Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects millions of people worldwide, with around two-thirds of sufferers being female and most of them under the age of 50. IBS is a syndrome of imbalances, and while the root cause is not yet known, the symptoms are often triggered by diet and stress. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can help rebalance the issues causing IBS.
Common IBS symptoms
IBS results from an abnormal condition of the intestinal tract, and common symptoms include abdominal bloating and gassiness, chronic abdominal pain and discomfort, irregular bowel movements, difficulty passing stools, urgency, and a feeling of bowel movements being “incomplete.”
IBS according to TCM
TCM attributes several “patterns of imbalance” as the root cause of IBS symptoms. Sets of symptoms determine these patterns and are treated with different patent herbal formulas. In terms of mental-emotional causes, TCM identifies several syndromes, including liver qi stagnation, liver qi invading the spleen, and liver qi stagnation with food or damp stagnation in the intestines.
Herbal formulas
Chinese patent herbal formulas can help alleviate IBS symptoms. For example, Chai Hu Shu Gan Wan (Bupleurum Soothe Liver Teapills) can help address liver qi stagnation, while Tong Xie Yao Feng Wan (Calm Wind Tea pills) may be suitable for liver qi invading the spleen, and Mu Xiang Shun Qi Wan (Saussurea Qi Promoting Pills) can help liver qi stagnation with food or damp stagnation in the intestines.
Stress reduction
Stress can trigger and exacerbate IBS, so learning to manage it is crucial for symptom relief and prevention. Some natural stress reduction techniques include:
- Set priorities: Don’t try to do more than you can, and don’t feel guilty about delaying new work or commitments.
- Reframe: Adopt a reframing skill from programs like NLP or the Sedona Method to help handle stress associated with your personal and professional life. This involves tackling doubts, fears, anxieties, and other psychological issues.
- Exercise: Sign up for yoga classes, Pilates, qigong, or tai chi to help align mind, body, and spirit.
- Relax: Engage in meditation or other deep relaxation practices every evening. The body metabolizes stress hormones during rest and sleep, so relaxing the mind and body before sleep can offer an even stronger “sleep repair” and stress release.
- Get out of your rut: Take a break or vacation to unwind. Even a staycation can help you get back to your personal life and reduce the pressures of daily stress.
Although IBS symptoms are uncomfortable, they don’t cause underlying changes in bowel tissue or increase cancer risk. This makes IBS an illness rather than a disease (such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease) and provides psychological relief from possible outcomes.
IBS can be treated naturally, and many methods can be easily incorporated into your lifestyle. In addition to Chinese herbals and stress relief, diet and supplements can help reduce and prevent IBS symptoms.
