Magi Institute of Natural Medicine

Great IHF Conference

docmagi — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:40:01 +0000

So we are just finishing up the 2010 All About You Fun Conference and this year we had a lot of fun and good presenters. I was fortunate enough to talk with most of this years presenters and spent 2 days when I was not presenting myself comparing ideas and techniques with peers. We had people from Japan, Singapore, Austria and all over the USA and Canada as well at the conference.

This year I dabbled in many new ideas and modalities including Tarot, and some energy work as well. I really enjoyed the new Tarot Cards that James Wanless has and took a class with him to have him teach me another way to do do the readings.

For all of you that took my classes the membership site is being built for you and I will be posting links and the information we covered in the classes for your resource tools. There are already some things there and I will keep adding the information as well for you to use as we go along.

Now this year is also the first year of me being on the board of advisors for the IHF and it appears our board really wants to step up the organization this year so get ready for some great new tools and things to start to happen. I would also recommend you start getting ready for the conference next year as well. It is going to be even better than this years.

Mystically yours,

Michael Holt, Ph.D.
Magi Institute

Healing Irritable Bowel Syndrome the Natural way

admin — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 20:13:58 +0000

Medications are not the only way to control Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms. There are also natural means that can help in curing IBS. Unlike any other type of illness such as cancer, brain tumors and others, Irritable Bowel Syndrome is not as severe but the discomfort that it causes patients is enough to disrupt their social lives.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a common disorder that affects a great number of Americans. As a matter of fact approximately ten to fifteen percent or more of the Americans population is suffering from IBS. Irritable Bowel Syndrome affects the intestines and the stomach. Other terms used to refer to IBS are as follows: mucous colitis, nervous stomach, spastic colon, spastic colitis or irritable colon.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is often classified as a functional disorder, which means that it is a primary abnormality that affects the physiological function of the body. It simply cannot be diagnosed in a traditional manner such as blood test, x-ray and others. Why? Because IBS is a complicated disorder wherein symptoms are not clearly defined whether they are caused by the malfunctioning intestines or gut or by the autonomic nervous system that seems to alter the regulation of bowel motility or the sensory function.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is characterized by symptoms such as abdominal pain and others. These discomforts are caused by changes in the bowel pattern. There are various treatments available that involves medication, diet and some natural means.

Colonic Massage, Mind/Body Healing and Fiber-rich Foods
There are natural ways of controlling IBS symptoms such as colonic massage and mind/body healing. For the colonic massage you can perform this while sitting on the toilet or while lying down and bending your knees. Try to make a fist using your right hand and gently massage your colon by creating circular, digging motion with your knuckles.

Begin with the lower right quadrant of your abdomen and then work up making circular motion under the right side of your ribcage. Do the same with the left quadrant of your abdomen and try to massage your groin or pubic bone. The main objective of this exercise is to induce bowel movement plus it also helps in relieving colic in newborns since it force out gas as well as stool. But remember for newborns minimal force should be applied when doing this exercise.

You must be wondering why apply mind/body healing to control Irritable Bowel Syndrome? IBS often cause emotional and mental stress, which often aggravates symptoms. So in order to control IBS it is very important that patients be encouraged to sick out therapies that make use of somato-emotional release.

The somato(or body)-emotional release is rooted on the belief that trauma is sometimes stored in the tissues of the body and not just in the mind or soul of patients. These traumas need to be eliminated in order for healing to happen. There are various somato-emotional release therapies available that patients can choose from such as craniosacral, reiki, acupuncture and other types of energy healing exercises.

Eating fiber-rich food is also a natural way of controlling IBS. However make sure that you include fiber in your diet little by little since abrupt consumption of fiber may cause gas and may trigger symptoms of IBS. Likewise, it would also help if you would try to take note of foods that you eat. List those foods that trigger IBS symptoms in you and avoid eating them.

