Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Synopsis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by recurrent abdominal pain associated with changes in bowel habits, including diarrhea, constipation, or alternating between the two. IBS affects the colon (large intestine) but does not cause structural damage like inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). It is a chronic and often lifelong condition, with symptoms that can significantly affect quality of life but do not increase the risk of colon cancer.
IBS is believed to result from disrupted communication between the brain and the gut, leading to abnormal motility, visceral hypersensitivity, and sometimes altered gut microbiota. It is most common in young to middle-aged adults and is more prevalent in women.
Types of IBS:
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IBS-D: Predominantly diarrhea
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IBS-C: Predominantly constipation
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IBS-M (Mixed): Alternating diarrhea and constipation
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IBS-U: Unclassified (variable patterns)
Common Causes and Risk Factors:
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Stress and anxiety (gut-brain axis dysregulation)
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History of gastrointestinal infections (post-infectious IBS)
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Food intolerances or sensitivities (e.g., lactose, gluten, FODMAPs)
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Imbalanced gut microbiome
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Hormonal fluctuations (especially in women)
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Family history of IBS
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Antibiotic overuse or early-life gut disruption
Severity Factors:
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Triggers vary widely by individual
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Symptoms can flare cyclically and range from mild to disabling
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Chronic bloating and pain can affect sleep, mental health, and productivity
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Though not dangerous, it may mimic serious conditions like IBD or celiac disease
When to See a Doctor:
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Symptoms persist for more than a few weeks
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Weight loss, anemia, or rectal bleeding
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Nighttime symptoms or waking to defecate
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Family history of colorectal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease
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New symptoms after age 50
Natural remedies for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Low-FODMAP diet: Avoid fermentable carbs that trigger gas and bloating
Eat slowly, chew thoroughly: Reduces swallowed air and bloating
Fiber balance: Soluble fiber (e.g., oats, psyllium) may help; insoluble may worsen symptoms in some
Probiotic supplementation: Can improve gut flora and reduce symptoms
Regular meals and hydration: Promotes consistent bowel movements
Stress management: Yoga, therapy, meditation, and exercise improve gut-brain harmony
Keep a symptom journal: Helps identify food and stress triggers
Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and artificial sweeteners: Common irritants
Ingredients
These raw ingredients are often used in alternative medicine to treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome
2'-Fucosyllactose
akkermansia muciniphila
aloe vera
alpha-galactosidase
alpha-pinene
amino acids
amylase
anthocyanins
apple
bacillus clausii
bacillus coagulans
bacillus subtilis
benegut perilla (proprietary)
beta caryophyllene
bifidobacterium bifidum
bifidobacterium breve
bifidobacterium infantis
bifidobacterium lactis
bifidobacterium longum
bilberry
bio ecolian (proprietary)
black currant
blackberry
blueberry
Indian frankincense
butyrate triglyceride
chen pi
chia seed
chlorella
cinnamon
citrus bioflavonoids
turmeric
curcumin
elderberry
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
exo-peptidase
fennel
flaxseed
fructooligosaccharides (FOS)
fruit and vegetable blend (proprietary)
garlic bulb
ginger
green banana
