Most Frequently Asked Questions about IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

Discover the Answers to Your Most Common IBS Questions: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding IBS (All Types)

If you’ve landed here, chances are that you (or someone close to you) have been struggling with digestive troubles for a while—maybe bloating after your meals, cramps after meals, running to the washroom too often, or feeling constipated for days. And when you search online, you keep coming across the term 'IBS'—Irritable Bowel Syndrome. 

Sounds complicated. Don’t worry. This blog will walk you through everything you need to know about IBS in the simplest way possible—not just from a medical perspective but also through the lens of Ayurveda, where every question that has been on your mind will be answered patiently.

1. What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?

IBS is not considered a disease but rather a functional digestive disorder where your gut appears normal when examined by tests, yet it actually affects how your gut functions. It disrupts your daily routine, mood, and overall well-being.

Imagine your stomach and intestines as a busy highway. In IBS, this traffic doesn’t flow smoothly. Sometimes, it moves too fast (diarrhea), sometimes too slow (constipation), and sometimes it keeps switching between the two. Along the way, gas, cramps, and discomfort join in. 

In Ayurveda, this is closely linked to imbalances in the doshas:

• Vata Imbalance → Irregular bowel movements, bloating, constipation

• Pitta Imbalance → Diarrhea, burning sensation, acidity

• Kapha Imbalance → Heaviness, mucus in stools

Ayurveda refers to this as Grahani Roga, where the digestive fire, ‘Agni’, is weak or unstable. IBS doesn’t cause any permanent damage to your intestines, but it signals that extra care is needed for your digestive system.

2. What causes IBS?

Here’s the tricky part: IBS doesn’t have one single cause; the underlying cause is a complex puzzle, usually a combination of factors, each unique to different individuals.

1. Stress and Anxiety—Your gut and brain are closely linked to each other. Problems in their interaction directly affect your digestive system.

2. Dietary Habits—Consuming too many spicy, oily, or processed foods disrupts your digestive system.

3. Gut Bacteria Imbalance—Overgrowth of “bad” bacteria, outnumbering the good ones.

4. Hormonal Changes—Many women notice IBS flare-ups during their menstrual cycle. 

5. Dysfunction in Nerves—Overstimulated or sensitive nerves in your gut lead to IBS symptoms.

6. Post-Infectious Causes – IBS symptoms can be seen in individuals after gastrointestinal infections (bacteria or virus), causing inflammation, which makes the gut more sensitive.

According to Ayurvedic principles, the root cause is your weak digestive fire, ‘Agni’. Irregular digestion causes toxins, ‘Ama’, to build up in the body, altering the equilibrium of the doshas and causing IBS symptoms.

3. What are the symptoms of IBS?

IBS shows up differently in different people. Here’s an easy-to-read table outlining the types of IBS, key symptoms, and the Ayurvedic point of view

Note: This table is designed to provide general information about key symptoms of different types of IBS as per Ayurveda's view. Do not self-diagnose based on these symptoms. In case of the presence of any symptoms, please consult an ayurvedic expert or healthcare professional for diagnosis and further treatment.  

4. Where is IBS pain located?

In IBS, migrating, cramping, sharp, or aching pain is typically felt in the lower abdomen by most people, which is relieved or improved after passing stool. Some may feel it around the belly button; others may feel it on the left or lower side. With experiencing the pain, associated symptoms like abdominal discomfort, bloating, and gas can also be felt.

Ayurvedic point of view – Pain is felt due to an imbalance and disturbed Vata dosha, which governs the movement and flow within the body.

5. How is IBS diagnosed?

There is no single ‘IBS test’ that could confirm Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Instead, doctors approach the diagnosis by observing symptoms and your digestive patterns and excluding other conditions.

Typical approach for diagnosing IBS:

1. Reviewing Medical History and Symptoms

 Your doctor will have a detailed assessment of your experience. They will ask you about:

• Feeling bloated, have abdominal discomfort

• Nature and location of pain

• About bowel habits, including consistency (hard, lumpy, or watery), frequency

• Bathroom habits, whether you have constipation, diarrhea, or both (mixed)

• Identifying the trigger points, such as stress, consumption of oily, processed foods

2. Using a Standardised Diagnostic Criteria (Rome IV Criteria)

Many physicians use this set of standardized guidelines to diagnose IBS. You may receive an IBS diagnosis when:

• Experiencing abdominal pain once a week for 3 months

• Change in stool’s frequency and consistency

• Changes in pain during defecation

3. Excluding other conditions

Many conditions, like IBD (irritable bowel disease), colon cancer, thyroid disorders, food intolerances, and bacterial infections, can mimic IBS. To rule out these diseases, a few blood tests and stool tests are done to confirm the diagnosis.

