Irritable Bowel Syndrome and plant enzymes by Dr. Jenefer Huntoon, Naturopathic Physician, Seattle,WA, www.DrHuntoon.com
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a chronic non-inflammatory conditon affecting at least 20% of the population to some degree. The symptoms of IBS can become more severe over time and can include both diarrhea and constipation as well as abdominal pain. IBS may also be referred to as Spastic Colon.
Early detection and treatment are important because chronic irritation of the bowel can lead to an inflammatory colon condition called Crohn's. Chrohn's can then lead to an ulcerative condition called Ulcerative Colitis causing bleeding, excess mucous formation and ultimately resulting in surgery. Early detection of IBS is also important to prevent maldigestion resulting in weakness and anemia. Continued IBS can ultimately lead to arthritis, kidney stones and gallstones.
This frustrating condition is due to undigested sugars that remain in the bowel and attract water resulting in diarrhea. Most people do not realize that dairy and grains are sugars that attract water resulting in abdominal distension and pain. In my clinic, we encourage people to dramatically reduce sugar consumption as well as dairy and grains. Some people with mild cases of IBS can handle some cultured dairy products such as yogurt and cottage cheese and some sprouted grains. We also see excellent results when using plant digestive enzymes for protein, fat and carbohydrate with added enzymes to digest milk, wheat and sugar. For inflammatory conditions, we use botanicals that heal the gut wall combined with enzymes to digest the herbs.
Many IBS patients believe that they can simply take lactase (the milk digesting enzyme) and eat whatever they desire. Since this condition is a result of long term overuse of processed foods, switching to a natural unprocessed food diet is essential. Also, lactose only digests milk and doesn't help with digestion of wheat or sugar. Our best therapeutic results are achieved when specific plant enzymes are administered along with an improved diet.
Dr. Huntoon is a Northwest expert in plant enzyme therapy and has studied under Dr. Howard Loomis (the world expert in plant enzyme therapy) since 1987. She is currently one of a few Internal Health Specialists certified by Logan College.
