Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS affects 15-20% of adults and leads to frustrating and uncomfortable abdominal and bowel symptoms. Common symptoms are: irregular bowel motions, often alternating between bouts of diarrhoea or loose bowels and constipation, abdominal pain and cramping, mucus in stool, and flatulence and bloating,

No medical cause of IBS has been identified and in the past patients were often told "it is all in your head". Today most therapists realise that it is a real and debilitating condition and there are a number of proposed causes. Some of the suspected causes are bacterial, viral or parasitic infections, an imbalance of the beneficial bacteria of the digestive system often due to antibiotic use or various food sensitivities such as wheat, yeast or dairy products.

Most sufferers of IBS find the condition worsens with stress this stress can be from emotional causes or from physical or overwork stress. This link with stress is one of the keys to understanding the most effective treatments for it. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has an excellent reputation for relieving irritable bowel problems. According to TCM many of the sufferers have a problem with the function of the Liver Zang (Zang is Chinese for a Yin organ system according to traditional medicine) and problems with the Liver are frequently aggravated by stress, frustration and anger. Also when the persons Liver is disturbed they are likely to experience emotional extremes and be more irritable and angry as a result.

Effective treatment can be achieved by relieving the stress and supporting the Liver Zang. According to TCM the Liver is responsible for the smooth spreading or flow of Qi the bodies vital energy through out the body. And it has a strong regulatory function over the digestive system function. One of the herbs that TCM uses to regulate the flow of liver qi and to benefit the digestion is BoHe or peppermint and Western research has found that enteric coated capsules of peppermint oil are very helpful. It seems the effect is greater if the oil reaches the intestines hence the enteric coating.

Careful monitoring of you food intake can help you determine if you are sensitive to particular foods, Common foods to be careful of are coffee, alcohol, fatty foods, dairy and wheat. If you see a pattern of discomfort within three or four hours of consuming try to avoid the food to take the stress of the digestion.

You could also consider seeing a therapist to consider the possibility of a pathogen such as a virus or bacteria that maybe involved, you might also benefit from taking yoghurt or a beneficial bowel bacteria supplement to rebalance the gut bacteria.

Traditional Chinese Medicine has many treatment approaches that help to regulate the Liver and ease bowel problems, they can include acupuncture, massage and herbal prescriptions. Your practitioner will usually individualise the treatment to suit the imbalances presenting in you. They will take into account your stress load and your reactions to stress then develop an eating and treatment program to relive you irritable bowel.