Lajšanje sindroma razdražljivega črevesja s pomočjo TKM in akupunkture

Tradicionalna kitajska medicina lahko ljudem, ki trpijo za IBS-om, ponudi veliko načinov pomoči, rezultati pa so zelo zadovoljivi.

Kaj je sindrom razdražljivega črevesa (IBS)?

Sindrom razdražljivega črevesa je zelo pogosta črevesna motnja. Vključuje bolečine v trebuhu s spremembami v črevesnih navadah. IBS je opisan kot "funkcionalna" bolezen - črevesje ne delujejo ustrezno, čeprav s pomočjo diagnostičnega testiranja ni strukturnih poškodb.

IBS ni strukturni problem, kar pomeni, da ni anatomskih sprememb, niti ni biokemijske ali nalezljive narave. Po pregledu črevesja zdravnik po navadi ne najde nič napačnega, brez vnetja in brez očitnih znakov bolezni v nasprotju z ulceroznim kolitisom ali vnetno črevesno boleznijo, s katero se IBS pogosto zamenjuje. Vnetni vzorci vključujejo krvavenje v blatu, telesno poškodbo debelega črevesa, raka ali drugih resnih črevesnih vzorcev.

Ženske so prizadete približno 2-3 krat več kot moški, pri čemer je povprečna starost od začetka med 20. in 40. letom.

Kaj lahko povzroči IBS?

Konvencionalna medicina ne pozna natančnega vzroka bolezni, vendar so znani nekateri dejavniki, ki lahko sprožijo njen nastanek, med drugim:

• stres, depresija in tesnoba

• okužba prebavil

• zastrupitev s hrano

• določena hrana in pijača (npr. alkohol, kofein)

• laktozna intoleranca

• prehitro ali prekomerno uživanje hrane

• nekatera ​​zdravila

• menstrualni ciklus

• genetski dejavniki

Simptomi IBS-a

Ljudje z IBS imajo stalne ali ponavljajoče se bolečine ali nelagodja v trebuhu, ki jih povzroča gibanje črevesja. Nekateri bolniki z IBS so nagnjeni k zaprtju, drugi k driski. Pri velikem številu ljudi z IBS pa se obdobja driske in zaprtja izmenjujeta. Drugi simptomi lahko vključujejo:

• neredne črevesne navade

• tekoče blato

• zaprtje

• menjavanje driske in zaprtja

• krči

• plini in napenjanje

• neredno odvajanje blata, ki je trdo in boleče

• sluz v blatu

Kako lahko TKM pomaga?

IBS je zelo odziven na kitajsko medicino (akupunktura, zelišča, prehrana in nasveti za način življenja), zahvaljujoč celostnemu in celovitemu razumevanju našega telesa. Medtem ko konvencionalna medicina obravnava simptom in skuša najti vzrok zanj, tradicionalna kitajska medicina gleda na telo kot celoto. Vsak simptom se obravnava v povezavi z vsemi drugimi simptomi, ki se pojavljajo. Cilj izvajalca TKM je oceniti celotno konstitucijo pacienta - upoštevajoč fiziološke in psihološke vidike.

TKM razumevanje IBS-a

V kitajski medicini lahko motnja želodca, vranice, jeter, ledvic in debelega črevesa povzroči IBS. IBS je zapletena bolezen in ima pogosto kombinacijo vzorcev, ki so odgovorni za nastalo neravnovesje. Nekateri skupni vzorci, povezani z IBS, vključujejo:

• Pomanjkanje qi-ja v želodcu: to se pogosto izraža v utrujenosti in diareji, ki je hujša, ko so ljudje preobremenjeni. Te simptome pogosto spremlja tudi bolečina v zgornjem delu trebuha, ki jo je mogoče olajšati s pritiskom na boleče področje. Bolniki imajo lahko tudi težave s plini, napihnjenostjo in prebavnimi motnjami.

• Prekomerni hlad: pogosta vodena driska je še bolj intenzivna zlasti po surovi hrani in mrzli hrani. Bolniki s tovrstnimi težavami imajo običajno hladne okončine in šibek imunski sistem. Ženske imajo lahko še nereden menstrualni cikel, moški pa nizek libido in neaktivne spermije.

• Stagnacija qi-ja jeter: bolniki imajo lahko blato v obliki kroglic in bolečine zaradi napihnjenosti, zlasti na področju pod rebri. Poleg tega jih lahko muči še nespečnost, slabost, spahovanje ali težave z želodčno kislino. Simptome lahko sproži ali poslabša stres.

• Vlažna toplota v debelem črevesju: Glavni simptom je driska z občutkom nujnega odvajanja in bolečina v obliki krčev. Driska je pogosto intenzivna in rumene barve, z močnim vonjem ter pekočim občutkom. Lahko jo spremljajo hemoroidi.

TKM zdravljenje za IBS

IBS je očitno zapletena bolezen. Njegove številne manifestacije zahtevajo različne pristope pri zdravljenju v TKM. Vzorci neravnovesja v telesu, ki smo jih opisali zgoraj, se lahko pojavijo tudi v kombinaciji, zato je potrebno ustrezno prilagoditi zdravljenje. Pri vsakem težjem primeru IBS-a je terapija TKM prilagojena posamezniku, prav tako so pacientu prilagojeni tudi klasični kitajski zeliščni recepti.

