IBS Cure with Homeopathy & Bach Flower Therapy

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), also called as functional bowel syndrome or irritable colon or spastic bowel/colon, is the most common chronic gastrointestinal ailment presented to a physician. It is characterized by changes in the bowel motility, bloating and abdominal pain, in the absence of any identifiable physical disorder.

IBS is the seventh most common disease among all the out-patient diseases. In USA alone, there are around 35 million medical visits annually, due to IBS. Apart from the prevalence, it results in a huge loss of working days, with an economic loss of almost 40 billion dollars within a year.

IBS not only interferes with the work, but also can disturb your social life and your relationships with friends & family. One may feel discouraged and depressed, due to the social limitations and embarrassment, for many. Avoiding certain food items can also make one malnourished due to losing sources of few essential nutrients.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION:

The common symptoms of IBS are as follows:

• Bloating and gas
• Constipation and/or diarrhea with urgency; especially after eating
• Mucus in the stool
• Persistent feeling of incomplete evacuation of the bowels
• Abdominal pain and cramping, associated with a strong urge for a bowel movement.

Patients are classified as per the predominant bowel pattern into: constipation-predominant (C-IBS), diarrhea-predominant (D-IBS), and alternating diarrhea-constipation (A-IBS). Statistical analysis shows psychological causes leading mostly in diarrhea-predominant IBS.

THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY:

The walls of our intestines are lined with muscle layers, that contract and relax in a harmonic fashion, pushing the food (only) forwards; this is known as peristalsis. In case of IBS, the contractions get stronger, last longer than normal and can be erratic, thus hampering the uniform pushing of the intestinal contents. If the process gets hastened, the food is forced more quickly; it reduces its time to get digested, causing gas, bloating and indigestion. If it gets slowed down, the stool becomes hard and dry causing constipation.

HOW TO DIAGNOSE IT:

Since there are no identifiable physical signs, the diagnosis is predominantly based on the clinical history. According to the ROME criteria, a diagnosis of IBS can be established if patient has abdominal pain and discomfort for at least 12 weeks, with at least two of the following:

• A change in the frequency or consistency of stool
• Straining, urgency or a feeling of incomplete evacuation
• Mucus in the stool

CAUSATIVE FACTORS:

No definitive cause has been established as yet; though, decreased threshold to pain and psychosocial factors are considered as the significant factors responsible. Frequently the symptoms get worse while under stress, on tour or preparing for a meeting. In few patients, there is an aggravation on slightest change in the daily routine. Some are bothered by certain foods, while female patients may experience an uphill in the intensity of symptoms around menstrual cycle.

IBS PERSONALITY:

Based on the clinical interviews, patients with IBS had maximum level of anxiety, depression and social phobias. On personal levels, the most common situations were – not being satisfied with life, familial and sexual problems, and difficulties with the authorities.
The five-factor model of personality defines personality traits in terms of five basic dimensions: Extraversion (talkative, assertive and active), Agreeableness (kind, trustworthy and warmth), Conscientiousness (organized, thorough and reliable), Neuroticism (nervous, moody and temperamental), and Openness to experience (imaginative, curious and creative).
Psychologists have tried to explore whether any specific personality traits can be linked with IBS through a clinical study. In that, C-IBS patients scored higher on neuroticism and conscientiousness. Neuroticism is a function of activity in the limbic system, and research suggests that people who score high on neuroticism have a more reactive sympathetic nervous system, and are more sensitive to environmental stimulation. Conscientiousness was associated with sensitivity to ridicule, feeling of inferiority, and obsession with perfection or control.

TREATMENT:

Being a gastric ailment linked with the personality characteristics, there are two major parts of the treatment: DRUG therapies to alleviate the symptoms and NON-DRUG therapies for the personality traits so as to handle the stress and dietetic modifications.

NON-DRUG THERAPY OPTIONS:

These are the options to deal with personality traits that are the precipitating as well as maintaining factors for IBS pathophysiology.

