Irritable Bowel & Bladder Syndromes
Symptoms of Irritable Bowel
Gas (often painful), bloating, indigestion, acid reflux, burning mouth or throat, mouth blisters, cramps, abdominal pain (especially after eating or drinking), constipation and/or diarrhea (or alternating), mucus in the stool, liquid seepage from the rectum, heartburn.
Possible Causes of Irritable Bowel
Digestive Disorders (gall bladder, pancreas, liver problems), Lack of Dietary Enzymes, Food Allergies (or sensitivities, especially to gluten found in grain products), Lack of Exercise, Constipation, Emotional Distress, Ongoing Stress, Pinched Spinal Nerves, Fibromyalgia, pH imbalance.
SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth) may be an issue if you had a case of food poisoning and have not felt 'normal' since. Even minor food poisoning can cause a bout of SIBO. Treatment is the same as for IBS.
There is no evidence that IBS will ever cause a disease, although disease can cause symptoms of IBS. It is important to rule out possible conditions. Irritable Bowel is most often caused by emotional stress and eating 'trigger' foods. These foods may be different for different people.
IBS, associated with symptoms of Acid Reflux, may also be related to being overweight.
Spiritual/Psychological causes of Irritable Bowel: Irritable Bowel has many different symptoms and each symptom is an expression of something going on in the mind. When it comes to IBS, there is gut-wrenching dread over something. You are worried, and this may be an understatement.
Flatulence (burping and passing gas) - Something in your life is making you gulp like a fish out of water. There is a fear here, perhaps of slowing down, for whatever reason. Is there an aspect of your life you are having a hard time digesting?
Mucous in the Stool - Mired in the past. There are layers of confused thoughts and you are having a hard time assimilating the new.
Cramps - Fear of letting go of the unnecessary or unwanted in life ( relationships, objects, old worn out commitments, etc.). Holding on out of fear of what is coming next, which may be unknown.
Associated Chakra(s): 3rd Chakra
Associated Energy Meridian(s): Lung, Large Intestine and Small Intestine Meridians
All-Natural Therapies for Irritable Bowel
Chronic Constipation can lead to body toxicity, and all manner of disease as a result. It can also cause pain involving the lower back and the sciatic nerve. The proper length of transit time between eating a meal and excreting the leftovers should be about 30 hours. It is common for those in the USA to go 48-72 hours. If you want to know how long it takes you to get something out of your system, ingest beets, chlorophyll or charcoal powder. These things will dye your stool. Try swallowing one teaspoon of Olive Oil every morning until regulated or eating 2-3 prunes every morning, or drinking 4 oz. of prune juice morning. Try only one of these methods at a time. Give it a couple of days to help you help rid constipation.
For proper moisture balance, make sure you are drinking enough water. Not staying hydrated could be your entire problem. Make sure you are drinking 6-8 cups of pure water every day. However, do not drink fluids with your meal. It slows digestion. Fluids disturb and wash away necessary acids and enzymes.Fiber is important because it helps push the nasties right on through and eliminate or at least reduce toxic waste. However, fiber absorbs moisture and if you don't have enough moisture this can be a problem causing more constipation as well. For proper moisture balance, make sure you are drinking enough water. Not getting enough water could be your only problem. You can also take Magnesium supplements. Magnesium draws moisture to the intestines. 500 mg per day should be enough. You can have as much as 1000 mg per day. Swiss Kriss is a herbal product that is both a mild stimulant and a stool softener. It can be found at most natural health stores.