Zdravljenje v kombinaciji s kitajsko zeliščno medicino in akupunkturo stremi k odpravljanju osnovnega vzroka za stanje IBS-a, tako, da razbremeni stres, povrne telo v ravnovesje, izboljša delovanje črevesja, poveča odpornost imunskega sistema (proti infekcijam) in izboljša splošno zdravje.

[Preberite si o uspešnih primerih zdravljenja IBS]

Prehrana in sindrom razdražljivega črevesja

Izogbanje hrani, ki ustvarja notranjo vlažnost in povzroča poškodbe vranice, je ključnega pomena pri zdravljenju IBS-a. Neprimerna hrana pri neravnovesju vranice so:

• surova zelenjava in sokovi

• sadje in sadni sokovi

• ledena voda in ledene pijače

• zamrznjene sladice

• ocvrta in mastna hrana

• močno predelana hrana

• bela moka

• sladkor

[Preberite si več o primernih smernicah za prehransko terapijo]

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome Relief by TCM and acupuncture

Traditional Chinese Medicine has a lot to offer for patients suffering from IBS and the results are very satisfactory.

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a very common intestinal disorder. It involves abdominal pain with changes in bowel habits. IBS is described as a ‘functional’ illness — the intestines aren’t functioning appropriately although there is no structural damage found through diagnostic testing.

IBS is not a structural problem, meaning there is no anatomical change, nor is it biochemical or infectious in nature. Upon examination of the bowel, the doctor usually finds nothing wrong, no inflammation, and no evident signs of disease unlike in ulcerative colitis or inflammatory bowel disease, which IBS is often confused with. The inflammatory patterns would include bleeding in the stools, physical damage to the colon, cancer or other serious bowel patterns.

Women are affected about 2-3 times more than men, with the average age of onset being between 20 and 40.

What can cause IBS?

The exact cause of the illness is not known under conventional medicine, but certain factors are known to trigger its onset, including:

• stress, depression and anxiety,

• gastrointestinal infection,

• food poisoning,

• certain foods and drinks (e.g. alcohol, caffeine),

• lactose intolerance

• eating too quickly or too much,

• some medication,

• menstrual cycle,

• genetic factors.

Symptoms of IBS

People with IBS have continuous or recurrent abdominal pain or discomforts that are relieved by a bowel movement. Some people with IBS have constipation, others have diarrhoea . Many people with IBS alternate between periods of constipation and diarrhoea. Other symptoms may include:

• irregular bowel habits,

• loose stools,

• constipation,

• alternating diarrhea and constipation,

• cramping,

• gas and bloating,

• infrequent stools that are hard and painful,

• mucus in the stools.

How TCM may help

IBS is very responsive to Chinese medicine (acupuncture, herbs, diet and lifestyle recommendations) thanks to its comprehensive and holistic understanding of our body. Whereas conventional medicine looks closely at a symptom and tries to find an underlying cause, Traditional Chinese Medicine looks at the body as a whole. Each symptom is looked at in relationship to all other presenting symptoms. The goal of the TCM practitioner is to assess the entire constitution of the patient — considering both physiological and psychological aspects.

TCM understanding on IBS

In Chinese medicine, the malfunction of Stomach, Spleen, Liver, Kidney, and Large Intestine can all cause IBS. IBS is a complicated disease, and often has a combination of patterns responsible for the resulting imbalance. Some of the common patterns associated with IBS include:

Stomach Qi deficiency: Common manifestations are fatigue and diarrhoea which is worse when they are overexerting themselves. This is often accompanied by upper abdominal pain which may be relieved by pressing over the painful area. Patients may also have gas and bloating and indigestion.

Excess Cold: Frequent watery diarrhea usually worsen after food especially cold and raw one. Patients usually have cold extremities and weak immunity. Female patients could also have menstruation irregularity while male could have low libido and inactive sperm.

Liver Qi stagnation: Patient may have pellet shaped stools and distending pain, particularly in the area below the ribs. There may also be insomnia, nausea, belching or acid reflux. Symptoms can be triggered or aggravated by stress.

Damp-Heat in the large intestine: Diarrhea with a sense of urgency or abdominal cramping are key symptoms. The diarrhea is commonly yellow and explosive with a strong odour and a sensation of burning. It could be be accompanied by hemorrhoids.

TCM treatment for IBS

IBS is clearly a complicated illness. Its many manifestations require very different treatment approaches in TCM. The patterns of disharmony mentioned above may even appear in combination and treatment must be adjusted accordingly. In any severe case of IBS, TCM treatment will be customised for the individual and classical herbal recipes will be modified for the patient.

Treatment with Chinese Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture combined for IBS aims to eliminate the underlying cause of the condition by relieving stress, bringing the body into balance, improving bowel function, increasing immunity against infection, and promoting health in general.

[Read about successful cases of IBS treatment]

Diet and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Avoiding foods that create Internal Dampness and cause Spleen damage is crucial in the recovery of IBS. Inappropriate foods with Spleen imbalances would include:

• raw vegetables and juices

• fruit and fruit juices

• iced water and iced drinks

• frozen desserts

• fried foods and greasy foods

• highly processed foods

• white flour

• sugar

[Read more about appropriate food therapy guidelines]