Guide to

Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome and bacterial overgrowth.

New eBook shows you a better way  for long term control of your Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Read More.. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a condition that affects as much as 20% of Americans and is amongst the top 10 most common chronic medical condition. People suffering with Irritable Bowel Syndrome have pain in the abdomen often eased by defaecation. In addition there is also bloating and change in bowel habits and form. Constipation and/or diarrhoea are symptoms that are very common. At this moment in time no one knows the exact cause of IBS, no one treatment is effective in a large group of patients and there is no cure. Medical treatment has fallen well below patients’ expectation. Although there is no specific cause for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, there are numerous suggestions. There is a higher incidence of abuse in IBS patients (Talley et al 1994: 50% of IBS patients reported abuse). In addition at least 20% of severe gastroenteritis (especially bacterial) develops Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Recently research on an antibiotic raises the possibility of another cause of IBS. Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre, Los Angeles used Rifaximin on IBS and found it to be very effective in controlling the major symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Based on the theory that IBS is caused by bacterial overgrowth, they used Rifaximin, a non-absorbed antibiotic. This antibiotic stays in the gut and is not absorbed into the blood stream. Mark Pimental, MD at Cedars-Sinai suggested a link between bloating and bacterial fermentation by using Lactulose breath test to diagnose Small Intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). This test monitors levels of hydrogen and methane on the exoired breath. These two gases are produced during fermentation by bacteria. Tests have shown that Rifaximin  reduces the bacterial level in the small gut and significantly improves Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms. The Lactulose test plus the significant benefits of Rifaximin indicates that small Intestine bacterial overgrowth may be a causative factor in Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Leonard Weinstock, MD at Washington University tested 254 Irritable Bowel Syndrome sufferers that met the Rome 11 Criteria by using the Lactulose test and found Small Intestine bacterial overgrowth in 161. The patients tested positive for SIBO showed significant improvement of IBS symptoms after treatment with Rifaximin. It seems likely that Small Intestinal bacterial overgrowth is a cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and when identified by a positive Lactulose breath test, a very effective treatment is Rifaximin. This information gives added credence to the argument that Irritable Bowel Syndrome is caused by bad bacteria. More trials are needed. In addition not all patients have a positive Lactulose breath test. It is, however, an exiciting and encouraging new avenue to pursue. At present Rifaximin is approved by the FDA for use in traveller’s diarrhoea.

Dr.Phil Hariram is a retired General Practitioner. He has treated IBS patients for 27 years. He understands why hypnotherapy is an effective treatment for IBS. His ebook, “Irritable Bowel Syndrome. You take control.” gives a unique insight into how IBS is viewed by the Subconscious Mind and how it can be altered for better and lasting control of IBS. http://www.healingibs.com

	Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.  By Dr. Phil Hariram. The most important symptom of IBS is abdominal Pain: More frequent in the lower abdomen but can be in the upper abdomen. The intensity of the pain can be from just a twinge to a severe agonising and at times terrifying pain. It is usually eased after defaecation.Read more...
	Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. By Dr. Phil Hariram. At present treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome is in the form of              Patient Education.        Dietary modification. Read more....