Avoid spicy or acidic foods. Avoid gluten. Gluten is found in products made from grain products, especially wheat. You do not have to have an all out allergy to gluten to have a sensitivity to it that causes IBS. If you stay away from most white flour products, this will eliminate much of your gluten source. There are plenty of gluten free bread and cereal products on the market to substitute with. Here, in the Northwest, Trader Joe's is the best place to shop for them. There is also a herbal bowel regulator from India called Triphala. It is an Ayurvedic medicine, which is a mixture of three fruits. It tones the digestive system without being a stimulant laxative. It is intended for regular use and benefits improve the longer it is used. No dairy. Dairy is one of the worst culprits for Irritable Bowel. Avoid it when you are having an episode. It aggravates IBS. Many folks have sensitivities to dairy products and do not even realize it. Eat baby food if you have diarrhea until you are well past the loose stool stage. Try eating orange and yellow veggies (rather than fruit). Eat squash, carrots, pumpkin (etc.) for constipation. Soluble fiber is great, but tone down the roughage. Switch to using virgin coconut oil in your diet. I have read that people have been helped by switching to virgin coconut oil for their salads and for cooking. The equivalent of about 3 tablespoons per day is the suggested dose. Gas and bloating are often symptoms of food allergies, Candida, or unbalanced natural bacteria in the gut. Place an ice pack on your tummy for no more than 20 minutes, alternating with moist heat, up to 4 times and then break for an hour. You may also place the ice pack or moist heat on your spine to calm those nerves that stem from your spine to your stomach on your spine. For moist heat, find a thin cloth, wet it, wring it out and place on your stomach. Place a hot water bottle over the cloth. Do not use a heating pad with a moist cloth unless you have the type of heating pad that can be used with moist heat. Learn relaxation techniques or, after you heal, begin to do some gentle stretches to tone the back and abdomen. This will increase the tone and function of the gut. Refer to the TCL Exercises for HSPs web page for tips on how to exercise without causing more pain to yourself. Keep a journal. Negative feelings, especially those negative feelings we have over control issues (especially lack of control), sit in the gut. Get those feelings out of you and onto paper! For help with difficult emotions, visit the TCL Dealing With Negativity web page. Peppermint is a natural muscle relaxant and used properly, can be a wonderful stomach soother. Peppermint is found in many stomach relieving preparations, including multi-enzymes. If you have either one of these conditions, use Peppermint in capsule form so that it will bypass the throat and upper stomach and go directly to where it is needed to soothe intestinal pain. If bloated, you can also drink Peppermint tea or suck on a Peppermint candy. Be aware that if you have acid reflux or indigestion due to the lack of stomach acid Peppermint can make things worse! Peppermint actually relaxes the sphincter muscle at the top of the stomach, which keeps food from entering the esophagus. A dysfunctional sphincter muscle is one of the main causes of acid reflux. Chew 1/2 teaspoon of Fennel seeds at the end of a meal. Make sure you have some water with it so it doesn't bulk up in one spot in your gut. Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda in an 8-ounce glass of water and drink it down. It may taste bad, but it can help! Baking soda makes the digestive tract more alkaline. A little emergency seltzer water can help in moving gas bubbles along too! Take some grapefruit peel and place it in a glass of hot water. Drink it like tea. It helps keep burps away. No fluids with your meal. Fluids slow digestion by disturbing and washing away enzymes. Curcumin, the yellow coloring in Turmeric, is great for healthy pancreatic function. In fact, it has been proven to stop cancer cells by shutting down chemicals linked to tumor growth! Arugula and onions, Vitamin D and poultry, eggs and fish (rather than red meat) are good for the pancreas as well. Digestive bitters can help as well. Swedish Bitters is a 500 year-old formula (of 11 ingredients) that stimulate the secretion of digestive juices in the stomach, liver and pancreas. Something else that may help is Turmeric. It reduces gas and bloating in 87% of all cases. It is otherwise called Zeodary root and originates from India. Drink Aloe Vera juice, not gel, to heal the lower esophageal sphincter and soothes mucous membranes. It also make for a great digestive aid and helps with heartburn, IBS and acid reflux. Don't use the plant! It contains natural chemicals that will give you diarrhea. This has been removed in store bought products. Drink 1/4 cup of juice 10 minutes before a meal