Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a group of uncomfortable symptoms affecting your intestine, also called the bowel. It is a condition in which the bowel does not work the way it should. It is a common disorder affecting as many as 20-30 million Americans. It is not a disease. It does not damage the bowel. And it does not lead to other health problems.

Symptoms of IBS include: abdominal pain or discomfort, long-lasting diarrhea, constipation or a combination of both, bloating, gas, and sometimes white mucus in the stool. You may feel an urgent need to use the toilet or have the feeling that you have not finished a bowel movement. Some people have mild symptoms, while for others symptoms can be quite severe and interfere with life.

There is no test for IBS. Your health care practitioner will diagnose the condition based on a physical exam and your symptoms. Blood tests, x-rays of the colon, and a colonoscopy may be done to make certain you don’t have a more serious condition. (A colonoscopy is a test that exams the inside of the colon using a long, thin tube with a camera on the end).

It is not clear what causes IBS. Some researchers think it is caused by changes in the nerves in the colon. Others believe the central nervous system may play a role. Hormonal changes may also be involved, since the disorder affects twice as many women as men, and many women find that symptoms are worse around the time of their menstrual periods. Some of the latest thinking, described more fully on page 3, is that IBS results when the usual balance in the colon is disrupted for some reason.

IBS can be affected by your emotions, physical activity, and nutrition. Integrative Medicine pays attention to all three of these areas, so you get the most help possible. Since IBS is complex, it is best treated by a clinician who gets to know you well. Your primary care clinician will sort through the many options to find those that are acceptable to you and that will give you the best quality of life with the fewest symptoms.

The nervous system in the intestines has so many nerve endings and neurotransmitters (chemicals that transmit nerve impulses) that it has been referred as the “second brain.” When you are feeling stressed, your stomach and intestines (known as the gastrointestinal or GI tract) often sympathize by having spasms, bloating and discomfort. This helps explain sayings such as, “I have a gut feeling” or “I have butterflies in my stomach” or “Something is eating me up inside.”

Mind-body therapies make use of the close connection between your physical health and your mind or spirit. Two that have been found to be the most helpful for IBS are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Gut-directed Hypnotherapy (GDH).