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  • FOCUS ON IRRITABLE BOWEL

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is increasingly common.

Often patients will have been back and forth to their conventional doctor, only to be told that there is nothing more that can be done.

This is far from true, as Complementary & Alternative Medicine can be used very successfully to deal with IBS, with many patients obtaining complete relief from their various symptoms.

But what is IBS?

There is no accurate definition of IBS, and no test that can diagnose IBS.

IBS is merely a bowel that is ‘irritable.’

It responds to certain foods by bloating, with wind, colicky pain, diarrhoea or consti­pa­tion.

As a result of this it also leads to poor absorption of nutrients, and food ‘allergies’ or intolerance, which can result in poor energy, lethargy, tiredness, joint pains or stiffness, migraines, eczema, breathing difficulties, or many other symptoms which may lead to chronic ill-health.

Many tests can be done in IBS to try and help resolve the problem.

Of course, conventional tests will often be carried out, which is necessary to exclude other – more serious – bowel diseases, such as cancer. These tests are invariably normal in IBS, and conventional medicine is therefore at a loss as to how to help.

The commonest test carried out in Complementary & Alternative Medicine is food allergy testing – or more correctly testing for food intolerance.

Food intolerance is commonly found in IBS, and at our Clinics we use the BEST System to test for food intolerance.

This is carried out simply by using a metal probe on certain points on the skin (on the fingers or toes) to take a series of measurements.

These measurements tell us if you have a sensitivity to certain foods, or if indeed you can tolerate them without any problems.

Conditions associated with food intolerance include:

  • IBS / other digestive problems
  • Asthma / Hay Fever / Sinus problems
  • Eczema or other skin conditions
  • Arthritis or any joint problems
  • Other inflammatory / auto-immune conditions
  • Migraines / Headaches
  • Tiredness / lethargy / chronic fatigue
  • Depression / anxiety
  • Weight problems

Tests other than allergy tests can also be carried out using the BEST System.

These include (amongst others) chemical or environmental sensitivity, hormone testing, and vitamin & mineral testing (for deficiencies).

These may all be useful in IBS, as may another test known as Full Body Screening.

This more comprehensive test is a way of assessing the whole body, including the internal organs, the various body systems, glands, and so on. Again this test may be very useful in IBS.

Further advice regarding the various tests used in IBS is available from Better Health, and a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION is always available.

Nutrition is an important part of any assessment or treatment recommendation by Better Health.

It is particularly important in IBS, as many sufferers are nutritionally deficient as a result of IBS, and need supplements as a result of this.

It is impossible to cover all the important aspects of nutrition in IBS in a short leaflet such as this.

However, there are certain areas of fundamental importance that should not be neglected.

IBS is often associated with – and may be caused by – bowel dysbiosis. This is an imbalance in the various bacteria that live in the bowel, with an increase in the more ‘unfriendly’ bowel bacteria that are associated with fermentation and putrefaction.

The ‘over-growth’ of these types of bacteria accounts for the production of gas associated with bloating and colicky pain, etc..

Nutritional approaches, including changes to the diet in addition to the use of certain supplements, can help a great deal with this dysbiosis.

In addition to this, herbal medicines have great benefits in IBS, and various ‘cleansing’ herbs may be used in addition to those with specific actions upon the gastrointestinal tract.

A number of helpful products are available from Better Health.

‘Pre-Biotic’ is an advanced phytonutrient produced by Better Health. Phytonutrients are products that combine herbs with nutrients.

Better Health produce a number of specialised, advanced nutritional, herbal and homoeopathic products.

All are tried and tested, and are based on sound theoretical principles and rigorous research.

Pre-Biotic is a combination of Acidophilus bacteria, Fructo-Oligosaccharides, L-Glutamine and the herb Althaea or Marshmallow.

This is a unique combination of ingredients, which has shown great benefits in the treatment of digestive problems, including bowel dysbiosis and IBS.

It is now widely accepted that Acidophilus bacteria are beneficial in a number of digestive problems. These are the ‘friendly’ bowel bacteria, as opposed to the ‘unfriendly’ bacteria such as Candida.

Fructo-oligosaccharides are known to encourage the growth of the friendly bacteria by changing the environment in the bowel. 

The herb Althaea works also in this way, in addition to having a healing / soothing effect upon the bowel itself.

Finally, L-Glutamine is an amino acid that is known to have a healing effect upon the bowel.

Pre-Biotic is a synergistic combination of the substances described above.

Given together in this way, this combination of items has shown huge benefits for a number of digestive problems, and other problems associated with bowel dysbiosis.

Pre-Biotic is recommended by Better Health as an alternative to Acidophilus alone at all times.

To summarise, the advantages of Pre-Biotic over Acidophilus alone are:

  • Healing effects on bowel due to L-Glutamine and the herb Althaea
  • Promotion of optimum environment for the growth of Acidophilus and other friendly bacteria in the bowel
  • Adequate amounts of Acidophilus included

Pre-Biotic is produced at a very competitive price. Further details are available from Better Health.

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