Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
A Functional Medicine Approach to IBS
A diagnosis of IBS from your GP or GI Specialist often means that your condition is idiopathic, meaning they don’t know what is wrong with you. And, off you go with a prescription for anti-spasmodics or a fibre supplement. At best, you get some short term relief but its not getting to the root cause of the disease.
Many of our patients have gone through a round of different GP’s, dieticians and specialists and continued to suffer ongoing symptoms.
Anxiety and depression often accompany IBS through the gut-brain axis. The gut has its own nervous system called the “enteric nervous system” which connects the digestive tract to the central nervous system through the vagus nerve and when your gut is on fire, your brain will probably closely follow.
Causes
IBS presents itself in so many ways and is often multifactoral in nature. Research indicates that stress plays a factor and it’s important to try and manage your exposure to stress. A lack of gut motility which controls the muscles that regulate the movement of food through the gut may not function normally. This can present in two ways, either an increased or decreased gut motility, presenting in either diarrhoea or constipation.However, one of the biggest causes is an overgrowth of bacteria or fungus (Candida). We look to test and see what could be contributing thereby ruling out any potential contributing factor that we need to eridicate.
Fungal overgrwoth (Candida) / Parasite Infections (Blastocystis hominis) / Small Intestinal Bowel Overgrowth / Fodmap sensitivities / Motility Issues / Diet high in fat / Low Stomach Acid / Leaky Gut / Genetics / List Item /
IBS Symptoms.
- Constipation
- Loose Stools
- Burping
- Brain fog
- Fatigue
- GERD
- Low sex drive
- Stomach Distension
- Chronic fatigue
- Mucus and undigested foods in your stool
- Feeling of incomplete emptying after bowel movements
- Panic attacks
- Insomnia
- Excessive Gas
IBS Treatment Approach
IBS treatment goals at the Dublin Centre for Functional Medicine are to identify and address triggers of irritable bowel syndrome; reduce or eradicate discomfort and frequency of irritable bowel syndrome episodes and eliminate recurrence.
Our treatment approach includes.
- Identifying specific treatment goals
- After a consultation with your Functional Medicine practitioner, a thorough understanding of all factors affecting your health, including physical, genetic, psychological, diet and lifestyle factors.
- Development of a comprehensive treatment plan
- Implementation and maintenance of that plan through periodic review and updates.
- Using gut health testing were needed to look at potential infections such as SIBO, Candida, parasites, and H-Pylori.
- Food Intolerances/Sensitivity Testing
While the focus is on correcting the underlying conditions that are causing your symptoms, we will also look to ensure you can reduce some of the main symptoms straight away whilst waiting for test results so you can start living your life.
Our IBS Treatment Programme at our Dublin Clinic will aim to give you all the support you need, from recipes and eating plans, to ongoing consultations and support. You are supported until the causes of your symptoms are resolved and you are back to being symptom-free.
OUR APPROACH TO HEALING DIGESTIVE ISSUES
Our team of functional medicine practitioners and will craft a personalized nutrition plan to diminish inflammation, restablish the microbiome, and integrate nutrient-dense foods into your diet.
Based on the specific condition, your practitioner may suggest specialized supplements to support the microbiome, address deficiencies, combat pathogens, and restore balance.
Our approach is grounded in the principle of testing rather than guessing. Our functional medicine doctors and practitioners can advise on targeted gut tests that could be causing your IBS including comprehensive stool testing, SIBO breath test, candida test, and parasite testing, to identify the root causes of your gut dysfunctions.
While conventional medical practitioners frequently resort to antibiotics for addressing digestive ailments (which often leads to more issues), our approach involves the incorporation of specific antimicrobial herbs. These herbal antiobiotics are aimed at reducing infections which could be contributing to your symtponms.
Why Choose the Dublin Centre for Functional Medicine?
Support
Once you start the process, we will guide our collaborative process with a practitioner, We will gather the required information we through detailed intake forms so we can understand you better and help support and motivate you through the process.
Experience
Our practitioners have years of experience dealing with multiple conditions. The functional medicine approach focuses on the route cause and addresses the imbalance.
Personalized Approach
Every one of us is unique and has a set of circumstances. Everything about you including symptoms, lifestyle, diet, genetics and capacity to heal is different and will require a personalized approach.
Frequently Asked Questions about IBS
The low FODMAP diet has shown to be very effective for reducing IBS symptoms. However, as it cuts out many important food grops and especially prebiotic fibres, it’s only recommended very short term, approxiamtely 4 to 6 weeks.
Although Garlic is a vey healthy and nutritious food, its not recommended when you have IBS, as it contains fructans which is a high fodmap and tends to cause digestive symptoms if you have IBS.
Pasta can trigger IBS symptoms as it contains gluten which is a high fodmap and also can be inflammatory for many IBS sufferers. The best alternatvies are gluten free alternatives such as chickpea pasta or buckwheat pasta.
Yes, you can get well again. We work with and reverse symptoms of IBS in our clinic everyday as we look at what is causing your IBS rather than just treating symptoms. When you take this approach, you can eridicate IBS for good.