1. Counseling: A psychologist or psychiatrist can help to reduce stress by looking at how you respond to events and then working with you to modify or change that response.
2. Deep breathing: Most adults breathe from their chests. But you become calmer when you breathe from your diaphragm, the muscle that separates your chest from your abdomen. When you inhale, allow your belly to expand. When you exhale, your belly naturally contracts. Deep breathing can also help relax your abdominal muscles, which may lead to more-normal bowel activity.
3. Relaxation techniques: Progressive relaxation exercises help you relax muscles in your body, one by one. Start by tightening the muscles in your feet, then concentrate on slowly letting all of the tension go. Next, tighten and relax your calves. Continue until the muscles in your body, including those in your eyes and scalp, are relaxed. Set aside at least 20 minutes a day for any activity you find relaxing – listening to music, reading, playing computer games or just soaking in a warm bath.
4. Food: Ideally, one should consult a dietician to plan a diet customized to your health needs. Fiber can be a mixed blessing. Although it helps reduce constipation, it can also make gas and cramping worse. The best approach is to gradually increase the amount of fiber in your diet over a period of weeks. Avoid problem foods. If certain foods make your signs and symptoms worse, don’t eat them. Common culprits include alcohol, chocolate, caffeinated beverages such as coffee and sodas, dairy products, and sugar-free sweeteners. If gas is a problem for you, foods that might make symptoms worse include beans, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli. Fatty foods may also be a problem for some people. Chewing gum or drinking through a straw can lead to air swallowing, causing more gas. Eat slowly and have meals in a quiet, relaxing environment. Eat at regular times. Don’t skip meals, and try to eat about the same time each day to help regulate bowel function. If you have diarrhea, you may find that eating small, frequent meals makes you feel better. But if you’re constipated, eating larger amounts of high-fiber foods may help move food through your intestines. Drink plenty of liquids. Try to drink plenty of fluids every day. Water is best. Alcohol and beverages that contain caffeine stimulate your intestines and can make diarrhea worse, and carbonated drinks can produce gas.
5. Exercise: Exercise helps relieve depression and stress, stimulates normal contractions of your intestines and can help you feel better about yourself. If you’ve been inactive, start slowly and gradually increase the amount of time you exercise. If you have other medical problems, check with your doctor before starting an exercise program.
6. Herbs: Mint (pudina leaves) is a natural antispasmodic that relaxes smooth muscles in the intestines. Study results haven’t been consistently encouraging, but if you’d like to try peppermint, be sure to use enteric-coated capsules (like PudinHara). Peppermint may aggravate heartburn.
7. Probiotics: Probiotics are “good” bacteria that normally live in your intestines and are found in certain foods, such as yogurt, and in dietary supplements. It’s been suggested that people with irritable bowel syndrome may not have enough good bacteria, and that adding probiotics to your diet may help ease your symptoms.

DRUGS:

The primary drug groups are: Antispasmodics, Laxatives (C-IBS), Serotonin-agonists (C-IBS), Serotonin-antagonists (D-IBS) for IBS complaints. Along with that, anti-depressants and/or anti-anxiety medications can be prescribed if needed.

HOMEOPATHY & BACH FLOWER THERAPY FOR IBS:

Homeopathic treatment is based on individualistic treatment of ‘the patient’, instead of treating the organs or systems. Thus it aims at treating the root-cause by assessing the constitution of the patient, determined by a psycho-somatic analysis of the individual. Thus a well-selected constitutional deep-acting medicine would be the backbone of homeopathic treatment, aided by drugs like arg-nitr, gels, arsenic alb, aloe or nux vomica during the acute exacerbation.

Bach Flower Therapy aims at handling the emotional reaction pattern of the individual, leading to a more balanced or composed handling of the stressful situations. The remedies create positive vibrations against the unresolved negative feelings, which are usually the root-cause of the stress reactions, thus acting as a preventive therapy against the stressors that can trigger distress in future. Though, almost any of the thirty-eight Bach flower remedies can be used (as per the individual emotional need) in the cases of IBS, here are few very commonly prescribed remedies in my experience:

Aspen [anxiety], Cherry plum [control], Rock rose [panic], Mimulus [fear & embarrassment] and Pine [guilt] have been used as ‘Type Remedies’ in majority of IBS patients. These remedies are selected as per the basic temperament of the individual.

Apart from these, Larch [confidence], Gentian [setback], Beech [perfection] and Impatience [patience] have been used as ‘Helper remedies’, leading not only to a drastic relief in the IBS symptomatology but also a significant modification in the temperament and reaction-pattern of the patient.

Thus Bach flower remedies have offered both curative and preventive care for the patients of IBS.