Naturopath Perth: Homeopathy and Naturopathic Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The term irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) covers a range of gastrointestinal symptoms. These include cramps and spasms, abdominal pain and bloating and constipation and/or diarrhoea. Diagnosis is arrived at after the exclusion of coeliac disease (gluten intolerance), lactose intolerance and other more serious pathologies such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

It is known as a functional problem. In other words, no pathological tissue changes are involved, unlike the situation in IBD. Medically, there is no known cause, so the orthodox profession can offer little in the way of solutions. In some food intolerances or allergies play a part, and identifying and removing these foods and improving the diet in general to include more soluble fibre is the main medical approach.

But not all cases involve food sensitivities. In any case we believe in fixing the underlying problem that caused these intolerances in the first place. If not, they can just as easily become sensitive to the things they use to replace these dietary items.

It is a common presentation that affects a large portion of the population to some degree, so IBS  is something that we have a great deal of experience in treating at this Perth naturopathic clinic.  Because we believe the answer lies in treating the person on all levels of the body, mind and emotions, we find we have a lot of success in managing the symptoms and resolving the underlying issues. Most cases improve quickly, within days, and a few months of treatment is often enough to heal the problem completely.

Chronic stress plays a part, and the individual response to life stressors provides us with the key to naturopathic and homeopathic treatments for irritable bowel syndrome. The gastrointestinal system is easily affected by emotional disturbance, and in many patients it is the first area of the body to develop symptoms in response to life’s difficulties.

The homeopathic approach is to identify the patient’s constitutional remedy. That is, the medicine that covers all aspects of the person: their emotional reaction to life events, their mental functioning, their past history and the full spectrum of their physical symptoms. The gut and the central nervous system are intimately connected.

There are many remedies that cover the typical symptoms of IBS: wind and bloating, abdominal cramps and variable symptoms of diarrhoea and constipation; and many of the same remedies also cover a range of IBS symptoms, which can be matched to the case.  The constitutional remedy balances the person on all levels and many patients report feel happier, less anxious and better able to cope with the stresses of life, as well as having their symptoms abate.

However, the exact remedy depends on the full symptom of the patient. This must be determined by a qualified homeopath, and often a series of remedies is needed over several months, depending on symptom changes, before complete resolution is achieved.

Conversely, the health of the bowel affects the whole organism. Dietary factors are important, and a poor diet over time can weaken digestive function and lead to an inadequate stress response, which can further aggravate any existing symptoms, leading to an eventual diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome. At this Perth clinic we provide counsel in naturopathic principles that can aid the individual case of IBS. Often just the inclusion of an IBS-friendly breakfast is enough to make the difference.

The health of the gut is also impacted by the balance of bowel flora. Sometimes supplementation may be necessary, but the underlying reasons for that imbalance need to be addressed. Once again dietary factors are important, but we find a group of homeopathic remedies developed early last century by immunologists Drs Bach and Paterson, known as bowel nosodes, to be invaluable here. These are especially useful where drugs and antibiotics have upset intestinal function.

Our approach is multi-faceted. It is the combination of homeopathic remedies that provide symptomatic relief, together with the constitutional treatment, and in conjunction with naturopathic dietary guidelines that allow us to manage and eventually resolve the majority of cases of irritable bowel syndrome.

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