The Irritable Bowel Syndrome Problem
In the UK, 1 in 3 people suffer with IBS. It is twice as common in women than men and it is estimated to cost the UK economy £800,000 a year in terms of lost productivity. The NHS recognise that there is ‘no cure’ and often recommend that diet and lifestyle changes can help. Many of our clients who experience IBS are looking for solutions with us as they haven’t found any relief with the traditional route.
IBS Symptoms
Common irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms include:
stomach pain or cramps
bloating
diarrhoea
constipation
farting (flatulence)
passing mucus in stools
tiredness and a lack of energy
feeling sick (nausea)
backache
bowel incontinence
How are Balanced Wellness different?
A Balanced Wellness practitioner, based in Havant, Hampshire UK, has been trained in the cutting-edge research around IBS. We created an IBS protocol alongside a Portsmouth based gastroenterologist and we continue to work with medical professionals in this area.
A Balanced Wellness practitioner will review your health history including
- how much stress you deal with
- your diet and any food intolerances and how they could be impacting your gut
- how your hormones could be affecting symptoms
- bacterial imbalances including SIBO
- structural misalignments including the IC valve
If you aren’t working with a practitioner who understands all of these different aspects, then you aren’t getting a whole health approach and you are unlikely to get to the bottom of your IBS.
We are part of a IBS Clinical Research Project
We are currently participating in a clinical research project to evaluate kinesiology’s effectiveness as an intervention with irritable bowel syndrome. Currently the NHS states (NHS Choices) that there is no cure for IBS and offers its patients medications, diet and lifestyle changes as interventions.
The aim of the research is to gather data on individuals with IBS who receive kinesiology sessions as the intervention. The results will be collated, analysed and written up to be submitted to a research journal.
Clients who have received a medical diagnosis of IBS by their GP/medical professional meet the criteria to have their data used anonymously in this important project.
With this data, we aim to provide measured results of our clinical success with IBS, cementing ourselves as a credible solution to IBS relief.
How do we work with IBS?
We use a whole health approach called the The BEES.
- Biochemical – Diet, food intolerances, targeted supplementation, education around contraceptives and hormone replacements
- Emotional – Emotional coaching and other techniques to clear blocks and stress that can be contributing to symptoms
- Electrical – Techniques and bodywork to ensure the body is working effectively
- Structural – Correcting posture and important structures such as the Ileo-caecal valve in the bowel for IBS or uterine lift for pelvic misalignment
Other therapies often focus on one area and therefore can miss important aspects of health. Our work focusses on a dysfunctional hormonal interplay that is the underlying cause of digestive disturbance. This hormonal interplay is detailed in our clinic model called The Triangle of Hormonal Health.
This approach is effective because it works on all the aspects of the hormones that are causing digestive symptoms.
We ensure that the foundations of health are in place. We will work on improving your diet, eliminating food intolerances, reducing stress, improving gut function and supporting your body with adaptogenic herbs, vitamins and minerals.
The Bowel Hormone Storm
When we eat a diet that is high carbohydrate, highly processed or contains inflammatory grains, we imbalance our blood sugars.
This has a knock-on effect with digestive hormones such as motilin which is the hormone that is released in the upper small intestine. It stimulates gastric and small intestine motility, causing undigested food to move into the large intestine.
Imbalanced blood sugars create adrenaline and cortisol which can cause the oesophagus to go into spasm, increase the acid in the stomach, and reduce enzyme output from the pancreas.
With heightened stress, we see the leg muscles rotate in the legs which can misalign the pelvis. This in turn misaligns the ileo-cecal valve which causes digestive disturbance and pain.
With high insulin, high cortisol and impaired motilin and serotonin, we see an increase in stress and oestrogen and a reduction in sex hormones like progesterone.
High oestrogen and gut disturbance contribute to high histamine, increased inflammation and a heightened immune response which can show itself as allergies or food intolerances.
If the body is unable to process and balance these hormones, we stay in the blood sugar rollercoaster which adds to our desire to eat erratically.
To balance the hormone bowel storm, we start with the basics of avoiding food intolerances, balancing blood sugars and reducing stress.
How many sessions will I need?
The number of Kinesiology sessions varies on the person, their problems and how well they follow any changes recommended to their diet and lifestyle. Generally, people feel a significant improvement within their first one to three appointments. Once optimum health has been attained, regular appointments keep the body balanced and prevent further ill health.
Where is your clinic?
We are based in Havant, Hampshire, UK but we also offer remote consultations for those who do not live locally.
How long is an appointment?
The first Kinesiology appointment will take approximately 60-90 minutes, subsequent sessions are 50-60 minutes. Prior to the first session, all new clients will be required to fill in a comprehensive medical history questionnaire and consent form.
What happens in an appointment?
Firstly, choose and book an appointment with one of us. You can chose to come to our clinic in Havant, Hampshire, UK or we can arrange a remote appointment on zoom.
Once you have booked and paid for your session you will be sent a weblink with important information for you to watch and read ahead of your appointment.
The web page will also include forms to complete and diet information so you can get started before you see your practitioner.
In the session the practitioner will go over your health history and discuss dietary tweaks including potential food intolerances and they will build a bespoke treatment plan according to your symptoms.
To test for imbalances and the correct supplementation, we use muscle testing as pioneered by Dr George Goodheart, for immediate feedback from the body. We then correct any imbalances using a variety of tools and techniques, including the recommendation of targeted nutritional supplementation or bioidentical hormones and give you a clear homework plan to support your progress.
Food Intolerances
Food intolerances is a core part of our work. Through our clinical experience and partnership with the College of Functional Wellness, we have developed a food hierarchy that we explore and tailor to your digestive needs.
For some clients, eliminating the ‘gateway allergens’ which include wheat and milk can give instant IBS relief. For others, we need to explore other food intolerance elimination. The benefit of seeing a Balanced Wellness practitioner is we are able to identify food intolerances using muscle testing.
For more on this, watch this video.
Will I need any lab tests?
Functional Kinesiology offers an alterative to lab testing but at a more affordable price with immediate results.
However, we can also order lab tests if necessary and we work with Genova Diagnostics, Healthpath and Nordic Labs who provide DUTCH testing.
Where issues are out of our remit and you require specific medical prescriptions, we work with a team of functional doctors and will refer you to the appropriate practitioner. An example would be if you require medication for SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) we will recommend you work with a Gastroenterologist.
Food Intolerance Talk
- £20one off
-
- what happens in the body when we eat foods we are intolerant to
- how food intolerances contributes to IBS
- why food intolerances need to be the foundation of your diet
- which foods could be an intolerance and why
- what is the food intolerance hierarchy
- which foods create optimal digestion
One to One Appointment from
- £80per appointment
-
- 1 x 90 minute appointment in our Havant or Waterlooville clinic
- Kinesiology
- Food intolerance testing
- Nutrition, diet and lifestyle advice
- Structural balance
- Emotional coaching
IBS Clinical Trial
- £150one off
-
- 6 sessions over 3 months with a Kinesiology professional
- Calculates as £25 per kinesiology session
- Your results will be documented and recorded for our IBS clinical trial
- You will be required to complete a questionnaire on each appointment to track your progress
- You will need an IBS diagnosis from your GP or gastroenterologist to take part
- You will receive kinesiology in session and be given guidance on food and supplements