What is IBS?

IBS: Irritable Bowel Syndrome is an issue that involves the digestive tract, mainly the small and large intestine. If you already know you suffer from IBS, then you know what a monstrous beast it can be, and how much havoc it can wreak in your everyday life. Patients can suffer from different IBS symptoms like constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramping, gas, and bloating; and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Many people suffer from IBS pain. The hardest part about treating IBS is that the intestines do not show any outward sign of distress (all scans and tests are typically negative). This makes IBS an exceptionally tricky problem to control and care for when searching for ibs treatment; however, there are good natural solutions for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

IBS Symptoms

At our office we will look at two main areas that can affect a person’s GI tract: the nervous system and digestion. It is tremendously important that the nervous system is checked because it controls the signals to and from the affected area.

So how do you accomplish this? This is accomplished by having your spine checked by an experienced chiropractor. The most common area to find the problem will be between the shoulder blades. The pain can be located near the spine, or could be a deep ache under the shoulder blade itself. If the pain is near the spine a chiropractic adjustment can help with the discomfort and with digestion, however if the pain is under the shoulder blade, we must look at the organs themselves.

Another sign to look for, is if you have pain in these areas and it does not change with movement or rest. That most commonly means it is not muscular in nature, and a thorough look at the GI tract is required. When dealing with digestive issues, such as IBS, you must start first with what is going into the system (what are you eating and drinking). Not necessarily where patients want to start, I know, but it is imperative. If you’ve ever experienced an IBS flare-up, then you understand!

IBS Treatment

Your body runs just like a machine, you need to have good fuel before the engine can start and run efficiently. The second step in the GI process is the stomach. Most commonly, individuals will suffer from heartburn, gas, bloating, and nausea if the stomach is having an issue. This can be dealt with by using enzymes specific for the stomach. This allows the stomach to not only be healed, it also helps the body digest the food you have just consumed. When the body gets help breaking down the food it makes it much easier to absorb and use; therefore, with enzyme therapy you get more from your food.

As you move down the chain the next big players in the GI tract are the liver, gallbladder, and the pancreas. Once again, if you suspect these organs are having issues please consult a practitioner proficient in enzyme therapy. After these organs you will run into the small and large intestine. This is where most people feel the symptoms of IBS, but as was just explained there are several areas to look at for the “CAUSE” of these symptoms. If you never find the cause you will just cover up the symptoms and that is not “health care” in my book.

So if you are looking for a practice that is going to search for the cause of your IBS symptoms and fix it, please contact us. First Step Family Wellness in St. Louis is dedicated to helping you find the cause. Also if you have any questions or concerns please let us know.