IBS Awareness Month

Irritable Bowl Syndrome or IBS is one of the most common stress related Symptoms I see people in my clinic with. This can be a painful and embarrassing condition, which many people put up with, and can be hugely exacerbated in times of stress. Pains in the gut, bloating, excessive or trapped wind, and constipation or sudden diarrhoea are some of the most common symptoms.

In Chinese Medicine, IBS can be related to the emotion of grief or sadness, or not wanting to let go of something in your life. The bowel is designed to release waste matter; if there is something that is no longer required in our lives, and we are hanging on to it emotionally, not wanting to let it go, this can manifest in the physical state of constipation or IBS. 

It also can relate to our personal boundaries in life. If we find ourselves being pushed into areas or situations we are not happy with – say in work or a relationship, or we feel out of control, this can also contribute towards IBS symptoms. Our body is literally trying to assert control over what is released or struggles to contain matter.

So often in consultation with clients who are struggling with IBS  when I start to explore some of these areas with them it turns out to be exactly what’s going on for them at some level in their lives.

With the support of Shiatsu we can begin to address those areas of difficulty which are so often the underlying cause of stress and the aggravating factors for IBS, and the body begins to respond, with a decrease in symptoms.

There are a few things you can do for yourself in managing IBS day to day.

Most importantly look at what you can do to reduce your stress levels: (and keep an eye out for my blog posts on managing stress).

• Do some daily exercise. This releases the build up of stress hormones in your system, which otherwise have no-where to go so continue to course through your system and increase the feeling of stress.
  

• Build in some down time in your day.
  

• Get out into nature – go for a walk or cycle ride. Spending time in nature has been proven to decrease stress levels.
  

• Practice breathing techniques to increase the flow of oxygen around your system my favourite is 7:11 Breathing (breath in for the count of 7 and out for the count of 11 (start with a quick paced count at your natural breath rate then begin to slow it down gently don’t launch into trying to doing big long breaths ease into it!)
  

• Certain foods can also aggravate your symptoms so try avoiding: Alcohol, Fizzy drinks, Chocolate, Caffeinated drinks such as tea, coffee or Cola, Processed Snack foods such as crisps or biscuits Fatty or fried food  (I know! All the fun stuff!! But you’ll be grateful in the long run!) 

• There is also a great acupressure point for easing constipation, which I teach my clients to press, with great results!  “Large Intestine 4” is the technical name, and the translation from the Chinese name for this point is the “Great Eliminator”  (Please note this point must be avoided during pregnancy.) LI4  is found in the highest point of flesh on the hand  between the thumb and forefinger when you squeeze them together. Find this point, then relax the hand, and apply pressure with your other thumb or finger. Sometimes it can feel tender or bruised. – you’ll know you’ve got the right spot if this is the case! This point is also great for pain relief especially from tooth ache, or frontal headaches.  
  

Shiatsu is a space where emotions and symptoms can be explored in a safe and supportive way, enabling the receiver to relax and in this relaxed state the body begins to heal. In my practice I offer time to explore what’s going on, and support people to find ways of helping themselves to a better state of peace and ease in their lives.

Ultimately we are all responsible for our own health, and one of the practices I often recommend to my clients to help improve their health and wellbeing is that of Qi Gong (pronounced Chee Gong). This is an ancient practice with is similar to Tai Chi in that it is a series of slow movements working with the breath, but is designed to activate and improve the Circulation of our Qi (chi or Ki) which we work with in Shiatsu. By bringing this practice into your daily or weekly routine, you are nourishing and supporting your body's inbuilt system, as we do in Shiatsu, building health, wellbeing and resilience. 

I often show clients a few simple Qi Gong exercises, but nothing beats an actual class! For clients in Bristol I would recommend taking a look at this website www.qigong-bristol.co.uk which list local practitioners and classes available. and also explains a little about Qi Gong and some of the benefits!If you can't make a class,  you can find heaps of instructional videos on the internet too. Why not give it a go and see how you feel?!
Maybe see you there!!