Michael Holt, Ph.D.
Magi Institute of Natural Medicine

The Connection Between Foods & Irritable Bowel Syndrome

admin — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:12:24 +0000

There’s a common misconception that says foods cause irritable bowel syndrome. It says that the main connection between foods & irritable bowel syndrome is the fact that the illness is caused by eating certain foods. However, this is not true. Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional disorder which means that the illness lies in the function of your bowels and not in the food that you eat. In fact, there is still no known cause of irritable bowel syndrome.

This leaves us with the question: what exactly is the connection between foods & irritable bowel syndrome?

First of all, even though foods are not the cause of irritable bowel syndrome, certain foods will trigger its symptoms. This includes abdominal pains, diarrhea or constipation, and sudden changes in stool frequency. Here are foods that can trigger these symptoms:

1) Foods with high fat-content– A person suffering from irritable bowel syndrome should try to keep the fat content of his or her food below 25 percent. This is because fat is simply the best (or worst) stimulant of digestion. When fat is introduced into your stomach, it immediately triggers your colon to start contracting. Since irritable bowel syndrome has more to do with the function of the intestines, this sort of reaction will trigger the symptoms of this illness.

2) Coffee – Don’t think that this does not include decaf! Many people do not know that decaf coffee still contains an enzyme that can irritate the gut. However, drinking regular coffee can be even worse, as caffeine is also an irritant. Put plainly, drinking coffee if you have irritable bowel syndrome would be akin to inviting pain into your life.

3) Alcohol – This is actually okay in small amounts like the amount used for cooking. However, it can be a very effective irritant especially if it is drunk on an empty stomach.

This, of course is not the sole connection between foods & irritable bowel syndrome. If there are foods that trigger irritable bowel syndrome, there are also foods that help minimize the symptoms.

Try eating foods with high soluble fiber content. Eating this type of food would aid the proper digestion of food. Some people are put off by the idea of eating soluble fiber mainly because it is said to be a laxative. However, soluble fiber is actually more of a stabilizer. It helps prevent both diarrhea and constipation.

People often tend to see the negative side of a relationship such as that between foods & irritable bowel syndrome. However, it should be stated that food per se will not trigger the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. A person with irritable bowel syndrome only needs to find the right types of food in order to minimize the symptoms of this illness.
Foods & irritable bowel syndrome need balance in order to benefit a person. Take insoluble fiber, for instance: many people know that insoluble fiber is a trigger for irritable bowel syndrome. However, it is also widely known that insoluble fiber can be found in fruits and vegetables –all healthy foods. A person is then faced with the dilemma of choosing between the nutrition provided by insoluble fiber foods and the pain caused by them.

However, by eating these foods with a quantity of soluble fiber, a person can easily avoid the pain of the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and still get the nourishment that he or she needs. And that is the connection between foods & irritable bowel syndrome.

Michael Holt, Ph.D.
Magi Institute of Natural Medicine

Effects of Smoking on Irritable Bowel Syndrome

admin — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:53:35 +0000

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a disorder that affects the large intestines. It exhibit symptoms such as cramping or pain, diarrhea, constipation, bloating and gassiness. IBS is also known in other names such functional bowel disease, mucus colitis and spastic colon. However although it also makes use of the term colitis it should never be construed as an inflammatory bowel disease.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is not a dangerous disorder and neither it is contagious nor cancerous. The greatest effect that IBS can have in a patient is to cause stress and discomfort which interrupts daily activities. Irritable Bowel Syndrome especially for married patients often affects their sexual lives.

Smoking and Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Smoking does not only cause lung cancer but also worsen symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Tobacco just like caffeine and alcohol also worsen IBS symptoms. It really does not matter whether you smoked, chewed or inhaled Tobacco. The facts still remains that Tobacco is a potent GI tract irritant, carcinogen and stimulant.

