Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and How Kinesiology Can Help

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is becoming increasing common, it seems like everyone has either experienced it, or is struggling with it now.

No one is immune and the triggers for everyone are completely different. Have you ever noticed how the advice from one person is different to another? They are not trying to mislead, they are simply sharing what worked for them, or those that they help. The trouble is we are all unique and individual in our make up so, what works for one person, will not always work for another.

My hope is that after reading this post you will have a better idea of things that you could consider in terms of achieving better digestive health. I am a strong believer in sharing resources and information and so I would like to share the typical things that come up for my clients. The information is based on what else could be going on in the digestive tract, supplements to consider and the emotional aspects of health.

Please remember that I am not a doctor and that Kinesiology is a complementary approach to health.  It gives some simple food for thought and may prompt some interesting and productive conversations with your doctor.

Symptoms of poor digestive health are very different for everyone. Not only does it depend on the individual, it also depends on the particular health challenge you are facing. The most common symptoms that I hear about and see as a Kinesiologist are; diarrhoea, constipation, cramps, anxiety, stress, anger, irritation, feeling tired and being very emotional.

Having one or two of these symptoms can really affect our general well being, but there are some who experience nearly every symptom listed and for them each day can be a real struggle. I don’t believe that people should have to live like that and this is why I am so passionate about providing people with support and resources to consider.

It is very common for people to visit the doctor with digestive health symptoms and to come away with a label of IBS. They try and follow any advice they can find from books, support groups and the internet, only to discover that nothing is working for them. Sound familiar?

I often find that what has been labelled as IBS, is in fact something very different. The following will increase your own awareness and give you the confidence to raise the questions with your doctor.

• Parasites – they can cause diarrhoea and tummy pain so it’s very easy to think it might be IBS. Having parasites does not mean you are dirty. They are everywhere, and even if you have the cleanest house in the world you can still pick up parasites when in contact with children, eating out or travelling aboard.
• Overgrowth of fungus – we all have a yeast organism called Candida Albicans in our gut. Problems can occur however, when it starts to multiply and affect the flora balance. There are so many things that could play a part in this, but common triggers are having too much sugar in the diet, not getting the nutrients you need, a weak immune system, or a course of antibiotics. You may experience symptoms such as bowel problems, food sensitivities, thrush, muscle aches and pains and it can also affect your mood.
• Imbalance of gut bacteria – an imbalance of the gut flora, i.e. more bad bacteria than good bacteria, can lead to a multitude of symptoms, including but not limited to bloating, indigestion, general discomfort and feeling unwell, and food sensitivities.

This is an important area to consider and could be a very simple solution to your symptoms.

• Digestive Enzymes – it is very common to be deficient in the enzymes required to break down the carbohydrates, proteins and fats that we consume. Without this additional support indigestion, bloating and wind are very common. Low digestive enzymes being released from the pancreas can also be part of the reason for loose stools.
• Hydrochloric Acid  – some people have low stomach acid levels and this can make it difficult to break down and digest proteins, as well as kill off hazardous bacteria that we consume through our food. Often the symptoms of high and low stomach acid levels are the same, so reaching for acid reducing support, can in fact make your symptoms worse. Low stomach acids levels can be experienced as constipation, diarrhoea, heartburn, indigestion, bloating, wind, feeling sick, bad breath and discomfort in the chest area (burning type feeling).
• Probiotics – good gut bacteria is essential to ensure there is the right balance of flora in the gut. It will help to keep the yeast organism Candia Albicans under control and all of the nasty symptoms associated with an over growth of fungus.  It will also support the body in digesting lactose, supporting the immune system, controlling the growth of parasites and it helps with moving everything through the intestinal tract.
• Vit B complex  – many of the B vitamins play a supporting role in the digestion and absorption of food.
• Magnesium – has a calming affect for muscular aches and pains as well as helping with gut flora.
• Zinc – a deficiency in zinc can lead to low stomach acid levels.

There is no doubt that certain foods trigger symptoms in people – I include myself in that. But when you find that the list of foods is becoming increasingly long, there is a strong possibility that there is something else going on in the gut. I was becoming increasingly frustrated at the growing list of foods I could no longer eat, especially as many were considered safe foods for IBS sufferers.

The more reading I did into Leaky Gut (permeability of the gut lining) the more I realised how important this was to my general wellbeing. Essentially this is where food particles that have not been completely digested pass through the gut into the blood. It causes the body to treat the food particle as an invader and hence it sends its internal army to go and attack the particle rather than digest it.

Once I avoided the foods that were my main triggers and I started taking supplements to restore balance in my body, I felt like a new person. The symptoms disappeared! I know that sounds impossible, unbelievable and too good to be true, but it really was as simple as that.

I made a commitment to follow the diet that worked for me, take the supplements that I needed and finally to take whatever self-care was required to get my life back on track.

Emotions, stress and anxiety can play a huge role in our digestive health. I am a big believer in the mind, body connection and along with others who have digestive health challenges; I am hugely affected by stress.

It is very easy to focus our time, energy and money on things like diet, exercise and supplements. We can physically see these things and we know we are making changes to try and gain some kind of control over our health.

Stress, anxiety and our emotions often get pushed to the bottom of the pile. We think that we should be able to cope, that it’s not that big of a deal and that spending money to talk with someone is a complete waste of financial resources.

What if this was the very thing that could help you?

There is nothing wrong with admitting that you need someone to be there for you, listen to you and to help you move forward in life. I am always in awe of the person who is brave enough to reach out, be vulnerable and admit they need help.

Ask yourself honestly how much time and consideration do you give to your own self-care? Perhaps you consider self-care to be selfish, unnecessary and quite frankly a waste of time, especially when so many other things have to be done?

Here are some ideas for self-care and to help with anxiety, stress and low mood:

• Have at least 7 hours sleep a night
• Drink at least 1.5 litres of water every day. This helps to relieve the discomfort of constipation and to rid the body of toxins.
• Take care over what you eat, i.e. eat right for you!
• Listen to your body and stop if you need to
• Meditate
• Try Yoga or Tai chi
• Take regular exercise, even if just walking in the fresh air
• Connect with family and friends
• Be clear on your personal boundaries and don’t be afraid to articulate these to people. We often have loose boundaries because we want to please people and we are afraid of conflict. The next time you are with someone and you can feel anxiety, anger, resentment or a shift in your energy, consider what is going on. What are they saying or doing that does not sit well with you.

The one thing I have learnt over the years is that illness is our body’s way of trying to get our attention. Physical symptoms and aliments are a clear sign that something is out of balance and needs addressing.

What niggling aches or pains are you ignoring or have simply accepted as part of your life?

If you have reached a point in life where you want to improve your health and really live the life you deserve, please do get in contact. I currently offer Kinesiology in Dorset, covering Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch.

Kinesiology and Coaching has changed my life and my health and I will always be grateful that they found me!