green tea
guar gum
cellulose
immunoglobin G
inulin
isomalto-oligosaccharide
l-glutamine
l-tryptophan
lactobacillus acidophilus
lactobacillus brevis
lactobacillus bulgaricus
lactobacillus casei
lactobacillus fermentum
lactobacillus gasseri
lactobacillus helveticus
lactobacillus lactis
lactobacillus paracasei
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
lactobacillus reuteri
lactobacillus rhamnosus
lactobacillus salivarius
lactococcus lactis
lovage
magnesium
marshmallow
medium chain triglycerides (MCT)
oat
pancreatin
pectin
peppermint oil
plum fruit
pomegranate
potato starch
butyric acid
psyllium
quercetin
resveratrol
saccharomyces boulardii
slippery elm bark
spearmint leaf
spirulina
streptococcus thermophilus
tributyrin
vegetable and fruit blend (proprietary)
vitamin C
vitamin D
xanthan gum
xylanase
xylooligosaccharides
zinc
hyssop
atractylodes
ferula assafoetida
anise
holarrhena antidysenterica
fumaria parviflora
chrysanthemum
sweetgums
senna
white oak
algae
2-Fucosyllactose
3-acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid
Agar
Apple fiber
Aminomonosaccharide
Asoka
Asafetida
Alpinia katsumadai
Aloe Polysaccharide
Aerva Lanta
Alpinia
Azospirillum lipoferum
Azotobacter paspali
Agastache
Ankaflavin
Aloe Polysaccharide
Aga
Amylase
Apigenin
Asian Psyllium
Ajowan
Anamu
Antirrhinin
Activated Charcoal
Asafoetida
Aloe vera
Acacia fiber
Alexandrian senna
Alkaline (unspecified)
Anthocyanin
Algae
Ancylostoma brasiliense
Amino Acid (unspecified)
Axocopaque
anthocyanidins
Agrimonia pilosa
Allyl Sulfide
Algin
Alpha-Galactosidase
Apple
alkaloid
allyl isothiocyanate
Arabinogalactans
Alder Buckthorn
Acidophilus
Alpha Galactosidase
Amylase (mixed amylase)
Anise
Avian (unspecified)
Ananain
Acinetobacter lwoffii
Amomum subulatum
Amylose
Betony
Bacillus Subtilis
Bifidobacterium longum
Bifidobacterium
Butyric acid
Brassica oleracea (unspecified)
Bifidobacterium infantis
Bamboo fiber
Bifidobacterium (various species)
Bacillus clausii
Bacillus indicus
Bifidobacterium adolescentis
Bifobacterium (mixed)
Benzopyran
Boswellia serrata
Brassica
Boswellic Acid
Bifidobacterium animalis lactis
Bayleaf
Belleric myrobalan
Bifidobacterium (mixed)
Bran
Blond Psyllium
Blueberry (unspecified)
Black currant fiber
Binder
Bean
Beet Fiber
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Benzoic acid
Boswellia
Bacillus licheniformis
Buttermilk
Bacillus (mixed)
Blue-Green Algae
Balloon-Flower
Bicarbonate (mixed)
Buckwheat fiber
Blueberry
Bifidobacterium breve
Black Psyllium
black salt
Bifidobacterium animalis
Bacillus subtilis natto
Bifidobacteria (unspecified)
Beta Hydroxybutyrate
Bitter principals
Butyric acid
Bacteria
Bacillus Coagulans
Bacteria Blend
Bamboo
Bifidobacteria
Bruteridine
Bacillus
benzyl isothiocyanate
Boswellic acids
Black Pepper
Beta Glucanase
Bupleurum (unspecified)
bitartrate
Barley Bran
Cinnamon
Cubebs
Cumin
Corn fiber
Cellulose Gel
Citrus fiber
Cinnamomum tamala
Casein Glycomacropeptide
Cannabis
Calcium Magnesium Citrate
Cellulose
Cycloamylose
Coriander
Carrageenan
Cream
Citron
Corn Bran
Cassia Cinnamon
Cinnamon Bark
Calcium Oligofructose
Cannabinoids
Cardamom
Cantaloupe
Coin-leaved desmodium
Cruciferous
Caffeoylquinic acids (unspecified)
Cellulose
Carboxy Methyl Starch
Calcium
Calamus rhizome
Centidepa (unspecified)
Chenopodium
Cauliflower
Carrot Fiber
Cellulose ethers
Colloid gum
Carbohydrate (unspecified)
Chamomile (not specified)
Cabbage
Cellulose
Cannabidiol
Carrot oil
Chicory fiber
Cellulose
Chitin-glucan
Carboxy Methyl Cellulose
Chamomile (unspecified)
Cellulose ethers
Clerodendrum indicum
Calcium Fructo-Oligosaccharides
Carrageenan
Carboxy methylcellulose
Carboxymethyl Cellulose
Cellulose derivatives
Diatase
Diamine Oxidase
Dragonhead
Digestion resistant Dextrin
Dichrostachys glomerata
Enterococcus
Earthworm
Emulsion
Enterococcus faecium
Ethocel
Enterococcus (various species)
Ester derivatives (unspecified)
Enzyme Blend
Enterococcus faecalis
Euryale
Fig
Fiber Blend
Fruit & Vegetable Blend
Flax
Flax Fiber
Fiber
Fructo-Oligosaccharides (FOS)
Frangula
Flaxseed Fiber
Flaxseed
Fiber (unspecified)
Fish Oil
Fenigreek fiber
Fennel
Flavonones (unspecified)
Fructan (unspecified)
Gallic Acid
Green pea fiber
Glucooligosaccharides
Galactomannan
Glycerol microcrystalline cellulose
Goat milk protein
Gum Arabic
Guar
Galium (unspecified)
Glutamine (various)
Grain (unspecified)
Galactooligosaccharides
Gum stabilizers
Galactomannan
Guar Gum
Ginger phenols (unspecified)
Himalayan Rhubarb
