Many people have felt embarrassed, shamed or humiliated because they’ve had an attack of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) in front of friends, associates or family. Some have had to frantically search for a bathroom in a store, a restaurant or while driving or even have had to run into the woods off a highway to prevent soiling their pants.

The term was first used by the medical profession in 1944 to describe severe abdominal pain, bloating and gas accompanied by diarrhea, (IBS-D) constipation (IBS-C) or both (IBS-mixed).

Many traditional medicine physicians teach that to manage IBS, prescription medication is key. Nutritionists believe that the cure lies with changing diets. Psychotherapists believe that the management of IBS lies with identifying and neutralizing psychosocial triggers.

The management of IBS requires a synchronicity of all three disciplines.

Medical

A traditional doctor may prescribe antidepressants, antispasmodics, anti-diarrheal medications and anti-inflammatories. Newer medications include Xifaxan for IBS-D and Ibsrela for IBS-C.

In place of prescription medications that carry dangerous side effects, the use of herbs and supplements are an effective holistic alternative. Instead of antidiarrhea/antisposmotic medications, try the BRATT diet. This diet is bananas, rice, applesauce, tea and toast. Make ice chips with distilled aloe vera juice and dissolve them in the mouth to ease nausea. Herbal teas that are known to reduce bowel inflammation include rooibos, honeybush, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, cardamom, ginseng and rosemary. Deglycyrrhizinated licorice root extract (DGL) and probiotics help heal the lining of the digestive tract.

Nutritional

A nutritionist will help us add fiber to our diet, in the form of green vegetables, nuts, whole grains and fruit.

A current IBS diet is the FODMAP diet, which stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols. Foods high in FODMAPs—milk, cheese, legumes and wheat—should be avoided. Low-FODMAP foods—meat, eggs, peanuts and unripe bananas—are safe.

Psychotherapeutic

IBS is the physical manifestation of emotional distress. Psychotherapeutic IBS management involves identifying stress triggers, then managing them using breathing techniques, journaling, mindfulness, practicing gratitude, affirmations and meditation.

Stubborn cases of IBS-D can be managed using concepts from a book by Dr. Joseph Dispenza, Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself: How to Lose Your Mind and Create a New One. He teaches us about Hebbs Rule, whereby neurons—and the behaviors they generate—pair together. Using meditative techniques, we can unpair these neurons 

Patricia Kenney, MSW, LCSW is the author of the book “Do you want to cure your Irritable Bowel Syndrome? Let me tell you how I did it!” She currently practices psychotherapy via telehealth in NJ. For more information visit patriciakenneycounseling.net.