The Best Chinese Herbs for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhea, oh my! These may sound like the symptoms of a stomach bug, but for the 45 million Americans who struggle with IBS, they are a common part of daily life.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is more than just occasional digestive discomfort. It is a chronic condition that can significantly impact your quality of life – that is, until you find a way to restore healthy digestive balance.

While Western medicine typically treats IBS symptoms with dietary changes and medications, Chinese herbal medicine offers a powerful natural ally to stop your symptoms (and emergency runs to the bathroom).

Read on to find out how the best Chinese herbs for IBS can help you feel comfortable and confident in your digestive health.

What is IBS?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a complex and often misunderstood or misdiagnosed chronic digestive condition. It primarily affects the large intestine, which can lead to a range of uncomfortable symptoms. The most common? Belly discomfort or pain and trouble with bowel habits: either going more or less often than normal (diarrhea or constipation) or having different kinds of stool (thin, hard, or soft and liquid).

IBS is more common in women than in men and typically diagnosed before reaching 50 years of age. Unlike other gastrointestinal disorders, IBS doesn’t cause changes in bowel tissue or increase your risk of colorectal cancer. However, it’s a long-term condition that needs to be managed over time or will significantly interfere with daily life.

Symptoms of IBS

Living with IBS can be particularly challenging because the symptoms can be unpredictable and impact emotional well-being, making it a difficult condition to manage without proper treatment. But, knowing what symptoms to look for is the first step to getting the best support you need to heal your gut:

• Abdominal pain (often relieved after a bowel movement)
• Diarrhea, constipation, or a combination of both
• Extreme and sudden urge to use the bathroom 
• Bloating and gas
• Food intolerances or sensitivities to certain foods 
• Fatigue and difficulty sleeping

What Causes IBS?

Researchers are still determining the exact cause of IBS, but here’s what we do know: IBS likely develops in response to not just one issue, but a combination of factors.

• Gut-Brain Axis Disturbances
  Miscommunications between the brain and the intestines can cause the body to overreact to normal digestive processes and cause pain, diarrhea, or constipation.
  
• Gastrointestinal Motor Problems
  When the GI tract doesn’t move normally (too fast or too spasmodic), this can lead to IBS symptoms and cause either constipation or diarrhea.
  
• Visceral Hypersensitivity
  Those with IBS may have an increased nervous system response or sensitivity to abdominal pain or discomfort.
  
• Intestinal Infections
  Some people develop IBS after a severe bout of diarrhea caused by bacteria or a virus.
  
• Food Sensitivities
  Sensitivities to certain foods can trigger IBS symptoms without causing a full allergic or immune response.
  
• Genetics
  IBS may be passed down through genetics, meaning a family history of IBS may increase the risk of developing the condition.
  
• Psychological Factors
  The gut-brain connection is strong. Stress and emotional triggers are often linked to the development of IBS, or the worsening of existing symptoms.

Western and Conventional Treatment for IBS

Western medicine tackles Irritable Bowel Syndrome by focusing on easing the symptoms to make life more comfortable for those dealing with it.

This approach usually combines changes in diet, medication, and sometimes mental health support. Doctors often advise eating more fiber or trying a special diet called low-FODMAP to figure out which foods might be causing trouble.

Depending on the main symptoms, different medications are used, like laxatives for hard stools, medicine to stop diarrhea, and drugs to ease stomach pain. If stress or emotional issues seem to make IBS worse, treatments such as talking therapies or relaxation techniques may be suggested.

While this approach can help keep symptoms at bay, they don’t always address the root cause of IBS. That’s where Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) comes in. With TCM, we can work on rebalancing the underlying imbalances in the body’s energy that led to the development of IBS and digestive distress so we stop symptoms from happening (instead of simply quieting them). Let’s take a closer look.

IBS in Traditional Chinese Medicine

To understand how TCM works for issues like IBS, it’s important to understand how disease itself is viewed in Chinese medicine.

