If you have you ever experienced alternating constipation and diarrhea, abdominal bloating, excessive gas and pain, usually as a reaction to stress then you will know how painful and distracting the condition of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is. Other general symptoms that may accompany include heartburn, fatigue, headache, faintness, back pain, palpitations, and weakness. If you find yourself nodding your head, join the estimated 9 million Britons who suffer from IBS.

	IBS is a functional motility illness of the small and large intestines, in the absence of true structural damage to the intestines. Jo Rochford

IBS can be controlled by a combination of acupuncture treatment and a special Diet for IBS which not only looks at what foods we eat but the combination of foods and how we eat them.

IBS is a functional motility illness of the small and large intestines, in the absence of true structural damage to the intestines. The disorder does not usually lead to serious disease such as inflammatory bowel disease or malignancy (although there might be an association between IBS and the development of diverticulosis). Determination of aggravating factors can yield good results, where those stressors prove controllable.

Causative and aggravating factors:

• diet
• drugs
• hormones
• emotional stress
• depression
• hysteria
• obsessive-compulsive traits
• anxiety

Common psychosocial situations associated with IBS are:

• marital discord
• death of a loved one
• worrying over children
• employment issues
• excessive anxiety over everyday matters

IBS affects predominantly women (3:1 to men), and the average age of onset is 20-40. Some have suggested that aggressive toilet training in childhood may result in individuals who are narrow in outlook, punctual, fastidious, and who suffer from grievous bowel problems. Some probing questions to ask yourself are: what is eating you up inside? and what feelings are you swallowing and not expressing leading to gut-wrenching pain? The answers to our questions validate our understanding that emotional stagnancy is one of the main causes of IBS.

This is probably why many turn to Acupuncture which is known to be an excellent facilitator in treating disease caused by emotional angst. This is because Acupuncture can treat both the disease and the emotion. Simply trying to control IBS with diet alone or drugs alone will not have the same curative effect as treating at all the levels of the disease.

Before we go on to discuss the kinds of foods, please note that some of these foods can on the face of it appear pretty unappetising to some. Please don't let this put you off. With a combination of Acupuncture Treatment and following general good diet principles for a period of time (Just how long will be worked out during your treatment) food types can be added back into your diet gradually. As the acupuncture strengthens your body you may be able to resume your original diet with perhaps only a few modifications.

Be careful with food combinations: especially avoid starch, sugar, protein combination (for example, cheesecake). Avoid eating too many types of foods at one time. Stick to one type of starch per meal. Eat steamed vegetables rather than raw ones

Try to stick to a complex carbohydrate, high fiber diet All foods must be eaten slowly, chewed and salivated well; eat in a calm atmosphere, do not read or watch television while eating

Recommended Foods:

• Potato broth
• cooked carrots
• okra
• steamed and mashed parsnips
• squash
• pumpkin
• figs and flax seed tea
• steamed zucchini and squash
• papaya
• grated raw apple
• applesauce
• ripe peaches without skin
• banana
• rice
• porridge
• Miso soup
• slippery elm gruel
• psyllium seed powder
• flax seed powder

Foods high in the omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids:

• vegetable
• nut
• seed oils
• cold water fish
• evening primrose oil
• black currant oil
• flaxseed oil

Foods high in water-soluble fiber (Fiber may help some individuals with IBS)

• psyllium seed husks
• barley
• rye
• flax seed
• pectin
• guar gum
• oat bran
• legumes
• brown rice
• vegetables

Vegetables are fiber sources that are most likely to provide benefit and less likely to provide sensitivity reactions. Wheat bran is usually not effective in reducing irritation and inflammation and in many cases may exacerbate the situation.

While true food allergies may be less common than sometimes claimed, the presence of food sensitivities or intolerance among individuals with irritable bowel symptoms appears to be significant when demonstrated by symptom reduction upon removal of the food in question from the diet; some researchers believe that aggravations due to food reactions are more likely to occur when at least 3.5 ounces of the offending food is eaten on a daily basis.

Avoid:

• Wheat
• corn and dairy

carrageenan - containing foods are among the most common symptom-provoking foods so particularly avoid:

• peanuts
• meat
• sugar and sweet food
• refined and processed foods
• corn
• soybeans
• most legumes
• coffee
• caffeine
• oranges
• alcohol
• hot sauces
• spicy foods
• fried foods
• fatty foods
• rich foods
• salty foods

Diet is an obvious component of Acupunctures comprehensive treatment program for IBS. Acupuncture can improve the healthy functioning of the digestive tract. Without a good digestive system, you will be robbed of the energy and quality in your life. This is predicated at the very heart of Acupuncture principles, although this page is dedicated to IBS it is suprising just how many people benefit from changes to diet alongside treatment.

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