Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition that causes upset intestines for a long period of time. It is very unpleasant to the sufferer but tends to be harmless and usually does not lead to more serious complaints. The symptoms vary from person to person and from day to day.
There are many possible causes of IBS. For example, there may be a problem with muscles in the intestine, or the intestine may be more sensitive to stretching or movement. The walls of the intestines are lined with layers of muscle that contract and relax as they move food from your stomach through your intestinal tract to your rectum. Normally, these muscles contract and relax in a coordinated rhythm. But if you have irritable bowel syndrome, the contractions are stronger and last longer than normal. Food is forced through your intestines more quickly, causing gas, bloating and diarrhea. In some cases, however, the opposite occurs. Food passage slows, and stools become hard and dry.
In some instances, it occurs after an intestinal infection. This is called postinfectious IBS. There may also be other triggers. Some researchers believe IBS is caused by changes in the nerves that control sensation or muscle contractions in the bowel. Others believe the central nervous system may affect the colon. Stress can worsen IBS. The colon is connected to the brain through nerves of the autonomic nervous system. These nerves become more active during times of stress, and can cause the intestines to squeeze or contract more. People with IBS may have a colon that is over-responsive to these nerves.
Triggers for IBS
Triggers for IBS can range from gas or pressure on your intestines to certain foods, medications or emotions. For example:
Foods- Many people find that their signs and symptoms worsen when they eat certain foods. For instance, chocolate, milk and alcohol might cause constipation or diarrhea. A survey found that almost two out of three people with IBS felt a dietary allergy or intolerance was to blame for their IBS. The role of food allergy or intolerance in irritable bowel syndrome hasn't been well studied. And some researchers suspect that rather than food being a trigger, the actual process of eating may be the trigger because chewing stimulates the colon.
Stress- If you're like most people with IBS, you probably find that your signs and symptoms are worse or more frequent during stressful events, such as a change in your daily routine or family arguments. But while stress may aggravate symptoms, it doesn't cause them.
Role of homeopathy in IBS
Constitutional homeopathy treatment is based on totality of symptoms of the patients. Totality of symptoms means the symptoms which are not only collected from the disease aspect but from other aspect like mental symptoms, physical symptoms, desires aversion all the symptoms from which a homeopath can study the patient as a whole. The medicine selected on totality of symptoms is the constitutional remedy for that patient. That will help to cure the disease for a longer period of time and will make the person healthy as a whole. This type of homeopathy treatment is called the classical or constitutional treatment. In all chronic health disorders including IBS the classical homeopathy treatment help to cure the condition at the root level. But simultaneously it is also highly required to manage the clinical symptoms instantly to give relieve to the patients. There are many homeopathy remedies those have affinity to some specific organs or part of the body. So those remedies can treat the clinical sign and symptoms beautifully within a short time period. This is called clinical homeopathy. In any chronic disease both constitutional and clinical mode of homeopathy treatment gives a better result than other. In IBS there are many remedies that can cover the symptoms very well. The urgency of bowel motion, constipation, frequency of bowel motion, irregular of bowel movement can be well treated with clinical homeopathy and for the long term cure of the ailment the constitutional mode of treatment is required.
Here are some homeopathy remedies that are used for IBS
Bry alb, hydrastis, nux vomica, sulphur, lycopodium, pulsatilla, alumina, antim crude, lac caninum, aloes, thuja, merc sol, carcinocin, platina,
But it is advisable to take any homeopathy medicines under the supervision of any qualified homeopath.
Fiber can be helpful in IBS, because it improves how the intestines work. There are 2 types of fiber: soluble and insoluble. (Soluble means it dissolves in liquid.) Soluble fiber helps both diarrhea and constipation. So it is advisable to eat more fibrous natural fruits and vegetables.