People with Irritable Bowel Syndrome have sensitive gastrointestinal and are very susceptible to certain stimuli may it be in the form of food or even the simple waking up actions. Tobacco is one of the worst factors that trigger Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms and can cause various types of cancer.

Tobacco in general affects almost all the parts of the digestive system. It does not only cause heartburn but also reflux which are considered two conditions which IBS patients are likely to acquire. And since smoking damage the esophageal sphincter, the acidic contents of the stomach tend to flow upward and down into the lower portion of the esophagus.

Helicobacter pylori bacteria or irritation resulting from anti-inflammatory medications commonly causes ulcers however it is smoking that increases the possibility of peptic ulcer. Not only that, smoking also hinders healing and makes ulcer to reoccur more frequently. This is because smoking worsens ulcer perforation ten times. Aside from ulcer and triggering IBS symptoms, smoking also increases the chance of Crohn’s disease. It may also lead to the development of gallstones.

The nicotine found on the tobacco is not only an addictive element but also a poison that tend to weaken the lower esophageal sphincter. This lead to hyper production of acid in the stomach and at the same time decreases the pancreatic production of sodium bicarbonate, which is an important substance in counteracting the production of stomach acid.

Aside from nicotine, tobacco also contains more than four hundred toxins and at least forty-three known carcinogens. All of these harmful substances enters the bloodstream and carried through the digestive tract triggering IBS symptoms. Similarly, inhaling a smoke from the tobacco also cause gassiness, belching and bloating which are symptoms also of IBS.

Smoking above all is famous for causing cancer either of the colon, the bladder, kidney, pancreas and stomach. Plus long-term smoking also increases the possibility of colorectal cancer. How? Inhaling or swallowing tobacco smoke can bring carcinogens right down to the colon. The tobacco also tend to increase colon polyp size which means that the bigger the polyp the higher the possibility for it to develop into cancer. In fact, studies shows that at least twelve percent of colorectal cancers are the direct result of smoking.

Lastly, smoking is not only a factor that can trigger Irritable Bowel Syndrome but poses greater health risk like cancer so for your sake better quit smoking.

Michael Holt, Ph.D.
Magi Institute of Natural Medicine

Diet Suggestions for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

admin — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:52:22 +0000

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is known to be characterized with various symptoms with different roots. It is therefore important that each of these roots is determined so as to provide better treatments to address the condition.

However, though we may know the roots, it is still important that we are knowledgeable enough with the true nature of the disorder. The sad thing though is that we lack knowledge as to what truly triggers the disease.

While foods do not actually cause the attacks of the symptoms, we can’t still ignore the fact that there are certain problematic foods that can set off some symptoms including constipation, diarrhea and bloating.

Unfortunately, there is no standard diet that can be used by all patients. In fact, even if a diet plan works for one, it does not necessarily imply that it will also do good for another patient with similar condition.

Nevertheless, there are some common guidelines that can be used to determine what specific foods normally aggravate the symptoms.

It is important to remember though that there is no clear explanation as to why foods may have triggering effects on Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Nonetheless, association with this condition towards specific diet is often pointed as the culprit of IBS.

Thus, the common placebo among patients is the lessening of symptoms with the elimination or restriction from foods that are known to cause the attacks.

Since large meals can produce strain and compaction in the stomach, it is advisable that one should take several small meals rather than take three regular meals. This habit will help the patient reduce the likelihood of triggering diarrhea or constipation.

It is also important that the patient minimize the intake of fat-based foods. This is because fat is relatively harder and slower to be digested. Poor digestion is said to be closely associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Often, this may cause gas in the intestine that further leads to the rise of many symptoms that could aggravate the problem.

In addition to these, dietary fat is known to make the movement of gas slower from the stomach to the small intestine. A number of patients have been observed to respond exaggeratedly towards dietary fats through further slowing. Thus, while there may not be much established facts on this, it is still better to prevent any possibilities from occuring.

