it cannot be treated. Your doctor will often prescribe drugs, but it is important to realize that although these may help to reduce certain symptoms, they may do nothing at all to others and may even make some worse. So you will need to work with your doctor to find out what suits you.

Some drugs are designed to relieve the spasm and pain of IBS. These are called antispamodics. Mebeverine (Colofac) and Alverine (Spasmonal) can be obtained over the counter and are relatively free of side effects. Peppermint oil (Colpermin, Mintec) can also be useful. Hyoscine (Buscopan) and Dicyclomine (Merbentyl) are occasionally used for abdominal pain but can cause dizziness, blurred vision and problems with passing urine.

For diarrhea and incontinence, there are several very effective drugs. They all restores a sense of control and will permit you to be more socially active. Loperamide (Imodium) is the most powerful and has the least side effects because it acts directly on the gut. Codeine phosphate is also effective but causes drowsiness and nausea. Some people prefer it because of its calming effect. Diphenoxylate (Lomotil) also has effects on the brain. IBS diarrhea is often related to food and digestive juices passing through the gut too quickly. Cholestyramine (Questran) is particularly useful especially if you have urgency and incontinence because it stops unabsorbed bile acids irritating the colon. Unfortunately this seems to make the pain worse in some people.

For constipation bulk laxatives tend to be tried first. These include plant fiber extracts such as bran, ispaghula husk (Fybogel, Regulan) and cellulose derivatives (Celevac). They work by retaining fluid in the gut. This makes the bowel contents more bulky and stimulates peristalsis. It helps to take them with extra fluid. Lactulose (Duphalac) is syrup that draws water into the gut and helps to soften and lubricate the stool. All these agents can have the disadvantage of causing more wind, bloating and abdominal pain. More powerful laxatives, such as senna, bisocodyl (Dulcolax) stimulate gastrointestinal peristalsis. They are not generally used for IBS because the powerful contractions can cause severe cramping.

Antidepressants can be effective in some IBS patients, especially when pain is the main feature. The can of course work on the brain to relieve underlying emotional tension and induce a sense of wellbeing, but they also work directly on the gut to reduce spasm. Some, such as Amitryptyline, Notriptyline, Doxepin and Dothiepin, are more useful in people who have diarrhea because they tend to be constipating. The newer drugs such as Prozac and Seroxat are better for people who are constipated because they cause some looseness of the bowel.

Diet may help. A diet rich in fiber is good for constipation. Food intolerance may be treated by judicious avoidance of troublesome foods, but do not cut out too many foods because you may run the risk of nutritional deficiencies. Do request to see a dietitian if you are unsure. Remember that it may be your tense and sensitive gut that is making you intolerant of food.

Unfortunately, many people with IBS find diet and drugs rather disappointing. They may help, but they do not cure. It is vital to think about what might have brought on your symptoms. Then you may be able to treat the problem with simple adjustments to your life style or life situation. Some sessions with a counsellor or therapist may be invaluable to help to give you insight into what may be ‘churning your gut’, but a sympathetic partner or friend may also be able to help you see what is going on.

Complementary therapies can be of great help in IBS. Relaxation techniques, meditation, hypnotherapy and touch therapies (massage, reflexology and healing) can be of great help for some people. Other holistic therapies such as acupuncture and homeopathy may also help some people. All of these therapies treat the person with the illness, and work to restore a sense of confidence and harmony. This reduces the nervous tension on the gut.

Professor Nick Read, M.A., M.D., F.R.C.P., Medical Adviser to the IBS Network.

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How can Natural IBS care help me?

In addition to reflexology and nutritional therapy, I also use:

  • Food allergy testing
  • Relaxation training
  • Meditation
  • Reflexology
  • Reiki
  • Guided imagery to teach you to use your imagination to help ease symptoms
Natural IBS Care in Brighton
Laurel's Treatment Room

Brighton IBS care appointments and fees

I live in Brighton, Sussex where my clinic is based. My fees are £35 per hour (supplements, herbs and tests are extra). If you wish, you can pay in advance using a debit / credit card (here). Evening and Saturday appointments are usually available as well as daytime appointments. If you cancel an appointment without giving twenty-four hours notice, the full fee will be payable.

Booking an IBS care treatment in Brighton

If you would like to find out more about natural IBS care or you would like to book a treatment, please telephone me on 01273 564030 or email me at info@laurelalexander.co.uk

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WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR

You should see your GP if you are experiencing the following symptoms, particularly if they are unexpected or persistent:

  • Abdominal pain before or after meals
  • Persistent feelings of fullness, bloating or flatulence
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Heartburn or regurgitation
  • Pain or difficulty in swallowing
  • Loss of appetite
  • Continuing unexplained weight loss
  • Indigestion developing for the first time in mid or later life
  • Persisting diarrhoea, constipation or any alteration in bowel habit
  • Change in stools especially if they become black, dark red, pale or contain mucus
  • Bleeding when you pass a stool
  • Pain when you pass a stool
  • Feeling that your bowels are not emptying completely
  • Generally feeling tired, lethargic or unwell in association with an abdominal symptoms

Guidelines for early diagnosis of gut problems from the Digestive Disorders Foundation and British Society of Gastroenterology.

 

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