Can IBS go away?
IBS is considered to be a 'chronic' or long-term condition and it's often stated that there is no 'cure'. However, whilst there is no recognised universal cure, diet and lifestyle approaches can often be put in place to help manage the condition, and these may be especially successful when they are individually tailored.
Can IBS be cured?
Perhaps you have read online or been told by your doctor that there is no 'cure' for IBS. Understandably, this can be quite disheartening for those affected. You may have been left without a proper explanation of what this actually means, and could be feeling a little confused, and without much direction in terms of how to manage your symptoms going forward.
What is the cause?
Part of the reason a universal cure for IBS isn't recognised is that the underlying causes can be quite variable. Therefore, with a number of different causes, the treatment approach can vary across different people.
There may also be a number of underlying causes, meaning the best course of action in terms of management is a multi-disciplinary approach. Again, this makes it highly variable and more likely that different people will respond best to different treatment options, based on their own individual set of symptoms and likely underlying causes.
What are the symptoms of IBS?
As I've said, the symptoms of IBS can be quite individual, although there is quite often a degree of overlap. It's important to remember how IBS is diagnosed too. IBS is generally diagnosed when other more serious digestive disorders are ruled out, such as the Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBDs); Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
Then, once these are ruled out, and there is considered to be no significant inflammation present in the gut, but a collection of digestive symptoms still remain, then the diagnosis of IBS is often made. The symptoms of IBS may include some of the following:
- Bloating
- Abdominal discomfort, cramping or pain that may resolve after a trip to the loo
- Flatulence
- Irregular bowel habits
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Alternating bouts of both constipation and diarrhoea
How can IBS be managed?
For the most successful management of IBS, some of the likely causes must first be considered. These can include the following:
- Inadequate digestion
- Stress, anxiety and/or other mental health symptoms
- Dysbiosis or an imbalance in good gut bacteria
- Certain foods (although, these are often considered to be triggers, rather than 'causes,' often as a result of some of the other compromising factors as mentioned above).
Then, taking these factors into consideration, a better management plan can often be set out, including some or all of the following steps:
1. Give attention to how you eat and drink throughout the day
How we eat is arguably as important as what we eat when it comes to managing IBS. We should be aiming to eat slowly and mindfully with minimum distractions, as well as focussing on chewing properly – that is, at least 20 times per mouthful.
Drinks should prioritise water, as any artificial sweeteners, sugar, alcohol or caffeine could heighten your symptoms – use fresh herbs or fruit slices for flavour instead. Another tip is to drink separately from your meals in order to help keep your gastric secretions sufficiently strong.
2. Move gently, manage stress and sleep better
Stress management is another major treatment area when it comes to IBS. Moving little, but often (and not too strenuously!) can help manage stress, as can other stress management techniques.
Adequate sleep is also important, as this is a crucial period where your digestive system can process, restore and rejuvenate. Taking a rest from eating in the evening and during the night can also maximise the healing powers of sleep by giving your digestive system further time to rest.
3. Soothe initially
Depending on your symptoms, if you need a source of digestive calm (symptoms might include acid reflux, heartburn, diarrhoea or cramps), then a course of Silicol Gel® can often be helpful initially, to help encourage healing of the gut.
Silicol Gel® can help to create a protective lining throughout the length of the digestive tract, and gently works to eliminate any noxious substances or unfriendly bacteria.
4. Introduce bitter herbs
Once your system has sufficiently calmed, introducing bitter herbs can help to gently stimulate your stomach into action. Low stomach acid can often be a symptom or an underlying factor involved in the presentation of IBS symptoms.
Start your meals with a bitter dietary element such as salad leaves including chicory, endive, Lamb's lettuce or rocket; or instead, you could take 20-30 drops of a herbal bitters tincture such as our Yarrow bitters Complex.
5. Rebalance with a prebiotic
Once you've supported your stomach and working of the small intestine, you could then turn your attention to the balance of bacteria that exist in the large intestine.
Molkosan rich in L+ lactic acid can be taken daily in order to help support the internal environment of the gut. Our good gut bacteria themselves release L+ lactic acid and thrive in the mildly acidic pH that this special ingredient provides.
6. Top up with a probiotic
Probiotics are becoming more widely available and can often make a nice final step to an IBS management plan. Research has shown that probiotics may work best when in combination with a prebiotic (1) (a combination known as a symbiotic) so it makes sense to do some groundwork, as outlined above, for best effects.
Watch out for clever marketing messages on 'foods' containing probiotics too, as, in reality, there may not be huge numbers of those sought-after 'good' bacteria in there; and there could be added nasties like sugars or sweeteners; or there simply may not be enough evidence to back their efficacy.
See, if your stomach acid is doing its job properly, it may actually work too well and kill any bacteria (even the good ones) before they can make it to your large intestine. So, if in doubt, opt for a professional probiotic brand that will have more research to confirm that their bacterial strains are viable, and will make it alive to where they need to be to thrive.
