IBS :

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a group of symptoms that occur together, including repeated pain in your abdomen and changes in your bowel movements, which may be diarrhea, constipation, or both. With IBS, you have these symptoms without any visible signs of damage or disease in your digestive tract.

Causes :

• Problems with motility of intestinal muscles  : The muscles in layers of intestines contract to move food through the gastrointestinal tract. It is suggested that in IBS either these contractions are stronger or these are weak. Stronger contractions cause diarrhea and weak contractions lead to constipation with dry, hard stool. 
• Hypersensitivity of nerves  : As per several studies, it has been found that the nerves in digestive tract may be hypersensitive which may affect bowel function and lead to more than normal discomfort from gas. In some cases, problems with nerve communication between brain and colon is what gives rise to IBS symptoms. 
•  Imbalance or changes in gut microbes: Micro-organisms in the gut number about 100,000 trillion, Bacteria, fungi, viruses, protists that normally inhabit gut are in some specific composition that varies from person to person. When the balance between these microbes is disturbed or there occur changes in the normal gut microbes, it can give rise to IBS. 
• Infections 
• In some persons, IBS may arise after food poisoning or gastroenteritis

Symptoms :

The symptoms include constipation, diarrhea, alteration between diarrhea and constipation in some, stomach cramps, gas, bloating. Sometimes mucus passes with stool. 

Lifestyle Tips To Manage IBS :

• Take small meals at a time and increase water intake
• Diet changes: Avoid taking certain food items including tea, coffee, soft drinks, spicy food, deep fried food. Limit intake of milk and cheese. If constipated, take more fiber diet like fruits, vegetables, nuts. Make a diary to note the foods that worsen your complaint and avoid them in future. Some recommend low FODMAP (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols)diet that restricts using certain class of carbohydrates, called fermentable short-chain carbohydrates that are difficult to digest (eg, beans, wheat).
• Avoid smoking
• Using probiotic food (probiotic food refers to food that contains good friendly bacteria for eg yoghurt) can improve symptoms.
• Take proper sleep, manage stress and exercise regularly.

Homeopathy for IBS:

Homeopathic treatment treats the disturbances in the stress system, makes an individual capable of dealing with various psychological problems, and maintains an equilibrium between the mind and body. Thus, the root cause of IBS is taken care of and this is evident with the improvement in the relief from the symptoms at the physical level.