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Writer's pictureAlison Cowell

Irritable Bowel?

If there’s one terminology for a condition that makes me angry, it’s this one. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is used as a common explanation for irregular bowel movements and/or digestive pain. Ok, so your bowel is irritable……but why?



I was told for years that I had IBS and I believed that I did. Why would I question my doctor? He had run a few tests which were ‘all fine’ (I discovered years later that they were anything but), suggested my symptoms were a combination of peri-menopause and IBS, stuffed me with medication and that was that. Except it wasn’t. My poor body was in complete disarray and the medication, although temporarily relieving the ever-debilitating symptoms, was only adding to the turmoil.


It was only when my symptoms literally ground me to a halt on a holiday to New Zealand that I discovered I had an inflammatory bowel condition called Ulcerative Colitis, which unfortunately had been allowed to take more of a hold than it should have because the symptoms had been incorrectly treated as IBS.


Whenever I see clients in my clinics who present with any similar symptoms or who have assumed they have (or been diagnosed with) IBS, I always encourage a colonoscopy, particularly if the symptoms have been ongoing for some time. This procedure uses a camera to look inside you to determine the health of your intestines. It can reveal conditions such as coeliac disease, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis and, of course, Ulcerative Colitis.


Here are a few of the most common symptoms associated with IBS:

  • Bloating

  • Excess gas

  • Lower abdominal pain

  • A ‘dragging’ sensation

  • Irregular bowel movements

  • ·Mucousy stools

  • A feeling of not emptying

Hmmm…….so quite a few then! And each and every one of those symptoms has another potential cause, so accepting a diagnosis of IBS is not good enough, in my opinion. Not until you have thoroughly investigated and eliminated all of those other causes. In my clinical experience, I don’t recall anyone ever leaving with ‘IBS’ after we had finally unraveled their digestive history, food choices, intolerances and eating habits.


Natural supports include:

  • ·Drinking plenty of water

  • Reducing inflammation with a fish oil supplement containing at least 600mg of EPA (look at the back of the label on your product)

  • Glutamine supplement

  • Investing in a probiotic

I’ve written a Handy Book of Facts on this. It contains lots more information and tips (handy facts!) in a concise, easy-to-read booklet that will act as a useful reference. Click below for details or email alisoncowellspeaker@gmail.com



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