The flora that populated our guts are so important to every aspect of our health. Many women don't realize that when they take an antibiotic, especially repeatedly, it can wipe out their bacteria good and the bad. Once the friendly bacteria that help digest your food and protect the gut lining become imbalacned, digestive and immune capabilities are comproimsed, potentially leading to IBS. Certain steroid medications can also disturb floral balance in the gut, as does an overgrowth of yeast such as in the intestines. Both can lead to or worsen IBS.

GI infection. Along the same track, research clearly shows a much higher incidence of IBS following GI infection-twice as high, by some reports. Some women develop IBS after contracting a case of food poisoning or any on of numerous other. Most of these pathogens can be easily treated with herbs or antibiotics once recognized, but resistance in certain bugs is becoming increasingly worrisome, so I generally don't hand out antibiotics to patients complaining of IBS without first sending a stool sample out to be tested.

Food sensitivities/intolerances. Over half of the women I see with irritiable bowel syndrome have unidentified food sensitivities or intolerances. Some of the most common food triggers are wheat, sugar, corn, chocolate, dairy, coffee, tea, citrus fruits. Although food can be complex and change over time, we use sentitive allergy antibody tests and an elimination diet to treat them effectively. Once the problematic foods are discovered and eliminated from the diet, the gut will quiet down and the symptoms of IBS often disappear.

Jackie characterized her irritable bowel syndrome symptoms as a panic attack of the bowels.  Her impromptu episodes of explosive diarrhea had prevented her from attending any of her children’s activities for three years.  She described herself as the “world’s most medicated woman.”  However, after only six sessions of gut-specific hypnotherapy she was symptom free, off all medications and happily going to all her children’s games and events.