IBS - Irritable Bowel Syndrome
So many people suffer from an irritable bowel, but do not often seek help and if they do, it is unfortunately treated as an acute condition which it is not. IBS can happen to anyone, although a serious women’s health issue—affecting more women than men and even leading to increased procedures like hysterectomy or ovarian surgery.
IBS is called a functional digestive disorder because it disrupts gut function without any detectable changes in structure—through exam, imaging, or even a microscope. That makes it tricky for doctors to treat because they don’t see anything physically wrong. But anybody with IBS knows that it can tell you how stressful the symptoms can be.
➡️ Gas
➡️ Bloating
➡️ Cramping
➡️ Constipation
➡️ Diarrhea
➡️ Bowel Urgency
➡️ Pain
Here are the basics on IBS
IBS is usually diagnosed by symptoms alone.
Conventional knowledge says that IBS is caused by changes in the function of nerves and muscles that regulate sensation and gut motility.
Even though some medications have been approved to manage IBS symptoms, none of them work for everybody.
Functional medicine looks deeper to understand WHY those functional changes are happening. Because we want to address the root cause.
5 Root Causes of IBS
Do you think you should settle for a diagnosis of IBS and just deal with it?
🤦♀️ I don’t think so.
The only thing an IBS diagnosis tells you is that you have digestive issues that haven’t been explained yet.
📋 With testing and assessments that most conventionally trained doctors aren’t using, we can dig deep to uncover issues that may be contributing to the symptoms of IBS. Here are 5 common root causes underlying IBS to consider:
1️⃣ Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) - Statistics are all over the map on this one, but the most recent data showed that about 35% of people diagnosed with IBS test positive for SIBO. That’s more than 1 in 3.
2️⃣ Gut Infections - Parasites, bacteria, or yeast infections can all disrupt gut health. A Mayo Clinic review found that 1 in 9 people who experience food poisoning go on to develop IBS.
3️⃣ Leaky Gut - ‘Leaky gut’ (not a real medical term) means there’s a breakdown in the barrier of the intestinal lining. It’s linked with inflammation and gut issues.
4️⃣ Food Sensitivities - The most common foods to aggravate IBS are those high in fermentable carbohydrates (FODMAPs), but other foods can trigger problems in specific individuals.
5️⃣ Stress - The gut is undeniably linked to the brain (ever heard of the gut-brain axis?). IBS is commonly linked with anxiety, depression, and high stress.
Could more than one of these issues be going on at the same time? Absolutely ✅
Do we have natural approaches to address each of these underlying causes specifically and uniquely? Yes ✅
Functional medicine excels when it comes to making sense of and improving gut health.
Nutraceutical support for an Irritable Bowel
Dietary changes are powerful for gut health. One of the most common recommendations for people dealing with gas, bloating, or other irritable bowel issues is to follow a low-FODMAP diet.
While we work on sorting out food triggers and dietary changes, we can also support the gut with nutraceuticals. None of this should be taken as medical advice, and it’s always best to work with a healthcare professional. These are simply some of the supplements I’ve seen to be most helpful for gut healing.
🌱 Peppermint Oil
Enteric-coated peppermint is one of the most researched supplements for an irritable bowel. It contains essential oils that ease muscular spasms and intestinal pain.
🌱 Iberogast
Iberogast is a combination of 9 herbs to support gut health. It was originally popular in Europe but is now available worldwide.
🌱 Digestive Enzymes
Digestives enzymes can be supplemented to help process difficult to digest foods and reduce gas and bloating.
🌱 Probiotics
Probiotics are complicated. They can aggravate digestive issues if there is underlying SIBO, and different strains have different effects. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium may offer some benefit.
🌱 Psyllium Fiber
Psyllium is a source of soluble fiber that might benefit irritable bowel issues (be forewarned that some fibers can make issues worse!). Psyllium is recommended by the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology.
Everyone is different! Just because these supplements worked for somebody else doesn’t guarantee they’ll work for you. We like to test for underlying causes and create a customized plan for each person.
Want to work together? Contact me to find out how we can assist.
Belly Breathing for Digestion?
Most people think about belly breathing for relaxation and stress relief. But what about digestion? Belly breathing means contracting the diaphragm to expand the belly and maximize airflow into the lungs. Here’s why it might support digestion:
🧘 It activates the parasympathetic nervous system—a relaxation response that supports digestive function.
🧘 It improves the pressure gradient of the lower esophageal sphincter—which relates to reflux and heartburn.
🧘 It increases the amount the stomach can hold—helpful for those who feel full quickly.
Here’s how it’s done
1️⃣ Sit upright, with knees bent and neck and shoulders relaxed.
2️⃣ The mouth can be slightly opened, even though breathing in will be through the nose.
3️⃣ Place one hand on the chest and one on the abdomen.
4️⃣ Breathe in for 4 seconds through the nose. Try to expand the belly without expanding the chest.
5️⃣ Breathe out slowly for 6 seconds through the mouth. This can be done with pursed lips like using a straw.
Belly breathing is recommended by the American College of Gastroenterology. It can be done before eating, after eating, or any time there is discomfort.
Give it a try, do at least 10 breaths at a time.
References:
https://webfiles.gi.org/links/PCC/Belly-Breathing-handout.pdfStaller KD. Continuing Medical Education Questions: January 2021. Am J Gastroenterol. 2021; 116: 16.Shah A, Talley NJ, Jones M et al. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Case-Control Studies. Am J Gastroenterol. 2020; 115: 190-201. [link]Klem F, Wadhwa A, Prokop LJ et al. Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Outcomes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome After Infectious Enteritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Gastroenterology. 2017; 152: 1042-1054. [link]Black CJ, Yuan Y, Selinger CP et al. Efficacy of soluble fibre, antispasmodic drugs, and gut-brain neuromodulators in irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020; 5: 117-131.Moayyedi P, Andrews CN, MacQueen G et al. Canadian Association of Gastroenterology Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). J Can Assoc Gastroenterol. 2019; 2: 6-29. [link]https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/probiotics-even-inactive-ones-may-relieve-ibs-symptoms-2020062220303