An Ayurvedic Perspective on the Diagnosis of IBS

Unlike modern medicine, Ayurveda approaches the root cause of this digestive imbalance. Instead of focusing on an isolated set of symptoms, Ayurveda understands and evaluates the underlying factors that lead to disturbances in your digestive system. While diagnosing, an Ayurvedic practitioner's assessment focuses on a few key areas:

1. Your Dosha Imbalance – Identifying which type of dosha (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) is out of balance based on your symptoms, which helps in determining the root cause of IBS.

2. Digestive Fire (Agni) – Assessing the strength of your digestive fire, whether it is strong & steady or weak and irregular. Ayurveda considers weak digestive fire (agni), which impairs your digestion and causes digestive issues, including IBS.  

3. Toxins (Ama): Undigested food known as “Ama” is the result of weak digestive fire, which accumulates over time, building up toxins in your body and clogging your body channels, causing symptoms associated with IBS.

With all these assessments, an Ayurveda expert also analyses your Prakriti (body type), dietary habits, and lifestyle habits while diagnosing IBS. Completing this picture with nadi pariksha (pulse examination) and ‘Jivha Parikshan’ (tongue examination), which enables creating a personalised treatment plan for each individual to restore balance.

6. What triggers IBS symptoms?

This is where you need to play detective in your own life. Every individual's IBS symptom triggers may vary from person to person. A few common triggers are:

1. Dietary Triggers

• High FODMAP Foods

• Eating oily, fried, or junk foods

• Drinking too much tea, coffee, or alcohol

• Dairy products

• Carbonated beverages

• Irregular meal timings affect the digestive system

2. Psychological Triggers

• Stress and anxiety worsen the IBS symptoms

• Hampering the gut-brain connection increases sensitivity to pain 

• Sleep deprivation also affects our gut functioning

3. Hormonal Imbalances

• This is particularly seen in women with IBS; around their menstrual cycle, they experience worsening in their symptoms (gas & bloating)  due to fluctuating levels of estrogen and progesterone

In Ayurveda, these triggers throw doshas out of balance, which readily affects and weakens the digestive fire (agni), worsening IBS symptoms.

7. Can IBS be cured?

The answer to this question isn’t as easy as “yes” or “no.” The answer to this question lies in those underlying factors that determine the condition in IBS. As IBS is a functional disorder involving multiple contributing factors like diet, stress, and lifestyle, which affect the functioning of your gut, identifying and treating just one cause would not be so beneficial; instead, it requires a multifaceted treatment strategy. IBS is not a disease but a digestive disturbance that doesn’t require any cure but strategies to manage the symptoms and bring them long-term relief, reducing the recurrence of symptoms.

8. How is IBS treated?

The treatment protocol for every individual with IBS is not the same; what works for one may not work for others. It requires a multistrategic approach that is tailored to each unique set of symptoms you are facing. While IBS in allopathic treatment is treated just to provide relief from the symptoms, Ayurveda recognizes the underlying cause behind this condition and approaches to provide overall support to the body’s health.

The table given below provides a clearer understanding of how IBS is treated and managed in modern medicine and Ayurveda:

9. What foods should I eat with IBS?

Reducing bloating, regulating bowel movements, and aiding digestion can be managed through the right choices of food you have. Triggers for every individual may vary, but a few food choices that are considered safe for people with IBS are:

A Few Dietary Tips: 

• Have smaller and frequent meals

• Well-cooked food and easy-to-digest food choices

• Staying hydrated

• Avoid late snacking

10. What foods should I avoid with IBS?

Being mindful of what you eat throughout your day keeps your flare-ups and symptoms in check. Dealing with IBS means certain foods can trigger uncomfortable symptoms for you. Steering clear of basically anything that feels heavy, sticky, hard to digest, and gas-forming for your stomach.

Certain foods you have to be careful about:

• Spicy, oily, processed, and fried foods

• Curd, milkshakes, cheese, sweets, and products made from condensed milk 

• Excessive caffeine and alcohol

• Artificial sweeteners, carbonated drinks, sodas, and packaged foods

• Uses of spices

• Rajmah (kidney beans), chick peas, and black beans

11. Is IBS a chronic condition?

Yes, IBS is considered a chronic disorder. However, it doesn’t mean it's incurable and unmanageable, characterised by symptoms which come and go and severity fluctuates over time, which can come because of stress and indiscretion in your diet.

