Easing IBS Symptoms with Massage

IBS symptoms affect 1 in 5 Americans. Women are twice as likely to suffer from this condition as men. This common gastrointestinal disorder can cause discomfort and embarrassment. Though it is a chronic condition the symptoms can be controlled.

IBS stands for irritable bowel syndrome, and is also sometimes referred to as spastic colon. The symptoms are varied and many people experience a mild form of these symptoms. Very few people have severe IBS. The symptoms include:

• gas
• bloating
• abdominal pain or cramping
• diarrhea or constipation
• mucus in the stool
• sense of urgency for bowel movements
• feeling of incomplete evacuation

In addition to these symptoms, some people also feel nausea, lethargy, trouble sleeping, and depression. This disorder can accompany other disorders like acid reflux, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, headaches, and back pain.

If you think you have irritable bowel syndrome, you should see your doctor to rule out other gastrointestinal problem like celiac's disease, a food allergy, or even colon cancer.

When you go for your appointment your doctor will ask you some questions and give you a series of tests to try to determine the cause of your symptoms.

Doctors are unsure why some people develop IBS symptoms. It could come on because of stress and anxiety. Food often triggers the problem. Common food triggers are:

• dairy
• gluten
• artificial sweeteners
• carbonated beverages
• fatty foods
• chemical food additives
• chocolate
• alcohol
• red meat

Cutting these foods out of your diet and slowly reintroducing them will help you determine which ones are your triggers. Once you know what triggers your IBS symptoms, you'll be able to avoid eating those foods.

Massage Therapy for IBS

Massage therapy can be used in an IBS treatment plan to alleviate some your IBS symptoms. Massage eases the stress and anxiety that can make the conditions worse. It can also be used to treat some of the conditions that are associated with the disease like depression, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, headaches and back pain.

An abdominal massage can be useful in treating the abdominal pain, gas and constipation associated with the condition. A professional massage therapist will palpate the abdominal area looking for obstructions and pockets of gas. Then the therapist will gently massage you to break up those obstructions and gas and help it to pass through the intestinal tract. If you are having an acute flare-up of IBS you should avoid massage because it may cause more irritation.

You can also perform self-massage to help ease your IBS symptoms. Lay comfortably on your back with your knees bent and your feet resting on the floor. Put some oil or massage lotion on your stomach so you can get some good glide. Massage your abdomen gently in a clockwise motion following the flow of the intestines and colon. Starting at your navel use your fingertips to make a clockwise circle, spiraling outward. Now starting on the right side of near the appendix use small circular strokes up to the ribcage. Do the same small circular strokes along the bottom of the ribcage. Once you get to the left side massage straight down the left side to just below the navel. Massage across the abdomen to just under the navel.

Besides massage, you can use other techniques to control your IBS. Because it is a digestive disorder following an elimination diet that will help you determine food sensitivities and heal dysfunction in your gut will help ease IBS symptoms and even cure the problem completely. I recommend following the GAPS diet. This diet was developed by a doctor to treat the digestive problems of children with autism but it has been used successfully by adults with autoimmune and digestive disorders. Gut and Psychology Syndrome Diet better known as GAPS will tell you what you need to know about the diet. You can find out more about that diet here.

This video gives 10 examples of steps you can take to deal with your problems with IBS.