The “greens” and natural components are often the best solution to most intestinal complications. Dietary fiber from fruits and vegetables, beans and wheat-based products often provide solution to the ills of the gastrointestinal tract.

While fiber may not help in the reduction of abdominal pain, its significant effects in constipation surely help those who suffer from this symptom. Fiber is known to improve the bulkiness of the stool, which helps create better removal of the stool.

Because lactose intolerance is often associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, people find it helpful to refrain from milk intake so as to avoid further complications. But like with other diet plans, lactose elimination would not mean the release from IBS symptoms. It will just add to the comfort of lesser symptoms.

Knowing what creates the triggering effects will help you create a feasible diet plan for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. While this may not actually be enough as a treatment, it will largely contribute to the facilitation of larger-scale plan for suppressing the symptoms.

Michael Holt, Ph.D.
Magi Institute of Natural Medicine

Diet for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

admin — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:46:16 +0000

Irritable Bowel syndrome or IBS is a disorder that is characterized by symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, constipation, gas, cramping and abdominal pain. IBS often cause patients to suffer great stress and discomfort. Although, IBS does not cause severe damage unlike any other type of disease such as cancer and the likes, but the effect that it cause especially on the psychological aspect of patients is enough to make them suffer.

There are various ways of controlling Irritable Bowel Syndrome like for instance diet, medications and proper stress management. IBS affect people in different ways but sometimes it can be disabling and often renders some IBS patients to skip work, not to attend social gatherings or refrain from traveling short distances.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a common disorder experienced by most American adult population. It occurs predominantly among women than in men and usually starts attacking at the age of 35 or earlier.

Diagnosing Irritable Bowel Syndrome
The first step to treating or controlling Irritable Bowel syndrome is to consult a doctor. This is very important since proper and correct diagnosis is required to come up with treatments that will help you in controlling symptoms of IBS.

Although there are no particular tests for IBS, but still diagnostic tests are needed to rule out the possibilities of other diseases that exhibits the same symptoms as that of the Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The tests commonly performed for IBS include blood tests, x-rays and stool sampling test.

Aside from the aforementioned tests, a doctor may also perform colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy to check the inside of the colon. The said tests are performed by means of inserting a tiny, flexible tube that has a camera at the end. The doctor makes use of this equipment in order to clearly see the inside of the anus or the colon.

The doctor may also base his diagnosis on the IBS symptoms that you are experiencing or exhibiting such as abdominal pain, gas, diarrhea, constipation and others. Some doctors refer to a specific list of IBS symptoms to help them in their diagnosis.

Treating IBS by Changing Diet
Changing your diet can actually help in reducing symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. However bear in mind that before you change your diet it is important that you consult your doctor since there are certain foods that aggravate symptoms of IBS. Your doctor will guide on the proper food to take and to avoid.

Keeping a journal can also help you to keep track of food that you have to avoid. Some of the common foods to avoid include dairy products, which really caused Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms. Fiber-rich foods are great for controlling IBS symptoms especially constipation.

You can get fiber from whole grain breads, fruits, cereals and vegetables. Fiber-rich foods help in keeping the colon distended, which in turn prevents spasms. There are also some types of fiber that store water in the stool making it easy for IBS patients to move bowel. But remember to add fiber in your diet gradually so you would not have gas pain. If the IBS symptom you have is diarrhea then a fiber-rich diet is not a solution.

In addition, drinking six to eight glasses of fluid can also help in preventing constipation and dehydration especially for IBS patients that have diarrhea. Drinking sodas or any carbonated drinks, chewing gum, eating too fast and eating large meals is a no-no for IBS patients since it triggers symptoms of Irritable Bowel Symptoms.

Michael Holt, Ph.D.
Magi Institute of Natural Medicine

Diet for Irritable Bowel: What-To-Eat and What-Not-to-Eat

admin — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:44:49 +0000

It is not surprising that food has got something to do with the causes of irritable bowel syndrome. After all, it is in the intestinal tract that we process foods. Thus, what we eat normally affects the way our intestines function.

