Guest Host Dr. Ellen Heinitz - Irritible Bowel Syndrome
Irritible Bowel Syndrome - A Functional Disorder of the Bowel with Guest Host Dr. Ellen Heinitz

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Definition: Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional disorder of the bowel.  There is not a physical lesion, infection, or problem.  The function of the bowel is not normal.   It involves the entire GI tract and causes abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhea or constipation. 

Symptoms:

Nausea -Abdominal cramping or pain usually relieved by a bowel movement

Abdominal bloating –Gas – Diarrhea – Constipation - Decreased appetite

Mucous in bowel movements

Diagnosis:  This is a diagnosis of exclusion.  All other causes should be investigated and found to be negative.

Colonoscopy  - Endoscopy - Barium studies - Celiac Disease testing – biopsy or serum testing

Fructose intolerance testing - Stool testing for infections and parasites, and occult blood

Food allergy testing: dermal vs. serum

Complete digestive stool analysis: infections (bacterial, yeast or parasites), amount of healthy  gut flora  inflammation, production of digestive enzymes, food allergen

Lab studies:CBC, Metabolic Panel, Serum amylase, UA, TSH

Treatments

Food allergy removal or diet that  avoids allergens:

Dairy – Eggs – Gluten - Garlic – Nuts – Pineapple –Avocadoes - Citrus Fruits - Strawberries - Soy

Avoid other offending foods:

Large amounts of raw fruits and vegetables – Lettuce - Black pepper,

or other peppers,all spices.  Eat foods that are boiled, baked or steamed

High fat foods High amounts of insoluble fiber: rough fibers like whole grains

Avoid high amounts of sugar Sorbitol, Maltitol, xylitol Large doses of Magnesium

Fiber:

High amounts of soluble fiber can help to normalize bowel movements.  Because it absorbs water and bile acids it can decrease diarrhea and because it provides bulk it can decrease constipation.

Good souces of soluble fiber include:

Psyllium – ground psyllium, not psyllium husks - Apple pectin  - Oats

Barley – Legumes - Prunes

Probiotics: healthy gut flora that eat fiber and essentially digest it into substances that feed the lining of the gut.  One of these is butyric acid.  High doses of probiotics, up to 60 billion per day can be very useful.  These can be consumed in fermented foods like yogurt with active cultures or sauerkraut, kimchee, kefir

Types:

Acidophillus – Bifidus - Sarchomyces Boullardi

Herbs:  Can be used to treat infections, decrease cramping, dispel trapped gas, increase bowel movements, heal irritated tissue

Chammomile – antimicrobial, calming nervine, decreases hypermotility

Fennel – dispels gas and increases digestion

Wild Yam – antispasmodic that decreases gut cramping

Cramp Bark – antispasmodic that decreases gut cramping

Ginger – decreases nausea, stimulates appetite, antiinflammatory

Licorice – coats and heals the stomach lining

Peppermint – dispels gas, may increase heartburn, calms the gut

Goldenseal – antimicrobial that helps to fight bacterial infec tions

Pau D’Arco – antiyeast herb

Black Walnut – antiparasitic, astringent that helps to heal inflamed tissue

Wormwood – antiparasitic, should be used for a limited time

Pumpkin Seed - antiparasitic

Cascara Sagrada – stimulant laxative

Senna – stimulant laxative

Slippery elm – demulcent that helps to coat and soothe the digestive tract

Aloe Vera – demulcent that helps to coat and soothe the digestive tract, and heal tissue

Triphala – ayurvedic herbal combination that gentle stimulates bowel movements

Beets – cholegogue which helps to increase bile flow and therefore improve digestion and increase bowel movements

Gentian- bitter that increases stomach acid release, improving digestion, possibly increase serotonin production

Supplements:

Glutathione – antioxidant  that helps to decrease GI inflammation

Bismuth – antimicrobial that helps to fight infections and coats and soothes gastric lining

Gamma Oryzanol – helps to heal gut lining

Grapefruit Seed Extract – antiyeast and anti microbial

Butyric Acid – feeds the intestinal mucosal cells, giving them energy to heal

Bentonite – absorbs toxins

Charcoal – absorbs toxins and gas

5HTP – precursor to serotonin which may help to calm the gut and regulate motility

Bile acids – stimulate the colon to have more normal movement

Lifestyle:

Exercise: decreases stress, increases serotonin, decreases constipations 

Stress management:  our brain makes more serotonin than our brain, “we feel it in our gut”, chatecolamines like epinephrine and norepinephrine decrease blood flow to the gut.

Bowel training:  sometimes our gut gets the message that we “don’t have time to go to the bathroom” to get this to be normal again we need to take the time every day to give our bodies the chance to go. 

Dr. Ellen Heinitz is available for appointments at Ventana Wellness, and also had her Grants Pass Oregon Clinic.