Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

IBS – Irritable bowel syndrome is a common digestive condition that is thought to affect 40% of us at some time in our lives. IBS usually starts before the age of 35 and can be lifelong.

Typical symptoms include

  • Abdominal cramping or stomach pain

  • Bloating

  • Constipation

  • Diarrhoea

  • Excessive flatulence

  • Nausea

  • Presence of mucus in stools

  • Tiredness and lack of energy

These symptoms often come and go and are usually worse after eating and relieved by passing a stool.

My approach to IBS is to look at all aspects of digestive and nervous system health as this is a multi-factorial condition where the causes are different for each person.

The first area to investigate is digestion. Low stomach acid, poor pancreatic juice secretion, or lack of bile can all trigger digestive problems. Food will be insufficiently digested leading to excessive fermentation in the intestines causing bloating, gas, discomfort and irregular stools.

Another common factor in IBS is damage to the delicate intestinal lining where food is absorbed. This can lead to undigested food passing through the barrier and activating the immune system, causing inflammation and pain. Food reactions, gut infections, stress and imbalances in the friendly bacteria in the gut can all cause intestinal damage.

The first step is to confirm that intestinal damage is present through a comprehensive stool test.  It is then a case of finding and tackling the cause and using natural supplements to repair the damage.

Food intolerance testing can also help to identify problem foods which may be contributing to IBS.

Small intestine bacteria overgrowth (SIBO)

One particular imbalance that is very common in IBS is an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine. This leads to a lot of bloating and pain after eating and can trigger diarrhoea. Small intestine bacteria overgrowth (SIBO) can be detected with a specialised breath test. Once identified, I will be able to give you advise on a specific food and supplement protocol to resolve the issue, involving excluding foods that ferment in the intestines for a period of time whilst natural anti-microbials are used to restore bacterial balance.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease. In both cases, the gut becomes chronically inflamed. This interferes with proper digestive function and can lead to poor absorption of nutrients.

In ulcerative colitis, it’s the lining of the large intestine and rectum that is affected. The pattern of inflammation is one continuous area of damaged tissue.

In Crohn’s disease, any part of the digestive tract can be affected from the mouth to the anus. It can affect all the layers of the digestive tract and typically appears as multiple patches of inflamed tissue with areas of healthy tissue in between.

The symptoms can range from mild to severe. Inflammatory bowel disease is often characterised by periods where symptoms are very severe interspersed with periods of no symptoms (remission).

The pattern of symptoms can vary but typically include:

  • Abdominal pain and cramping

  • Anaemia (a reduced level of red blood cells)

  • Diarrhoea (this may contain blood or mucus)

  • Feeling generally unwell or feverish

  • Loss of appetite

  • Nutrient deficiencies

  • Tiredness and fatigue

  • Weight loss

The cause of inflammatory bowel disease isn’t comprehensive. Current understanding is that it arises from a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental triggers such as a course of antibiotics, an intestinal infection, a long course of painkilling medication or anything that significantly changes the balance of the persons gut flora.

Whilst conventional medical treatments focus on medications that suppress inflammation and the immune system, my approach is based on the Functional Medicine model and aims to address the underlying causes of the inflammation, as well as maximising nutrient status, and prolonging periods of remission.

A typical protocol would include:

  • Dietary analysis to identify any foods that may be triggering the inflammation in the intestines.

  • Comprehensive analysis of intestinal microflora to assess for any imbalances. These can then be addressed with a personalised diet and supplement protocol to re-balance the gut flora.

  • Evaluation of nutrient status and a personalised diet and supplement regimen to restore nutrient status.