for 6 weeks. Fair warning! It can be nasty tasting, so you might want to mix it with juice. Chew on raw carrots. Chew them very well. Mix 2 Tablespoons of Organic Apple-Cider Vinegar to 8 oz. of water and drink. Vinegar helps to break down foods in the stomach by replacing acid that some of us no longer have. ACV is a good source of Malic Acid, which works well for reducing muscle pain. It also contributes to PH balance and weight loss. Vinegar may also be added to juice. You can do this 3-4 times throughout the day. Supplements for Irritable Bowel Magnesium (at least 500 mg per day) and other minerals are important for healthy intestinal functioning. Calcium supplements help reduce gas pain. Digestive Enzymes not only help your foods to digest, which means you can absorb nutrients, but also eliminate gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, loose stool, Colitis (mucus in the stool), pressure and pain associated with these symptoms. If you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome you cannot afford to be without a multi-enzyme digestive supplement! If you have IBS, do not experiment with Hydrocloric Acid supplements. This will aid with digestion, but is not usually a consideration for those with existing conditions of heartburn, acid reflux or peptic ulcers. Some Multi-Enzyme supplements will contain this acid in combination with essential enzymes. The stomach naturally secretes this acid to digest foods, particularly proteins. Some individuals actually have more stomach upset when their enzyme product contains this ingredient. Others say it helps. In general, do not take Hydrochloric Acid, unless doctor recommended. Probiotics (acidophilus) helps to restore the healthy flora in your bowel, improve digestion, improve mood and mental clarity, and increase healthy bacteria in the gut! Garlic's allicin (anti-microbial) wards off infection and Quercetin (anti-inflammatory) relieves aches. Eat one raw clove daily for two weeks, then twice per week thereafter. Placing garlic in your salad is an excellent way of getting it down. There are limitations to how much Garlic you should consume. It is a very powerful herb. Always follow directions on labels when using supplements. If you have any current medical issues (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc.) ask your doctor before using Garlic supplements.
A Little Indigestion F.Y.I.
Do not take antacids regularly, but only when they are necessary (for severe pain associated with gas). Try taking multi-enzymes first. They may be all you need to ease your discomfort.
Most people with indigestion have too little stomach acid. Antacids make it worse by blocking acid production. It is usually not the acid that causes the indigestion or heartburn. The discomfort is from the partially undigested food sitting in the gut due to lack of dietary enzymes and acids. Antacids coat the stomach offering some temporary relief to the symptoms, but what you really need is a change in your diet. Don't be one of those people who buy antacids, and yet continue to eat the very things that sent them running to buy them.
Be aware that if you do have acid reflux or indigestion due to the lack of stomach acid, Peppermint can make things worse. Peppermint actually relaxes the sphincter muscle at the top of the stomach, which keeps food from entering the esophagus. A dysfunctional sphincter muscle is one of the main causes of acid reflux. Now, try to find an antacid without Peppermint in it! As mentioned above, Rolaids and Digel are good choices.
Also, the feeling of something stuck in your throat, but not really, is a sign of too little acid. Stress suppresses stomach acid.
Another sign of indigestion is having a white tongue (not associated with pain or sores) that seems dry with teeth marks (indentations) on the side of your tongue. Very dry tongue and eyes may be a sign of something more serious. However, a white tongue is often a sign that you are having digestive problems or you might just be dehydrated.
An over-the-counter, fast-acting gas pain reliever is Rolaids Multi-Symptom chewable antacid. It works very well for extreme gas pain associated with indigestion. It's not all-natural, but it can help in an emergency when nothing else is available.
For the past few years, I have been plagued with the recurring problem of having sores in my mouth. They been so painful at times that I could neither talk, nor eat. I am a health technician for the hard of hearing. In my work, I am required to communicate a lot and to speak up loudly. This was difficult because any movement of my mouth would cause me great pain. This has gone on for the past three years, at least once per month and sometimes lasting weeks on end. In my research for the cause, I found there was no ‘working’ theory, only that it could be related to diet or a digestive problem. Not knowing specifics left me struggling each day with horrific pain.
