Diseases

• Symptoms of IBS vary from patient to patient depending upon their respective sensitivity.  Symptoms include pain or discomfort in the abdomen along with the change in bowel habits like the number of stools per day and consistency of stools.
• IBS is a benign disease affecting the functions of the body without any structural changes. Hence it is called a functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder. IBS is a term used to describe a group of symptoms that affect large intestine without any known cause. IBS is more common in women.
• IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome is different from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) which consists of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. IBD can cause structural changes and is a progressive disease whereas IBS is functional, and does no harm structurally.
• Common symptoms of IBS are mild abdominal pain and cramping which gets better after passing stools, bloating and gas, constipation and/or diarrhea,  a sudden and constant urge to go pass the stools.
• IBS symptoms vary from person to person. A person may have some or all of the symptoms listed above. In some people, symptoms may be severe enough to affect daily routine life.
• Homeopathy can turn out to be a boon for IBS patients. Homeopathic medicines are very effective in controlling all the series of symptoms of IBS without any side effects.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Causes of IBS

• The exact cause of IBS is unknown but it is considered as the disease of the gut or digestive tract.
• For easy explanation, it can be said that the affected person's gut or digestive tract becomes more sensitive. Because of this sensitivity, a person experiences pain originating from the digestive tract. Due to increased sensitivity food passes either slowly or too quickly causing constipation or diarrhea respectively.
• So the causes may be considered as slow or overactivity of the digestive tract muscles and nerves, sensitivity or intolerance to certain foods, infection of the digestive tract, decreased pain threshold.   
• Emotional stress plays a very important role in developing and worsening IBS symptoms. Stress may be in the form of frustration, anger, disappointments, etc.

Common symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

• Pain or discomfort is the main disturbing symptom which is commonly relieved after passing stools or gas but the empty feeling remains. The patient feels like stools are not cleared completely and constant urge to defecate is present.
• The fullness of the abdomen often feeling like cramp-like pain
• Alternate diarrhea and constipation are experienced in many patients. A stool with mucus is a common symptom. The urgency to use the toilet is a distressing symptom often leading patients to remain indoors.
• Along with these symptoms, a person always feels tired or lifeless. Few people complain of cramps and loss of appetite.
• Blood with stools is rarely seen in IBS patients and it never develops into other structural diseases.
• IBS symptoms are experienced over a period of time lasting for a few days to months at a time usually aggravated by stress or after eating a certain food. It is a chronic disease lasting for years consisting of flare-ups and remissions. It is an unpredictable disease where a person may be symptom-free for months together and suddenly gets a relapse.

How to Deal With an IBS Attack (Help Yourself)

The best way to control IBS is to make lifestyle and dietary changes. Try all of the following procedures and see for yourself which works for you.

Try and identify the food items that increases or causes the symptoms. Avoid those food items.
Take small meals at regular intervals consisting of less fiber. Do not eat hurriedly.

• People who are often constipated may benefit from an increase in fiber intake in the diet. This will help to soften the stool and make it easier.
• Exercise on daily basis.
• Take plenty of water daily.
• Try and reduce stress levels. Yoga may help.
• Stop smoking or consumption of alcohol.
• Restrict consumption of tea, coffee, and soft drinks.

Take professional help on time as it will help you lead full active and normal life.

IBS is a long-term problem having symptom free period as well as flare-ups, based on your lifestyle and dietary habits. IBS does not require surgery, and it does not shorten the life of a person. People suffering from IBS need to take doctors help and learn how to manage it.

People suffering from IBS need to keep patience while on treatment as it may require long-term management.

How is Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) diagnosed?

There are no specific tests that can detect IBS. Routine tests such as urine and/or stool tests are required to rule out other diseases. It is always good to perform a colonoscopy and/or X-ray of lower gastrointestinal tract before making a diagnosis of IBS to rule out other major diseases.

To diagnose IBS symptomatically a physician looks for following symptoms and a specific pattern of symptoms.

• Bloating or heaviness in the stomach with pain or tender spots.
• Having symptoms for six months or more.
• Pain in the abdomen for at least three to four times a month for at least three months or more.
• Pain in the abdomen that is better after passing stools.
•  How frequently a person goes for stools and character of stools be it semisolid or loose or hard. etc.
• All of the above criteria is kept in mind before making a diagnosis of IBS.

Homeopathic treatment for IBS

• Homeopathy can turn out to be a boon for IBS patients. Homeopathic medicines are very effective in controlling all the series of symptoms of IBS without any side effects.
• Homeopathy treats the disease at the root level hence treating the basic causes of sensitivity. Homeopathic medicines help in checking the stress levels by removing the constitutional blocks in different individuals.
• Homeopathic medicines are selected on the basis of an individual case study where a detailed life space of the person is studied to figure out the basic cause of IBS. Homeopathic medicines work on the sensitivity thereby improving the symptoms.
• To summarize the things, homeopathy can control all the symptoms of IBS thereby improving the quality of life. It treats the presenting symptoms, controls the relapses and enhances the body’s immunity.
• Homeopathic treatment is strongly recommended in all the cases of IBS.