Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), also known as Spastic Colon, is a very common disorder. It is estimated to affect 10-20% of the population, with a 2:1 ratio of women to men suffering from the condition. The condition is notoriously erratic and unpredictable in the nature of its symptoms and triggers.

Irritable bowel syndrome is not related to any other disease, and does not develop into any other disease, such as ulcerative colitis or colon cancer. It can, however, be devastating to a persons’ professional and personal life depending on the severity of symptoms, frequency and duration of attacks.

The exact causes of IBS are unclear. Doctors cannot easily identify specific abnormalities of the bowel that produce the symptoms. Some studies suggest that the nerves of the colon may be much more sensitive than usual in people with the condition. The normal movement of food and gas through the colon causes greater than usual pain, intestinal spasms and an irregular pattern of bowel movements.

It was previously held that stress may be a major cause of IBS. This theory is no longer accepted, and it is now believed that stress is not a cause, but it can increase the symptoms, especially pain.

Abdominal pain
Bloating / bloated feeling
Intestinal cramping / spasms
Trapped wind / gas
Diarrhea
Constipation
Nausea
Dizziness
Fatigue

The symptoms a person experiences can vary from attack to attack, although a pattern generally emerges for an individual. This pattern may change over time, and variations may occur in particular attacks.

The severity, duration and frequency of ibs symptoms are similarly unpredictable. A person could experience acute symptoms, which sometimes can last for days or even weeks. Under these conditions the persons’ life could be severely affected. Sometimes the symptoms may disappear for months or even years.

Because these symptoms may be caused by a number of different bowel diseases, ibs / spastic colon is usually diagnosed only after your doctor rules out the possibility of a more serious problem.

There are no biochemical or laboratory tests for ibs, the way there is for ulcerative colitis, or colon cancer, for example. A colonoscopy (examination of the colon through a special instrument) can reveal the fried, red tissue that is a sign of ulcerative colitis. With ibs the lab tests come back normal, yet the colon does not function normally. Thus, physicians call irritable bowel syndrome a "functional disorder."

Once diagnosed, you may be able to reduce the frequency and severity of symptoms with drugs, herbal remedies, herbs and dietary control.

Natural herbal remedies are fast becoming more popular with especially those concerned with the medium- and long-term effects chemical substances may have on them. Some excellent results have recently been reported with traditional medicinal herbs in the treatment of Spastic Colon / IBS.

Results of a clinical trial published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, show the effectiveness in treatment of IBS / Spastic Colon with natural Chinese herbal remedies. Physicians found a great improvement in 78% of patients who had undergone treatment with the standard formula of natural Chinese medicinal herbs during this 16 week trial.