by Stacie Lynch

Created on: April 17, 2009

For more than 5,000 years, Yoga has proved to be a useful tool in the health and well being of the human mind, body and spirit. But now it seems that doctors are looking to this ancient practice as a therapy for patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS is defined as an irregularity of the muscle contractions of the bowel. The resulting symptoms can be constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, painful cramping or all of the above. Sufferers lives are disrupted by this painful disease, leaving them feeling depressed, stressed and frustrated with typical treatments offered by their doctors. These include anti-diarrheals, antispasmodics and Tetracycline. Though these are the most common drugs given to patients, they can at times be ineffective and do little to alleviate the daily discomfort of IBS. They can also come with unwanted side effects.

But there is hope found in a practice long thought to be the domain of health nuts and yoginis. Researchers at The University of North Carolina Hospitals are now studying Yoga as a possible treatment for patients struggling with this enigmatic disorder. Participants have shown a decrease in flare-ups of their symptoms and an overall increase in their sense of well being. And Shelley Wroth, an OB/GYN at Duke Integrative Medicine says that other studies have shown Yoga to be helpful not only in IBS but many other difficult to treat diseases such as Arthritis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Depression, Diabetes and Anxiety.

Though the benefits for IBS are evident, researchers do not yet fully understand why Yoga is so helpful. This is in part because the underlying cause of IBS is not always clear. It is known that stress can cause a release of adrenaline which in turn can upset the normal rhythmic muscle contractions of the gut. Since IBS sufferers already have this abnormal muscle contraction, any added stress can exacerbate this condition causing painful gas, bloating, diarrhea and/or constipation. By using Yoga and its combination of exercise, breathing and meditation, IBS sufferers can better manage their stress which in turn minimizes or even wards off the difficult symptoms which can disrupt their lives.

According to Gary Krastow, founder of American Viniyoga Institute, there are several postures which might be particularly beneficial for those suffering from IBS. Abdominal breathing, forward bends, abdominal twists such as Jathara Parivrtti (revolved twist) and Apanasana (knee to chest pose) may soothe and calm an overactive bowel, or help to stimulate an under-active one.

And since Yoga has had proven benefits for such a wide variety of health issues for thousands of years, there is little downside to getting out your mat and giving it a go.

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