A naturopathic approach to IBS
IBS is more than a sore stomach. It’s a group of symptoms, like repeated belly pain and changes in bowel movements, without visible damage in the digestive tract. It involves how the gut and brain work together, so a good look at it covers more than food.
If you live with IBS, you know how unpredictable it can be. This post is general information about what IBS is, and how a naturopathic visit can fit alongside your doctor’s care.
What IBS is
Irritable bowel syndrome is a group of symptoms that occur together, including repeated pain in the abdomen and changes in bowel movements, which may be diarrhea, constipation, or both, without any visible signs of damage or disease in the digestive tract.1
It’s now understood as a disorder of gut-brain interaction, meaning it’s related to how the brain and gut work together. This can make the gut more sensitive and change how the muscles of the bowel contract.1
Different patterns
There are three types of IBS, based on the pattern of bowel movements: with constipation, with diarrhea, or with mixed bowel habits. Sometimes it matters for your doctor to know which one you have, because some medicines are only suited to some types.1
Who it affects
Women are up to two times more likely than men to develop IBS, and it’s more common in people under 50.1 A family member with IBS, stressful or difficult life events in childhood, or a severe infection in the digestive tract can increase the chance of having it.1 People with IBS often have other health concerns too, such as anxiety, depression or conditions involving chronic pain.1
What a visit with me looks like
IBS is diagnosed by a doctor, and I’d always encourage you to have new or changing digestive symptoms looked at by your family doctor. Within that, I take time to listen to your whole story: your symptoms, eating, stress, sleep and daily life. Then we talk about what you’d like to try, and I work alongside your doctor, not in place of them. I can’t promise any particular outcome, and nothing here is a treatment plan for you.
If you’d like to talk through your digestive health, you’re welcome to book a visit.
General information, not medical advice for you. Bring questions about your own health to a visit with any clinician you trust.