Help for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) in Geelong

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects the main part of the large intestine, known as the colon. When one experiences Irritable Bowel Syndrome, they generally suffer from abdominal pain and cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhoea or constipation and mucus discharge in the stool. IBS is said to be a chronic condition and unlike inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome does not alter bowel tissue nor does it increase risks for bowel cancer.

Here you can see the bowel (Colon)

What Causes Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?

It is believed that a variety of factors can lead to the onset of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The way the large intestine contracts can have a direct impact on the symptoms one might experience if suffering from it. Normally, the colon contracts in a rhythmic fashion as food moves from the stomach and down the intestinal tract. For someone suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, the contractions can be stronger and can even last longer leading to bloating and diarrhoea. On the contrary, contractions can be weak, leading to slow passage of food which results in constipation. Such abnormalities in the gastrointestinal nervous system are primary causes for the symptoms one experiences when suffering from IBS.

Certain triggers can also instigate symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in some people. These can include factors like food that include chocolates, spices, milk, alcohol etc. Stress is also found to aggravate symptoms but not cause them. Hormones also play a vital role, with women twice as likely to be diagnosed with IBS as men.

When to Seek Help for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome can be a painful experience and something that can lead to haemorrhoids and even depression due to lifestyle changes required to be implemented.
Therefore, treatment for this disease by doctors usually focuses on alleviating the effects of symptoms so that one can live as normally as possible.

The foremost treatment options that most doctors include are changes in lifestyle and diet. This includes plenty of exercise, intake of fluids, rest and avoiding specific food types that can act as triggers for Irritable Bowel Syndrome in an individual. This can mean eliminating high-gas foods like cauliflower, carbonated drinks, cabbage etc, along with gluten.

Doctors may also prescribe medication that can include taking fibre supplements, anti-diarrheal medications, antibiotics if excessive bacteria is found in the colon, and even anti-depressants.

How may Bowen Therapy help people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Bowen Therapy is certainly worth trying for people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. In clinic I commonly see people with digestive problems holding tension in their abdominal area. Under their ribs doesn't feel soft as it should, instead it feels tight and constricted and this tension may impede food traveling through the digestive system. I have seen that resolving this tension may lead to digestion and comfort having significant improvements.

Since Bowen therapy works with the nervous system, it may assist in bringing back the natural rhythmic action of the gastrointestinal nervous system, targeting one of the root causes of IBS. Since in Bowen Therapy we address the whole body, targeting several different areas we see as contributing to the problem, we may have a higher chance of having a positive impact than by just looking at a single part of the body.

You can read some reviews from Louis's clients on the Review page here, or Book Online here for a Bowen Therapy session targeting IBS or Irritable Bowel in Geelong.