Irritable Bowel Syndrome & Homeopathic Medicines

CRAMPS, BLOATING AND CHANGES IN BOWEL HABITS MAY POINT TO IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME, SAYS

DR. VIKAS SHARMA

IRRITABLE Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of the intestines that leads to cramps, bloating, and changes in bowel habits. Some people with IBS have constipation while others have diarrhea and experience both intermittently. The cause of IBS is not known. Doctors call it a functional disorder because there is no sign of disease when the colon is examined. IBS causes a great deal of discomfort and distress, but it does not cause permanent harm to the intestines and does not lead to intestinal bleeding of the bowel or to a serious disease such as cancer. Other IBS is just a mild annoyance, but for some people it can be a disabling. The colon (part of large intestine), which is about 6 feet long, connects the small intestine with the rectum and anus. The major function of the colon is to absorb water and salts from digestive products that enter from the small intestine. Two quarts of liquid matter enter the colon from the small intestine each day. This material may remain there for several days until sorbed into the body. The stool then passes through the colon by a pattern of movements to the left side of colon where it is stored until a I bowel movement occurs.

Movements of the colon propel the contents , slowly back and forth but mainly towards the rectum. A few times each day, strong muscle contractions move down the colon pushing fecal material ahead of them. Some of these strong contractions result in a bowel movement. Because doctors have been unable to find an organic cause, IBS often has been thought to be caused by an emotional conflict or stress. While stress may worsen IBS symptoms, research suggests that other factors are also important. Researchers have found that the colon muscle of a person with IBS begins to contract after only mild stimulation. The person with IBS has a colon that is more sensitive and reactive than usual, so it responds strongly to stimuli that would not bother most people. It is important to realize that normal bowel function various from person to person. Normal bowel movements range from as many as three stools a day to as few as three a week. A normal movement is one that is formed but not hard, contains no blood, and is passed without craps or pain. People with IBS, on the other hand, usually have abdominal pain with painful constipation or diarrhea. In some people, constipation and diarrhea alternate. Sometimes people with IBS pass mucus with their bowel movements. Bleeding, ever, weight loss, and persistent server pain are not symptoms of IBS but may indicate other problems.

Ordinary events such as eating and distention from gas or other material in the colon can cause the colon to overreact in the person with IBS. Certain medicines and foods may trigger spasms in some people. Chocolate, milk products, or too much alcohol are frequent offenders.

The potential for abnormal function of the colon is always present in people with IBS, but a trigger also must be present to cause symptoms. The most likely culprits seem to be diet and emotional stress. Many people report that their symptoms occur following a meal or when they are under stress.

Fat in any form (animal or vegetable) is a strong stimulus of colonic contractions after a meal. For many people, eating a proper diet lessens IBS symptoms. Dietary fibre may lessen IBS symptoms in many cases. Whole grain breads and cereals, beans, fruits, and vegetables are good sources of fibre. High-fibre diets keep the colon mildly distended, which may help to prevent spasms from developing.

The conventional system of medicine has practically no treatment but homeopathy does, for it does not treat diseases but humans beings suffering from diseases, thus giving a total cure. As a comprehensive holistic approach to health care, homeopathy is able to offer solution to many of these problems.

Use of Nux Vomica four times a day provides great relief to patients who suffer from cramps followed by little stool many times a day. Aloes Socotring helps when the cramps are followed by varies from sudden loose motions, at times causing the patient to person to person. Normal bowel movements range from soil his clothes before he even reaches the toilet. If the as many as three stools a day to as few as three a week. A problem originates from overeating, try Antimmonium normal movement is one that is formed but not hard, crudum and Pulsatilla. If it is caused by any excitement, contains no blood, and is passed without cramps or pain. the cure lies in Argentum Nitricum and Gelsemium. When loose stools are associated with menses, Bovista dominal pain with painful constipation or diarrhea. In ,and Lachesis prove very helpful. Carbo Veg is indicated some people, constipation and diarrhea alternate. when the abdomen feels bloated immediately after eating. Serious food allergies like milk intolerance and movements. Bleeding, fever, weight loss, and persistent coelic disease (wheat allergy) are curable but require a deep study of the case and should be handed by a professional homeopath.