During one of my flair ups I contacted The Captains Lady. Mari, after hearing of my problems, suggested that I try multi-enzyme supplements. She explained that we are born with a certain amount of enzymes, some of which help us to digest our foods and, as time passes, these ‘digestive aids’ are used up for one reason or another. When this happens the stomach is burdened, as the natural enzymes have dropped in numbers and are no longer functioning as they once did. Taking multi-enzyme supplements aids the digestive process.
I have been taking enzymes for a few months now. The flair ups happen much less often! When they do occur, I just chew some more enzymes (mine are the chewable type) and the sores go away. It has been a life changing experience for me, as I can live my daily life pain free. Thanks for your insight!
I am also looking into other suggestions, that The Captains Lady offers, on weight control and a diet that will work best for me and my body.
- Gary (Federal Way, WA)
Irritable Bladder Syndrome
Symptoms of Irritable Bladder (or Bladder Infection)
Pain in the pelvic region, bladder, urethral or vaginal areas, frequent urination or the urge to go, waking up often at night to relieve yourself, piddling on yourself when you laugh, sneeze or run, often being aware of your bladder and/or not being able to completely empty the bladder.
Pain in the pelvic region, bladder, urethral or vaginal areas as if you had a bladder infection, but you don't, is known as Intersticial Cystitis or IC (chronic inflammation of the bladder wall), is often caused by food sensitivities. It is not caused by emotional stress or psychosomatic factors.
Possible Causes of Irritable Bladder
Pinched or inflamed spinal nerves (the Sacral Nerve), hormonal imbalance (Menopause). Irritable Bladder is often related to Irritable Bowel (toxic bacteria may be crossing the bowel, vaginal and bladder walls) and pH imbalance.
Foods and chemicals that often cause problems are yeast, dairy, sugar, gluten, caffeine (and just about any food you have a sensitivity to), carbonated beverages, and oxylates.
Spiritual/Psychological cause of Irritable Bladder: Anger, probably the result of insecurity, has you in its grips. You are afraid of letting go. Blame is part of this syndrome. Pardon the expression, but you may be quite pissed off!
Associated Chakra(s): 2nd Chakra
Associated Energy Meridian(s): Urinary/Bladder Meridian
All-Natural Therapies for Irritable Bladder
Place an ice pack over your bladder, or between your legs for no more than 20 minutes, then rest for 20 minutes (or alternate with heat). Repeat up to 4 times and then break for one hour. You might also try the ice pack on your lower spine and tailbone instead, where the major nerves that lead to your bladder stem from.
Change your body's PH balance from being too acidic to being more alkaline. Too much acid in the body from eating a diet high in toxic foods can irritate the bladder. I am not referring to acid indigestion here, but rather too much acid in your blood from poor diet and other toxic elements. The TCL e-book, "Eating, Naturally!", contains a list of Acidic vs. Alkaline Foods to choose from and tells you everything you need to know to reduce acidity.
Check the list of high oxylate foods to see if you are over-eating any of them. There's also the TCL e-book, The Oxylate & Salicylate Foods List, to help you with this.
Don't wear tight, restrictive clothing.
Try not to sit for more than an hour in one position. Get up and walk around. Stretch a bit. If you have an office job, where you sit most of the day, invest in a good chair or cushion that is supportive to your 'seat' bones. Constant pressure on bones and muscles can effect nerves that lead to the bladder and can cause bladder pain.
Irritable Bladder may be related to Atrophic Vaginitis, a result of decreased estrogen or the continuation of a bacterial infection, such as Gardnerella.
Irritable Bladder is not the same as Nocturia. Nocturia is the need for sudden or frequent urination at night caused by the release of a certain hormone during oxygen deprivation, and may be a symptom of Sleep Apnea. The feeling is so great that it can cause panic attacks or a sensation of fearing movement. It may even take you awhile to return to sleep.
