Last Updated on August 21, 2020
About nine to eleven percent of the people in western countries suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Based on my years of practice, I think there are a number of factors that contribute to IBS symptoms.
I’ve worked with IBS patients now for many years. Some of them experience abdominal pain so bad it’s debilitating, and they can barely work. They can barely move.
Not all IBS patients have abdominal pain, but many do. The pain can range from mild to incapacitating.
A study conducted at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia, found that people with IBS have itch receptors in their small bowel that are particularly activated in the presence of IBS. When these receptors are activated, they can trigger pain. These receptors are trigger-happy in some people, although research is still ongoing to determine what does and doesn’t activate these itch receptors.
Further readings:
- What Is The Connection Between Leaky Gut And GERD?
- How Your Gut Flora Can Improve Your Health
- CanXida Products For The Treatment Of GERD
- What Is The Connection Between SIBO And GERD?
When someone has IBS for a long time, there is a reconfiguration of the neuronal pathways in the gut.
There are many causes of IBS. I don’t believe that we can lay all the blame on the reconfigured neurons.
What are the possible causes of neuronal dysfunction in the gut? Every time I’ve had my IBS clients do a comprehensive stool analysis, I have found something out of order. It could be bacterial overgrowth, it could be yeast or parasites, and sometimes it’s all three.
If you have IBS, I suggest having a comprehensive assessment of your GI tract by a gastroenterologist. Then, go to a naturopath or functional medicine doctor and get a stool test. See if you have SIBO or small intestinal fungal overgrowth (SIFO).
Next, treat the abnormalities in your gut. Clean up your diet and work on your stress. Once you’ve done all that, reassess your IBS symptoms, including abdominal pain.
if you have got Irritable Bowel Syndrome, find the cause. And if you can’t find the cause, maybe you can mitigate the symptoms. Over time, most of the IBS patients I’ve worked with have had a significant reduction in symptoms.
Look at the cause. Identify it, treat it. It makes a big difference.
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