Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Diet and Nutrition: (references)

• Eliminate foods that cause an allergic response or to which there is a sensitivity (fast, use an elimination diet, or allergy test to isolate such foods) - there is likely to be an allergy/sensitivity to dairy products
• Avoid sugar and refined carbohydrates
• Eat high fiber (after healing has occurred - use soluble fibers while healing) and high complex carbohydrate diet
• Drink liquid/elemental diet in active phase, e.g., juices from cabbage and green leafy vegetables
• *Avoid caffeine and alcohol

Vitamins and Minerals: (references)

• Vitamin A: 50,000 - 75,000 I.U. initially, then taper
• Vitamin C (buffered): 1 - 2 gm.
• Vitamin E: 800 I.U.
• Folate: 20 - 50 mg.
• Zinc: 30 mg. BID
• *Copper: 2 - 4 mg.
• Calcium: 500 mg. BID
• Magnesium: 500 mg. BID

Supplements: (references)

• Quercetin: 400 mg. 20 minutes before meals, TID
• EFA: 1 - 2 gm. TID between meals
• Hydrochloric Acid: 10 - 70 grains per meal (if lab work confirms)
• Fructooligosaccarides: 800 mg TID
• Acidophilus and Bifidus: 1 capsule between meals
• Fiber : 5 - 45 gm. in divided doses taken with 12 ounces of water per dose

Botanicals: (references)

• Dry herbs - Althea officinalis (110 mg.), Geranium maculatum (110 mg.), Echinacea spp. (110 mg.), Ulmus ruba (110 mg.), Curcuma longa (110 mg.), Hydrastis canadensis (42 mg.) : 1-2 caps before each meal
• Peppermint Oil Capsules: 1/2 hr. before meals

• Individual botanicals to be considered for this condtion:
  Althea officinalis (Marshmallow)
  Curcuma longa (Tumeric)
  Echinacea angustifolia (Purple cone flower)
  Geranium maculatum (Wild geranium, Cranesbill)
  Humulus lupulus (Hops)
  Hydrastis canadensis (Goldenseal)
  Mentha piperita (Peppermint)
  Ulmus fulva (Slippery Elm, American elm)

Homeopathic Remedies: (references)

• Chronic inflammation of the intestines:
  hydr, phyt, ox-ac, sulph
• Inflammation of the intestines with mucus:
  asar, colch, cop, kali-p, rhus-t, zinc-valer

(For an overview of Homeopathy, click here.)   

Other Therapies: (references)

• *Lactobacillus acidophilus enema: 1/day during bouts of diarrhea
• Relaxation exercises to decrease stress: yoga, deep breathing, moderate walking
• Hypnotherapy has been found to be effective in some cases
• Stop smoking

Recommended Labs:

• Check for irritable bowel syndrome: CBC with Diff, ESR, CRP, Colonoscopy with Biopsy
• Rule out allergies: IgG Food Allergy Antibody
• Rule out candidiasis: Candida Panel
• Rule out celiac disease: Celiac Panel
• Rule out parasites: Stool Analysis
• Rule out stricture, cancer, anal fissure, proctitis: Colonoscopy, Colon Biopsis, Defecating Protogram, Anal and Abdominal Ultrasound, Scintigraphy, Colonic Motility, Hydrogen Breath

*  The recommended use of this supplement or therapy is based on a physiological mechanism or empirical data and is not necessarily supported by peer-reviewed research studies.

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).