Naturopathic Medicine for IBS
IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome, is a diagnosis given when no other known cause can be found for digestive discomfort with conventional techniques. However, there is always a reason why these concerns are occurring. Naturopathic doctors are always looking to the “why” or root cause, in order to more effectively address what’s going on and help you feel better.
Factors that may contribute to IBS include:
1. Imbalances of gut bacteria. An imbalance of the gut microbiome is also known as a “dysbiosis”. Dysbioses can occur in various regions of the digestive tract. A common type of dysbiosis involves an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine called SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth).
2. Food sensitivities or intolerances. A food intolerance is when your body lacks the enzyme required to breakdown a certain component of food, such as the lactase enzyme to breakdown lactose in dairy. A food sensitivity is slightly different and occurs when the immune system reacts to certain foods in a way that creates inflammation in the digestive tract.
3. Stress and anxiety. When we are stressed or anxious our body’s nervous system is in “fight or flight” mode. This takes away from the other side of our nervous system which is “rest and digest”. The rest and digest nervous system is what supports the body in producing adequate amounts of stomach acid and digestive enzymes to actually breakdown our food properly.
Whether it’s a dysbiosis, food sensitivity, or impacts of stress and anxiety, all of these factors can lead to digestive discomfort, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and irregular bowel movements associated with IBS.
Testing for IBS
The first step is to rule out other potential causes of digestive concerns such as celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease. Further investigations may include:
1. SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) testing
2. Comprehensive stool analysis, which provides a closer look at the gut microbiome and other markers of digestion such as inflammation and absorption.
3. Food sensitivity testing and/or an elimination and challenge of suspected foods
To learn more about how naturopathic medicine can address your digestive concerns, consider booking an initial consult with our naturopathic doctor, Dr. Meghan Dougan.