CURING-IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 141 Comments

ALMOST everyone experiences an occasional bout of abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhoea or constipation. However, if you are having either of these problems very frequently or if it has become chronic, chances are that you may be suffering from the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is one of the most common gastro-intestinal disorders and although it is not a serious one, its impact on one’s life can be tremendous. Chronic and recurring symptoms of IBS can disrupt personal and professional activities, upset emotional well-being and limit individual potential.

IBS or irritable bowel syndrome is not a disease. It is a functional disorder, which means that the bowel (large intestine) is not functioning properly, though physically there is nothing wrong with it. With IBS, the nerves and muscles in the bowel are extra-sensitive. For example, the muscles may contract too much when you eat. These contractions can cause cramping and diarrhoea during or shortly after a meal.

The exact cause of IBS is not known. Symptoms appear to result from a disturbance in the interaction between the gut, the brain, and the nervous system that alters the regulation of the bowel motor or the sensory function. IBS is not caused by stress. However, because of the connection between the brain and the gut, symptoms can be exacerbated or triggered by stress. Certain things like milk and caffeine are also known to have a disturbing effect on IBS patients.

IBS is characterised by abdominal pain or discomfort and the abnormal bowel function, which may include chronic diarrhoea, chronic constipation, or an alternating pattern of both. Patients may feel the sensation of not being able to fully empty their bowels. Other symptoms may include gas formation, bloating as well as nausea.

IBS is a spectrum disorder, which means that there can be a great variety of symptoms and also that their intensity can range from very mild to severe. Primarily, homeopathy is a method where the individual symptoms of patients are given more preference than the labels of the disease and are matched with those of the drug. Thus, treating diseases like IBS with homeopathy in an effective manner becomes easier. However, it may take a while before appreciable results are achieved. One must keep in mind that the goal is not to have a temporary relief but a permanent one.

Homeopathic medicines like Nux Vomica, Colocynth, Aloes, Sulphur, Carbo Veg, China and Lycopodium are among the very effective ones that are often employed by experts for treating irritable bowel syndrome. However, please make sure that such conditions are not treated without the help of a professional homoeopath

Managing IBS

Experiment with fibre

When you have IBS, fibre can be a mixed blessing. Although it helps reduce constipation, it can also lead to diarrhoea, gas formation and cramping worse. The best approach is to gradually increase the amount of fibre in your diet over a period of weeks.

Avoid problem foods

If certain foods make your symptoms worse, don’t eat them. Common culprits include alcohol, chocolate and caffeinated beverages such as coffee and sodas.

Eat at regular times

Don’t skip meals and try to eat about the same time each day to help regulate the bowel function.

Beware of dairy products

They usually are the biggest culprits in IBS. If you’re lactose-intolerant, try substituting yoghurt for milk.

Exercise regularly

Exercise helps relieve depression and stress, stimulates normal contractions of your intestines and can help you feel better

Treatment for IBS

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 102 Comments

Do you frequently suffer from “too much gas” or cramping pain in the abdomen, or from loose stools immediately after you have your meals? Do you get diarrhea and constipation alternatively? Do you get mucus in your stools?

Are you very frequently bothered about by some or all of these symptoms? If so, then there are chances that you might be suffering from a disorder called irritable bowel syndrome or IBS for short. IBS is a functional disorder of the bowel (large intestine). This disorder affects the functioning of the large intestine. Some researchers believe that it affects the nerves controlling the muscles of the bowels. It does not cause any physical changes like inflammation or ulcers in the intestine. It does not also lead to any kind of cancer. Food allergy and stress play a major role in IBS

To understand how IBS affects, it is important to know about the normal functioning of the bowel. Under normal circumstances the muscles in the layers of the walls of the intestine contract and relax in a coordinated rhythm so as to push the digested food to the rectum. But in people who suffer from IBS, these muscles contract for a longer time and with more strength, causing diarrhea or pain. In some cases, reverse of this happens and the movements of the large intestines slow down, thus leading to the slowing of the passage of waste. The ultimate result is constipation with hard and dry stool.

