AUSTRALIAN NATUROPATHIC NETWORK
 Serving the community since 1998

The following case studies do not represent implemented treatment programs. They are protocols developed by students in the course of their studies, and should be taken as examples only.

Note - Anyone suffering from the conditions described below should seek advice from a primary health care practitioner. No responsibility is taken for any individual attempting to use the treatments described in these studies.

Describe your management of irritable bowel syndrome in a 22 year old female.

Condition Description

A syndrome characterised by some combination of:

• Abdominal pain¹
• Altered bowel function, constipation or diarrhoea¹
• Hypersecretion of colonic mucous¹
• Dyspeptic symptoms (flatulence, nausea, anorexia)¹
• Varying degrees of anxiety or depression¹
• Small stools²
• A feeling of incomplete evacuation after defecation²

Most definitive sign is intestinal spasm particularly in the descending colon³.

The symptoms are probably due to dysfunction of the colon with no demonstrable organic pathology².

The condition is also known as: nervous indigestion, spastic colitis, mucus colitis, and intestinal neurosis.

It is important to eliminate all other possible pathologies before diagnosing as IBS.

Causes and Mitigating Factors

The causes are not 100% clear , but a variety of physiological, psychological, and dietary factors have been identified as possible causes³.

Autonomic nervous tone with emotional lability⁴.

Patient history usually reveals emotional stresses and psychic alterations, including anxiety, depression, hysteria with somatisation, and above all, a poorly defined psychopathology, obsessive-compulsive traits, insecurity, a tendency to be excessively preoccupied, and exaggerated dependency on the opinions of others. Many of these patients are compulsive workers who area unable to relax, who have irregular habits for alimentation and defecation, and who may abuse tobacco and alcohol, and sometimes even laxatives. There is a high prevalence of ‘illness behaviour’ among these patients².

Non-pharmacological treatment

• Increase dietary fibre for those suffering constipation/decrease for this with diarrhoea.
• Eliminate allergic/intolerant food.
• Control phsycological components (ie reduce stress, modify behaviour etc).
• Education and patient reassurance.
• Follow these Golden Rules for Good Digestion. (With thanks to RK)

1. Chew food properly
2. Eat only when relaxed
3. Eat in a comfortable environment
4. Don’t over eat
5. Combine foods sensibly
6. Not too much fluid with meal
7. Avoid excesses of irritating foods
8. Identify allergens and avoid them
9. Try and eat main meal several hours prior to bed
10. Allow time to digest food before eating next meal

Herbal Therapeutics

Classes of herbs required for the treatment include:

Antispasmodics – agents that relax the spasiming colon

Antiinflammatory – to reduce inflammation

Carminitives – work against griping

Nervines – to reduce anxiety and depression

Astringents – if diarrohea is present

Laxatives – if constipation is present

Hepatics – to improve liver function

Bitters – to improve appetite

Gastric Acid Normaliser – to normalise the levels of Hydrochloric Acid

A formula useful for the condition could be:

Dosage 5mls three times a day.

Ulmus fulva is also recommended. Take 1 tablespoon in glass of water 30 minutes before meals.

References

1. Murray, M., Pizzorno, J.,Encyclopaedia of Natural Medicine, Little, Brown and Company, UK, 1995.
2. Willis Hurst, J., (Ed.), Medicine for the Practicing Physician – 3^rd Edition, Butterworth-Heinemann, USA, 1992.
3. Pizorno, J., Murray, M., Textbook of Natural Medicine, Bastyr College, Seattle, 1989.
4. Weiss, R.F., Herbal Medicine, Beaconsfield Publishers, Beaconsfield, 1988.