There’s nothing to be tense or stressed about a chronic and long condition, as it doesn’t damage your intestines or turn into something life-threatening. It’s more about management than cure.

With Ayurveda’s goal of management and its long-term approach focusing on your diet, lifestyle, stress, and with the help of detoxification therapies and herbal medications, you can control your symptoms while bringing balance to your body’s health, supporting your digestion, and improving your quality of life. Think of it like having a sensitive stomach that needs a little extra care.

12. How can I manage IBS daily?

Managing IBS daily is just a proactive approach to your daily habits. It involves building a routine and being disciplined with your dietary changes, stress management, and lifestyle adjustments. A few daily habits and simple adjustments you can make to reduce flare-ups and keep your symptoms under control are:

• Eat your meals on time; no skipping meals

• Chewing your food slowly and properly

• Stay hydrated

• Regulating your dincharya, waking up, eating, and sleeping at the same time, helps in regulating your vata dosha 

• Incorporating gentle body movements in your routine, such as daily walks, yoga (pawanmukta asan), and breathing exercises (pranayam-bhramari), which stimulate your digestion.

• Prioritising your sleep helps in reducing stress and regulating the gut-brain axis

• Identifying and tracking your triggers by maintaining a diary about food and symptoms. 

13. What are common home remedies for IBS?

Incorporating these few natural remedies into your daily routine helps in soothing the gut, improving digestion, and reducing inflammation:

• Ajwain + Black Salt: Take a pinch after meals to relieve gas

• Ginger tea and peppermint tea →  Helps reduce bloating and improve digestion

• Buttermilk with roasted cumin → Calms your stomach

• Fennel Seeds → Chew after meals to reduce bloating

• Adding a teaspoonful of Cow Ghee to your meals soothes the intestines

Note—Before trying any of these remedies, it's always best to consult an Ayurvedic expert to see if it’s safe for your condition.

14. What is the best Ayurvedic treatment for IBS?

In Ayurveda, the most effective treatment is one that is tailored to your ‘Prakriti’ (body constitution), ‘Vikriti’ (current imbalance), and the type of IBS you are experiencing (Vata, Pitta, or Kapha dominant). Ayurveda focuses on balancing imbalanced doshas, strengthening digestive fire, and removing accumulated toxins from the body.

There isn’t a single treatment approach for IBS. Instead, an Ayurvedic expert works on various factors that are unique to each individual, making it a multifaceted treatment strategy to help you reduce flare-ups and recurrence of symptoms. 

This personalised treatment plan includes:

1. Dietary Management

• Keep tracking your trigger foods, which worsen your symptoms.

• Including types of foods that are beneficial for you and avoiding certain foods.

• Eating well and freshly cooked foods, which are better for your digestion 

2. Use of Herbal Medication

An Ayurvedic expert advises you on medications that are useful in your condition, whether it's vata-dominant, pitta-dominant, or kapha-dominant.

3. Incorporating Daily Lifestyle Habits

• Practising yoga and meditation in your daily routine.

• Eating and sleeping at fixed times and staying consistent helps in your Digestion.

• Breathing exercises (pranayama) help you manage daily stress, which calms your mind and further helps in maintaining the balance between gut & brain and manages IBS symptoms.

4. Panchakarma Therapies

A few Ayurvedic detoxification therapies like Basti (medicated enema), Virechana (therapeutic purgation), and Abhyanga (oil massage) help in eliminating toxins, maintaining the balance of the aggravated doshas, and supporting overall health. 

15. Is IBS associated with other health conditions?

Yes, IBS is often linked with other health conditions, as the gut is connected to other body systems, and you can feel the disturbance in your digestion.
A few common conditions include: 

• Anxiety and Depression

• Hormonal Imbalance

• Sleep disorders

• Skin Problems

• Chronic Pain

• Fatigue 

Ready to find your balance? Reclaim your Digestive Wellness at Yukti Herbs

Millions of people live with it, but with the right knowledge, care, and guidance, IBS becomes manageable. With Ayurveda, a healthier and happier gut is within your reach. Take charge and be mindful, as Ayurveda provides you with a gentle yet powerful approach. 

At Yukti Herbs, we specialise in providing personalised Ayurvedic care for IBS. If you feel your digestion is complicating your life, reach out, and we’ll simplify your problems.

Remember – your gut is like your second brain. Treat it with love and it will treat you with health

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