Unlike Western medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) does not treat IBS as a single disease. Instead, TCM considers IBS to be a manifestation of underlying imbalances within the body that cause symptoms (like abdominal pain or diarrhea). By identifying and correcting these imbalances, TCM aims to alleviate IBS symptoms.

A successful treatment relies on an accurate diagnosis of the core imbalance. So, how can you know which “type” of IBS you have? Observing your whole-body health, digestive and other symptoms, and common tendencies can help you determine your unique pattern of imbalance. Here are some common TCM patterns associated with IBS:

• Spleen Qi Deficiency
  This pattern is characterized by symptoms such as fatigue, loose stools, and abdominal bloating. The spleen in TCM is responsible for digestion and absorption of nutrients, and a deficiency can lead to poor digestion and bowel irregularities.
  
• Liver Qi Stagnation
  If you’re struggling with Liver Qi Stagnation-type IBS, you may experience irregular bowel movements (alternative constipation and diarrhea), abdominal pain, and emotional symptoms such as frustration or irritability. This pattern is believed to result from stress or emotional upset disrupting the flow of Qi (energy) in the body.
  
• Damp Heat in the Large Intestine
  Damp-heat is a pattern that is associated with an imbalance of heat and moisture in the digestive tract. It typically manifests as symptoms like urgent bowel movements, foul-smelling stool, pain, inflammation, and sometimes fever.
  
• Yin Deficiency
  Yin is the cooling, nutritive aspect of the body. When Yin is too low, this pattern can lead to symptoms such as dry stools, frequent thirst, and a sensation of heat. 

The Best Chinese Herbs for IBS Relief

TCM offers a natural approach to managing IBS through the use of herbal formulas that aim to correct the underlying imbalances identified in the diagnosis. Let’s revisit those common imbalances and find the best formula to restore digestive – and whole-body – health.

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Formulas for IBS Symptom Management

While most TCM formulas aim to get to the root of IBS, some can help in the short term with natural symptom management. Here are a few symptom-focused formulas to keep on hand to manage IBS flares:

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Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations in TCM for IBS

Healthy habits can make a huge impact on your health no matter what you’re struggling with. But, when it comes to digestive issues like IBS, diet and lifestyle habits are non-negotiable self-care practices that can significantly improve your health and speed up your recovery. Here are some general TCM-inspired lifestyle tips for those with IBS:

• Practice Mindful Eating
  Mindful eating is a simple way to improve digestion, reduce tension, and promote whole-body health. Simply by chewing your food slowly and thoroughly, you can help support your body’s best digestion and absorption. Eating in a calm and relaxed environment can also help reduce stress levels that may exacerbate IBS symptoms.
  
• Enjoy a Balanced Diet
  Incorporate a balanced, nutrient-rich diet that supports the Spleen and Stomach, the organs of digestion in TCM. These organ systems prefer warm, cooked whole foods that are easy to digest and full of nutrients (like cooked whole grains and vegetables). It’s also important to avoid cold, raw foods that can strain the digestive system.
  
• Get Moving with Regular Exercise
  Engage in regular, gentle exercise such as walking, Tai Chi, or Qi Gong. These practices not only improve physical health but also promote the flow of Qi throughout the body, which helps alleviate stress and improves digestion.
  
• Get Stress Under Control
  Since stress can significantly impact digestion and exacerbate IBS symptoms, finding effective ways to manage stress is crucial for restoring balance. Techniques such as meditation, yoga, and deep-breathing exercises can help calm the mind and reduce the impact of stress on the body.
  
• Sleep Well
  Sleep is essential for all body processes – especially digestion and healing. Without enough sleep, you can trigger stress, irritability, inflammation, and worsen your IBS symptoms. Aim to go to bed an hour earlier than you normally do and adopt a tech-free bedtime routine.

Heal IBS from the Root with Chinese Herbal Medicine

IBS is at best an uncomfortable annoyance and at worst a debilitating disease. With the help of Chinese herbs and other natural therapies, you can restore your body’s balance and heal your IBS symptoms.

Shop our full collection of digestion-harmonizing formulas here, or learn more about addressing symptoms like constipation, inflammatory conditions, or gut health!