October 2011 - IBS

In This Issue:
**Irritable Bowel Syndrome
*The Spleen-Stress Connection
*Allergy Related IBS
**Thanks for Tuning In! Book On-line Anytime!
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome has become an epidemic in our country. In the US alone it is estimated that 10-15% of people suffer from IBS making it the most common gastrointestinal disorder. It was a battle with IBS that brought me to acupuncture. It is an illness I feel especially strong about treating and one that is close to my heart.

The causes of IBS can be varied, and not always clearly understood by western medicine. Stress related IBS and food allergy related IBS are the most common recognized triggers though IBS can "hit" with no noticeable trigger at all. IBS itself is a functional problem - the large intestine will spasm and tighten which disrupts peristalsis (the normal motility of the intestines) causing pain, bloating, discomfort, bowel irregularities and even malnutrition in extreme cases.

There are western medicines available, but if you can identify and treat the cause - such as stress or allergies - you can go a long way to alleviating or even eliminating symptoms. In some cases, Chinese medicine can be completely curative using a combination of herbs and acupuncture. After suffering daily for 5 years with no help from western medicine myelf (pharmaceuticals had not yet been developed for IBS at that time), I went to see an acupuncturist and after 3 months of weekly acupuncture and daily bulk herbal treatments, my symptoms completely abated.

In Chinese medicine there can be many different causes for IBS - internal dampness, damp heat in the large intestine, a spleen qi deficiency or weakness, liver qi stagnation - the list goes on and on, but there is always an identifiable energetic cause. The energetic cause determines your course of treatment

The Spleen-Stress Connection
The most common energetic cause for IBS in the US is a very straighforward syndrome called Liver Overacting Spleen. The Liver is energetically responsible for smoothing the digestion, smoothing the emotions and moving or coursing Qi through the body. As the Wood element, it thrives on constant movement, change and growth. The Spleen governs digestion and is responsible for taking the water that you drink and the food that you eat and turning it into energy for your body to use. It represents the Earth element. The Liver is especially sensitive to stress - when you become stressed out your Qi can't move and course as well, the Liver becomes constrained or congested by the "traffic jam" and it begins to back up and generate heat. Due to a specific relationship between the Spleen and the Liver, when the Liver gets backed up, it dumps the excess on the Spleen - attacking or overacting upon it - which impairs the Spleen's function and can cause IBS symptoms. Ever get really stressed and have bowel changes before a test or big event? THAT is the classic Liver Overacting Spleen scenario.

Coursing the Liver Qi and tonifying the Spleen with acupuncture and Chinese herbs is highly effective for this type of IBS syndrome.

Allergy Related IBS
Food allergies are the other major identified cause of irritable bowel syndrome. Most common allergenic offenders are Wheat (gluten), Soy, Eggs, Dairy and Corn. These can cause much more than just IBS type symptoms including everything from general malaise and fatigue to body aches and pains, congestion and seasonal allergy type symptoms and more. The best way to identify if one of these foods is a trigger is to pursue an Elimination Diet which is a two month course of eating simple foods and then testing yourself by eating the possible offenders one by one and seeing what happens. If and or when you identify an allergen, you cut it out of your diet for at least 6 months to give your body time to recover and then you can try it again and see how you do. Food allergies and sensitivities can change over time if you give your body enough of a break so even thought it is tough, it is worth it to try.

In Chinese medicine food allergies are most commonly caused by a Spleen Qi Deficiency. Sometimes we can tonify the Spleen Qi enough to eliminate the allergy, though you still need to avoid the allergen during tonification to give your Spleen a chance to heal. There are also a number of accessory Acupuncture treatments such as AAT and NAET that are said to completely cure allergies with acupuncture or acupressure alone. While I am not certified in these therapies, I can tell you more and direct you to practitioners who are.

Thanks for Tuning In!
As usual thanks again for tuning in! If you are interested in more information please don't hesitate to call or book on-line. Free 15 minute consultations in person or over the phone are always available which you can book via phone at (503)445-8888 or on-line as well if you have more specific questions.

Looking forward to seeing you!
~Rebecca