Halitum
Heartsease
Hydroxyanthracene derivative
hemicellulose
Hydroxycellulose
Houttynia
Hydroxypropyl Distarch Phosphate
Hedyotis diffusa
Hydroxycinnamic acid
Hydroxyanthracene
hydroxyanthracene derivatives
HydroxypropylDistarch Phosphate
Holarrhena antidysenterica
Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose
Hazelnut
Hyperimmune milk peptides
Humic acid
High amylose polysaccharide
Hydroxyethoxypropyl Methylcellulose
Inulin growth factor
Irish Moss
Inulin
isomaltooligosaccharide
Inulin
Indian Frankincense
Indian Coraltree
Isomalto-oligosaccharide
Indian Rhubarb
Jalapa (unspecified)
Kratom
Karaya Gum
Kluyveromyces marxianus
Kefir
Lactitol
L-Tryptophan
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
Lactobacillus plantarum
Lactobacillus paracasei
Lactobacillus delbrueckii lactis
Lactococcus acidophilus
Laxosterone
Lactobacillus pentosus
Lactobacillus sakei
Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens
Lactobacillus kefiri
Lactococcus lactis
Lactobacillus casei
Lactobacillus reuteri
Lactobacillus (unspecified)
Lactobacillus brevis
Lactococcus rhamnosus
Lactobacillus (various species)
Lactobacillus leichmannii
Legume protein
lovage
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Lactobacillus gasseri
Lactobacillus fermentum
Lactococcus casei
Lactobacillus (mixed)
Locust Bean Gum
Lactobacillus delbrueckii (ssp not specified)
Legume (unspecified)
Lactic Acid
Lactobacillus helveticus
Lactobacillus parakefiri
Lactobacillus johnsonii
Lactobacillus mixed)
Lactobacillus
Lactobacillus salivarius
Lactobacillus delbrueckii bulgaricus
L. lactis (unspecified)
Lysimachia
Leuconostoc lactis
Leuconostoc (unspecified)
Lactitol
MCT / Medium Chain Triglycerides
methylcellulose
Mentha haplocalyx
Mannanoligosaccharides
Mum
Myrcene
Magnesium Malate
Mucilage
Magnesium Oligofructose
Magnesium Fructo-Oligosaccharides
Mucins
Magnesiium
Medium Chain Triglycerides
Malva sylvestris
Mexican oregano
Medium chain triglycerides (MCT)
Mucin
Methyl cellulose
Mangostin
Meadow sage
Magnesium tartrate
Morning Glory
Mastic
Meadowsweet
Magnesium Citrate
Macaranga indica
Nardostachys
Neral
Nymphaea nouchali
Niacin ascorbate
Olive
Orange (unspecified)
Oat Fiber
Orange fiber
Oligodextrin
Oligosaccharides
Operculina turpethum
Organic Greens
Oat bran
Peppermint leaf
phenyl alkyl ketones
Phellodendron
Psyllium fiber
Psyllium (not specified)
Polymer (unspecified)
Peppermint essence
Phaeophyceae (unspecified)
Prebiotic (unspecified)
PEG (Polyethylene Glycol )
Polyethylene glycol
Pea Fiber
Pedicoccus acidilactici
Pediococcus pentosaceus
Propionibacterium freudenreichii ssp. Shermanii
Polygonatum (unspecified)
Piperin
Plum fiber
Polymer (unspecified)
Propionibacterium freudenreichii
Pancreatin
Probiotics
Pediococcus acidilactici
Polydextrose
Psyllium (unspecified)
Phthalide
Pectin-Cellulose
portulaca
Polygalacturonase
Peppermint
Pimpinella
Pregelatinized starch
Pinellia
Pubescent Angelica
Probiotic (unspecified)
Propionibacterium freudenreichii shermanii
pyridoxine-alpha-ketoglutarate (PAK)
Propionic Acid
Pectin
Plectranthus amboinicus
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)
Phenols (unspecified)
Polyphenols (mixed)
Polyphenols (npt specified)
peach fiber
Quince
Rubus (unspecified)
Rice Fiber
Rosemary antioxidant S-32
Raspberry
Rosmarinic Acid
Resistant Starch
Rhus coriaria
Rhubarb
Sennosides
Simethicone
Sodium Butyrate
Sennoside
Shark Liver Oil
sodium carboxymethyl cellulose
Salvia (unspecified)
Stabilizers
Sodium Propionate
Sanguisorba
Spanish Oregano
Saccharomyces boulardii
Saccharomyces boullardii
Sacchoromyces (unspecified)
Silicated cellulose
Soy Fiber
Saccharomyces (unspecified)
Slippery Elm
Sagebrush
Spantholobus
Spelt
Saccharomyces cerevisae
Saccharomyces unisporus
Sea vegetable (unspecified)
Streptococcus Thermophilus
Seaweed (unspecified)
Savory
Squash
saponins
Sugarcance fiber
Saccharomyces
Saccharomyces boulardii
Sickle Senna
Sedanenolide
Taraxacin
Tapioca fiber
Tamarix (unspecified)
Tetrahydrocannabivarin
Tomato
Tea Polyphenol
Tragacanth
Trehalose
Teri Pod
Tall Kale
Undeca-2E, 7Z, 9E-Trienoic Acid Isobutylamide
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxal 5 phosphate)
vegetable gum (unspecified)
Vitamin B6
Viburnum (unspecified)
Vegetable Juice
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxal 5-phosphate)
Wheat Bran
Wheatgrass
White Peony
White Pear
Wheat Bran
xantham gum
Xanthan Gum
Xylooligosaccharides
xanthan gum
Yacon
Yogurt
Yeast
Zingerone
