International Journal of Homoeopathic Sciences

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder seen in clinical practice affecting daily functioning and quality of life, characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and altered bowel habits without any structural abnormalities in the gut. People who are suffering with IBS also experience conditions such as non-ulcer dyspepsia, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, or dysmenorrhea. There are past traumatic experiences including physical or sexual abuse which is sometimes linked to IBS which is very important to understand as this part of patient’s history is important and these individuals often respond well to therapies that focus on emotional and psychological healing.

The important symptoms of IBS are abdominal pain which is crampy in nature, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, mucus in stools, urgency, and a sensation of incomplete evacuation. IBS is further divided into four subtypes based on predominant pattern of defecation: IBS-C, IBS-D, IBS- M, and IBS-U. IBS affects people worldwide, but it tends to be more common in women and in those younger than 45 years of age.

IBS is said to have aroused from multiple factors, which includes altered gut motility, visceral hypersensitivity, emotional stress, changes in gut microbiota, and dietary triggers such as FODMAPs although the exact cause is not yet clear. Some patients may also have small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. It requires a holistic and individualized approach for effective management.