Try Kegal exercises once you are healed to improve the strength and tone of the vaginal and bladder walls. You can do Kegal exercises anywhere and in just about any position. No one will even know that you are doing them. Empty your bladder before you do them to avoid pressure. What you do is tighten the muscles of your vagina and rectum, as if you were trying very hard not to urinate or pass gas.
How To Perform Kegal Exercises:
Hold for a count of 5-10 seconds, or until fatigued. Then, relax for the same count. Repeat. Do a set of 10 squeezes up to 4 times per day. "Fatigued' means that if there is any discomfort, or you begin to feel your muscles grow tired, STOP. You are not supposed to stress and build your muscles, but rather tone them with gentle exercise. Can you do more or do it more often? Yes, but only gradually. Start with the above suggestion for one week. If you feel fine, then you might add a couple of seconds to each squeeze or add 5 more squeezes to each set, but not both.
Tight muscles can cause more symptoms than you probably realize. Try finding a sore muscle in your buttock. Often we don't even realize that we have sore muscles in our rear ends, but they can pull on muscles and nerves that lead to the bladder. If you find a sore spot, press on it and hold for 2 minutes. Make sure you are only pressing enough for it to feel good, not cause more pain. Afterwards, lie on the floor and do some buttock stretches by bringing your knee up to your chest (one leg at a time) and holding it for a minute and then slowly releasing your leg to the floor. Releasing the tension may release the pain in your bladder. Read more on how muscles can refer pain to other body areas on the TCL TMS & MPS web page.
Change Your Shoe Style! If you are wearing spiky high heels, or even heels at all, try wearing flats until you feel better. If your symptoms return with the shoes, buy yourself a new shoe wardrobe in all flats or low pumps. Heels cause pressure build up in the legs that can cause tension higher in the body in the bowel, bladder and reproductive areas. Recently, there has been news that wearing heels actually tightens up muscles in the lower abs, uterus and sexual organs as you wear them. This is great, but constant tension can cause muscle tissue 'tiredness' and pain. If you wear high heels one day, try wearing just flats, or pumps, the next. Rotate your shoe wardrobe!
Seeing a chiropractor, for both Irritable Bowel and Irritable Bladder, can help if the problem is pinched nerves caused by bones that are out of alignment. Of course, if you have tight muscles, they will only serve to pull the bones out of alignment once again. Massage may be a better alternative if you have tight muscles.
Change your body's PH balance from being more acidic to being more alkaline. If you are suffering from Irritable Bladder or Bowel, your diet is more than half of the problem. Allergies to foods, chemicals and additives are often at fault. Emotional stress comes in second! The TCL e-book, The Importance of pH Balance, contains an Alkaline vs. Acidic Foods List.
Drink pure water, 6-8 glasses per day.
Avoid the following: Anything fermented, squash, mayonnaise, fruit juices or cranberry juice (it is too high in sugar, use cranberry supplements instead), strawberries, hot spices, preservatives, food dyes, tomatoes, mushrooms, carbonated beverages, yogurt and cheese, fake sweeteners, caffeine and dark chocolate.
Supplements for Irritable Bladder
Cranberry supplements can help the bladder by eliminating the chance of certain bacteria from sticking to the inside of the bladder wall. Do not substitute whole cranberries, cranberry juice, or dried cranberries for this remedy. Use only supplements.
Invest in some Multi-Enzyme supplements. Make sure your enzyme supplements have all of the enzyme groups! The label should at least contain Amylase, Lipase and Cellulase. Pancreatin, papain, bromelain, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and rutin are proteolytic enzymes. Those on blood thinners should not take proteolytic enzymes. Please talk to your doctor about the use of enzymes if this is the case.
The TCL e-book, "Eating, Naturally!", offers tips on how to eat naturally, balance your pH, maintain your weight, avoid syndromes like IBS, and more! It's great for the whole family!
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