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This means that IBS is indisputably a physical problem. Simply put, the brain-gut interaction of people with IBS influences their bowel pain perception and motility. In a nutshell, the processing of pain information within the central nervous system varies between normal individuals and those of us with IBS, with the result that we can experience even normal GI contractions as painful. The interactions between our brains, central nervous systems, and GI systems are just not functioning properly. We have colons that react to stimuli that do not affect normal colons, and our reactions are much more severe.

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It is possible that the origins of IBS may be in the brain and not in the bowel. This doesn't mean that it IBS is "all in our heads" but that the underlying physical problem might be in our brains but not in our imaginations. IBS doesn't have emotional/spiritual cause it has physical cause somewhere in the brain-gut interaction. However, there is no question that one's emotional as well as one's physical state can exacerbate IBS symptoms.

Diet is just a tool for managing some IBS symptoms. It definitely isn't a cure. Likewise, meditation, psychotherapy, hypnotherapy and other emotional/spiritual measures are only tools for managing IBS too. I have found some of them to be quite effective. I have taught others a few of these techniques. However, like diet they are not a cure either. I am quite certain that when a cure shows up it will not be dietary, emotional or spiritual -- it will be medical.

I definitely don't believe that I can heal my IBS myself. IBS is not a emotional or spiritual problem that you can solve on your own. It is a physical problem for which we currently have a poor understanding and we are still waiting for a cure. Let's hope it doesn't take too long

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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS

The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
FODMAP Chart & Cheatsheet
The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS

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