I B S

Irritable bowel syndrome, the name itself is telling what is going on in the disease process i.e. the lining of large are getting irritated by the factor to which it shouldn’t have any problem normally. Is there any thing wrong with the factors involved or the intestinal lining is at fault? Why the lining is being irritated?

In our body two systems come in direct contact with the external environment namely skin and the digestive system. For the maintenance of health it is must for these systems to be sensitive enough to protect the body from the unwanted influence of the environmental changes and take necessary adaptive changes accordingly. As long as this sensitivity is up to a desirable level every thing remains ok and the person enjoys different colors of health.

When these systems become too much sensitive conditions like IBS are there. The main reason for these conditions is psychic disturbance. Every one will be amazed about the relation of psychic disturbance with the lining of digestive system specially that of large intestine. There is a brain located in the walls of GIT in the form of Meisnner’s plexus and the plexus of Aurbach. These plexus are having the nerve cells more than there are in our spinal cord and theses can work independently and can decide what should be done when unwanted objects are there in their lumen.

In a person afflicted with the IBS some psychological disturbance is always there, which may in the form of suppressed anger, anxiety, depression, fear, sorrow or urge for sex. These emotional ups and downs disturb these plexuses in the same way as these affect the brain, one located in the cranium. Because of these disturbances lining of the large intestine becomes more sensitive and it starts behaving in such a way to perceive the normal contents of its lumen as abnormal.

This connection of the psychic up – downs with the GIT is not a new concept as Ayurveda has talked about this, thousands of years back. According to Ayurveda sorrow, grief and fear are among the etiologic factors of Atisaar i.e. the passage of loose stool with increased frequency. In its pathogenesis it is said that when a person thinks too much then the heat of the lacrimation – tears cause aggravation of blood resulting in increased frequency of defecation with or with out blood.  The stool may smell foully and there may be nothing more than the mucus in the stool. This condition is termed as Shokaja Atisaar and it is said to take too much time to be cured.

By saying aggravated blood as a factor in its pathogenesis perhaps The Ayurvedic Seers were indicating towards the increased level of hypersensitivity cell – IgG and CD₄₊ in the blood. These hypersensitivity cells are the prime accuse of the conditions like IBS.

In support of the psychic involvement in the IBS there is found history of physical or sexual abuse in almost all the cases. Women being affected more than men also support the same concept. Besides this there is exacerbation of the symptoms during menstrual period. This further supports the concept of psychic origin of IBS.