Dear Doctors,

I was diagnosed with IBS about 10 years ago by a specialist. I have tried several medications, but nothing has helped. My main symptoms are gas pain, bloating and alternating diarrhea and constipation. I occasionally miss work because my symptoms are so severe. Do you think that I could benefit by seeing a naturopath?

Jane in Bellevue

Dear Jane,

First, know that you are not alone! Up to one in five Americans suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and the majority of them are women. Almost half of them turn to alternative medicine to seek treatment. I believe that you would benefit from seeing a naturopath as part of your healthcare.

Most IBS patients have the symptoms that you describe: abdominal pain or discomfort, gas, bloating and constipation and/or diarrhea. Additionally, IBS patients are also suffering from fatigue, anxiety and insomnia. Occasionally, symptoms are so severe that a patient has to miss work.

As naturopaths, we would approach IBS the same way that we would approach any other disease — we look for the underlying cause, rather than just treating the symptoms. Our first step is to make sure that other diseases that can mimic IBS have been ruled out. These include celiac disease, bacterial or parasitic infections, functional problems or other inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohns and Ulcerative Colitis.

In our own clinic, one test that we find particularly helpful for our IBS patients is IgG food allergy and sensitivity testing. We typically use a blood test that looks for sensitivity to over 100 foods. We find that many people suffering from IBS are having elevated immune responses to a large number of foods. These reactions are often delayed and cumulative, so it can be difficult for a patient to recognize the foods that are triggering reactions without doing the testing. We find that most IBS patients experience significant improvement in their IBS symptoms when they eliminate the reactive foods from their diets. There is also lab testing available that tests for reactions to food additives and preservatives, which may be causing IBS symptoms.

Many IBS patients benefit from high dose probiotics (supplements that promote “good” bacteria). Stool testing helps determine what type of probiotics will be helpful or if other types of supplements or mediations are needed to change the intestinal landscape.

The naturopathic approach is to treat IBS patients as individuals. There is a large variation in IBS sufferers in terms of both symptoms and the underlying cause. We see our role as working alongside the IBS patient, to help solve the puzzle.

Good luck, Jane!

Jill Monster ND

(Send your health question to to: info@naturomedica.com)