Ibs

When we experience anxiety or stress, we are experiencing the physiological and psychological discomfort that is part of the stress response.

Our primal ‘fight or flight’ response to stress’ is to shut down all unnecessary functioning so we are ready for a speedy getaway.

The digestion of food is extremely energy intensive and won’t assist our ‘fight or flight’ capability, and so it is immediately shutdown.

Whatever waste is lined up in our large intestines is quickly shown the exit door to make us leaner and meaner in our bid for survival. Or, in other words: hello spontaneous diarrhoea.  

Meanwhile, the flow of our small intestines grinds to a halt, as we engage in vital energy conservation processes. The water in our system, that would normally be directed to our digestive mulch, is saved for more immediate duties. As a result, we are left with an undigested brick clogging up our insides.

As an occasional life-saving device, it’s a very efficient way to respond. However, on an ongoing basis, it’s a disaster and a very uncomfortable one at that. 

Our biology is treating the stresses of everyday life as if we have an imminent appointment with the Grim Reaper.

Our nervous systems are often overwhelmed with the intensity of modern life. It can’t quite cope and goes into spasms of survivalist shutdown.

The other reason is that quite often in the case of IBS, we have been subject to some stressful traumas early in life, possibly while still in the womb. As a result, our default programming has been corrupted by circumstances, and it has made us extremely susceptible to digestive complaints whenever we are even mildly challenged.

This is why often those who suffer from IBS feel like they are closer to the stress threshold than they would comfortably like to be.

The ‘fight or flight’ branch of their nervous system is in a permanent state of arousal and will be triggered into major activation by the merest hint of drama.

This constant shutdown and re-firing of the digestive processes may be uncomfortable in the extreme and very painful.

Peristalsis is meant to be a gentle and constant uni-directional flow through our intestines much like the way an earthworm processes earth, not the schizophrenic propulsion and shutdown that we often subject it to. And some remedies for IBS can end up being equally troublesome.

Meditation works as a treatment for IBS on a number of levels.

First, this practice calms the nervous system down and takes us away from the stress threshold. As a result, we find ourselves more at ease, and our digestive rhythms are less compromised by intermittent stress.

Second, by giving the mind, body and nervous system such profound levels of rest, we can begin to free ourselves of the negative programming which may have caused us to have such an acute physiological response in the first place. A restoration of our natural creative intelligence follows.

Third, our serotonin levels, which are often intimately linked with IBS, will become more balanced and reduce our need for medicinal substitutes.

And finally, while we transition from the discomfort of the disorder to a healthy and sustainable mode of digestive harmony, our natural production of opioids will be stimulated and we will be much freer of any pain. 

The result is a natural IBS treatment that has benefits for the whole body.