Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), When the Mind-Body Connection Short Circuits

So many diseases and conditions in America are automatically treated with a prescription pad. But what if pills won't help?

'The mind and the body are linked, physically, neurologically, as well as emotionally, and that things that affect the mind can affect the gut and vice versa. If you do something to alleviate mind stressors, you can improve body functions.' Truer words have not been spoken, by Dr. Arnold Wald in a recent Reuters Health article on the mind-body connection and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

IBS is characterized by abdominal pain and constipation, diarrhea, or both. The abdominal pain is typically due to gas and bloating. While the cause is unknown, many factors appear to play a role in the development and treatment of IBS.

Contributing factors include: Infection (risk is elevated after bacterial, protozoan, helminth, or viral gastrointestinal infection); Inflammation (the immune system is activated in some IBS patients); Gut flora (microbiota differs from healthy individuals); Food sensitivities (some sufferers have sensitivities to FODMAPs, fructose, gluten, and/or dairy); Genetics; and Stress and mental health.

Patients with IBS symptoms report more stress in life and day to day. They tend to have more anxiety, depression, phobias, somatization, and sleep problems. This isn't surprising, as 90% of the neurotransmitters in the body are located in the intestinal nervous system. A problem in the mind can transmit to a problem in the gut, and vice versa.

Treatment is a multi-faceted approach. Diet and Supplements: An evolutionary or 'Paleo' diet plan combines several approaches. Fiber, probiotics, or anti-inflammatory supplements may be a next step if symptoms continue.

Mind-Body Medicine: Because of the apparent mind-body connection with IBS, psychotherapy may be very helpful in alleviating symptoms. A randomized controlled trial of 431 adults showed that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) was effective at treating severe IBS, and probably more effective than medication. Other studied mind-body techniques include meditation and acupuncture.

Physical activity is another natural option that may help alleviate stress and improve gut comfort and motility. Medically-supervised self tracking, using our model of a Quant Coach and Quant-Friendly Doctor, can guide you in your experiments and ensure that they are done in the most efficient and safe manner.