Do you suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome? This diagnosis is after all just a description which tells us that there is excessive gas and uncoordinated peristaltic movement of the intestine. But the real question is why to people develop IBS. In our experience, we have found that IBS can have several causes, and very often all at once. The main problem seems to be worry and anxiety – worry guts. This can be difficult to identify because in some people the effect of stress goes straight to their stomach and they don’t even register it mentally. Often in these cases, the person cannot adequately secrete digestive enzymes because they are in the Freeze, Fight or Flight state which switches off the digestive system. Without adequate digestive enzymes to break down the food and also kill ingested bacteria, the food begins to ferment, producing gas and bloating. The fermenting food feeds unfriendly bacteria and their toxins leach back into the blood stream, giving the person toxic overload. Often I hear my patients tell me that they feel poisoned (mildly of course), with symptoms of headaches, lethargy, and eyes that do not look clear. When people feel tired all the time, they might use sugar or caffeine to boost their energy, but this can lead to yeast over growth in their intestines, which compounds the symptoms of bloating, fatigue and brain fog. Antibiotics or stomach infections can also disrupt the gut flora again leading to IBS type symptoms. What can you do at home? Cinnamon, thyme and oregano kill unfriendly bacteria and yeasts. Fennel and caraway seeds, and chamomile help to soothe gut spasms and cramps. Lemon balm and lavender help to calm the mind. Ginger will help to warm the stomach and encourage the secretion of digestive enzymes, and of course, good quality probiotics are always very helpful. These kitchen herbs can safely be turned into a herbal tea to calm an irritable digestive system, but if you feel that you need a deeper insight, you might like a consultation with one of us. During the consultation we will work towards uncovering the underlying cause of the IBS, and possibly even suggesting a Digestive and Stool Analysis Test which will show if there are gut parasites, Candida, the levels of friendly bacteria, if you are adequately secreting digestive enzymes, or if there is inflammation, blood or mucus in the stool.
Posted on: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 09:34:08 +0000
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