A well-thought-out Homeopathic treatment can work miracles in IBS. Homeopathic medicines treat IBS by using the body’s own innate healing powers, thus making it very effective and completely side-effect-free. Homeopathic medicines Argentum nitricum, Asafoetida, Colocynth, Nux Vomica and Natrum Carb are best known for their great efficacy in curing IBS.

Argentum Nitricum leads the table and is more suited to the sensitive kind of people who at the slightest disturbance of emotions develop a sudden urge to pass stool. This urge to pass stool is usually accompanied by increased flatulence (gas) and strong crampy pains in the abdomen. Asafoetida is more suited for those who suffer from an increased gas problem and their abdomen gets bloated immediately after eating.

Colocynth works miracles to relieve the cramping pains accompanied by diarrhea or flatulence (gas).

IBS AND HOMEOPATHY

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 216 Comments

Treating IBS with Homeopathy Dr. Vikas Sharma

If you have frequent bloating of abdomen, recurrent pain in your belly, and if you get loose stools or get constipated very often; then there are good enough chances that you could be suffering from IBS. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional disorder of the intestines; this means that it does not cause physical changes in your gut, but only affects the functioning of the intestines. Though it is a functional disorder, but it can seriously affect ones quality of life. Homeopathy offers a very effective solution to deal with ibs and can completely eradicate it from the body.

So what exactly is IBS and what causes it? IBS is referred to a condition when one or more of these symptoms are present in an individual. The main symptoms are abdominal pain or cramping, a bloated feeling, Gas (flatulence), Diarrhea or constipation (sometimes alternating with each other) and mucus in the stool .The symptoms in IBS can vary a great deal from an individual to an individual. Mostly IBS affects individual in a mild to moderate way, but in some patients, severity of symptoms can completely jeopardize their day to day life. For most of the people, IBS (when untreated) is a chronic condition although it may vary in intensity from time to time.

Although the cause of IBS is not very clear but it is widely believed that IBS is caused by disturbances in the nerve ending in the wall of the intestines, which control the muscles of the intestinal wall. Under normal circumstances these muscles in the walls of the intestines contract and relax alternatively to push the digested food forwards towards the rectum (terminal part of the intestinal canal). These muscles work in a rhythmic and a coordinated way. But for those who have IBS these muscles start working in an erratic fashion. The muscles may suddenly start contracting in a very strong manner casing the digested food to move out in a very speedily manner leading to diarrhea and cramps. On the other hand if the contractions become slow the bowel movements become constipated. Bloating is thought to be caused by the heightened sensitivity of the intestinal wall. Even small amounts of gas can give a feeling of distension (‘full of gas’ feeling in abdomen) due to the heightened sensitivity when intestinal walls are stretched even slightly by gas.

People suffering from IBS can have their symptoms triggered by external as well as internal factors. External factors are food substances like milk, alcohol eggs carbonated drinks etc. Stress is a major internal factor for triggering and affecting the symptoms of IBS. Trigger factors can hugely vary from an individual to individual.

Homeopathic medicines are very effective in managing and curing IBS. They work by using body’s own restorative abilities to counter the disease thus giving a gentle and a permanent cure .The treatment is best handled by a professional homeopath as choosing the right homeopathic medicine for IBS can be a very challenging job. This is because; homeopathic prescribing in such disorders is dependent upon the physical symptoms as well as the psychological aspect of the patient. Homeopathic medicines that have been found to be most effective in treating IBS are Asafoetida ,Colocynth, Argentum Nitricum ,Nux Vomica , Lycopodium and Carbo Vegetablis .