IBS
(Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

IBS is a frequently diagnosed disorder (or collection of symptoms) that affects the bowel (colon) and produces symptoms like cramping, abdominal pain and bloating, alternating diarrhea/constipation or one or the other. It is considered a chronic condition because in most cases it doesn’t go away but can and needs to be managed carefully. IBS is often relatively mild and not considered a severe or life threatening problem. However should you experience any of the following list of symptoms –  it is important to consult a doctor. Diarrhoea at night, unusual vomiting and difficulty swallowing, anaemia, or persistent pain that is not relieved after a bowel movement.

The medical approach to IBS is very limited. The cause is unknown and for the most part the patient is advised to make lifestyle choices through experimentation of food types and timing of eating, reduce stress and overwork, rest well and exercise. There is no one answer for everyone and in cases of chronic diarrhoea the doctor could prescribe something to help reduce the frequency but it is not a cure by any means. 

The Five Element acupuncturist sees IBS (like any symptom) as a sign of an imbalance in the person. All living beings are governed by the natural laws we observe in nature and the cause of the IBS experienced by the presenting patient will have a cause in one of the five elements that produce our outer and inner reality. Practitioners of this ancient healing tradition have the skills to diagnose the unique cause of IBS in each person and effect an acupuncture treatment that has the potential to relieve all symptoms of IBS and all levels of suffering.