Changes in our diet would certainly create effects on the fashion by which we digest foods. This then will change the chemical interaction involved in the processing of these crucial substances.

However, Irritable Bowel Syndrome does not deal with chemical interactions alone. It is basically a functional disorder that borders more on the abnormalities of functions that don’t often project actual or physical complications. In fact, this is the exact reason why the nature of the disease is not yet fully known. Add to it the fact that most factors involved are under subjective details, which also require subjective treatments. This alone is enough to conclude why there is lack of concrete knowledge on the true characteristics of the syndrome.

Though we know for a fact that all these contribute to the development of the syndrome and the consequential attacks of symptoms, the medical community cannot still provide a comprehensive treatment plan for all patients to eliminate IBS.

Thus, any activities that would result to the removal of these factors will create lesser chances of triggering the attacks.

One best way of doing this is through following of a diet plan that would remove problematic foods while supplementing them with foods helpful in improving the symptoms.

While foods may not actually act as root causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, their effects are still substantial enough. It is good to note however that there is no fixed formula for creating the diet for Irritable Bowel syndrome. The results will always lie on the strategic combination of foods to promote lesser symptoms and healthier intestinal tract.

Trigger foods are obviously those who create tension in the stomach which then causes it to function in an abnormal manner. Some of the trigger foods are those which have high fat content while very low in fiber content. Oils, cream, poultry skin, fried foods, and coconut milk are among the most common foods that cause problems.

Fats are known to create a slower digestion in the stomach. The more time it takes the intestinal bacteria to digest foods, the higher the risk of creating gas thus, most patients of Irritable Bowel syndrome suffer from intestinal gas which in itself is also associated with diarrhea, bloating, constipation and other major symptoms.

Foods with high caffeine content like coffee, chocolate, and carbonate rinks are also known to trigger Irritable Bowel syndrome. Therefore, these must be eliminated from your list of foods so that you can get around from the likelihood of stimulating the rise of abdominal complications.

Meanwhile, to facilitate better movements of the stool in the colon, it is best that you take extra amounts of dietary fiber. This is especially true for those who suffer from constipation-dominant irritable bowel.

Constipation is marked by compacted stool or too loose stool. Fiber acts as the neutralizer since it adds bulk to the stool to administer easier expulsion from the system.

Fiber can be acquired from natural resources such as vegetables and fruits, nuts, brown rice, figs, peas, French bread, raisings, soybeans, and a number of others.

Michael Holt, Ph.D.
Magi Institute of Natural Medicine

Common Diets for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

admin — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:43:06 +0000

Most patients of Irritable Bowel Syndrome find it important to keep track of all the foods that they have eaten. This does not only concern what foods but also the fashion by which it was prepared.

Say for chicken, you do not only indicate “chicken” in your food journal, you must be very specific with the terms. It is also important to integrate the time and your mood during eating a specific stuff. All these will play vital roles in distinguishing what triggers your symptom and what foods don’t have effects at all.

Your food journal must be filled regularly so proper tracking is made. The best time to gather details is during the night so that nothing would be missed out. Remember that each detail is very important and should be given due attention. A candy bar or any relatively insignificant food will make the difference in determining what is the best diet plan for your Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Common diets for irritable bowel syndrome eliminate the trigger foods. Your dietician or physician should be able to build possible diet plan for based on the data written in your food journal.

Among the components of common diets for irritable bowel syndrome is the integration of larger amounts of dietary fiber to help eliminate one symptom, that is constipation.

With higher fiber content in your regular diet, your stools are likely to become bulky. So if you are seriously affected with constipation, the best way to combat compacted stool its to induce some volume. That exactly is how fiber works.

Problematic foods, on the other hand, are those known to trigger the symptoms. These are basically those with high fat content since this aids in slower digestion of foods. Fat itself takes much longer time before it is completely dissolved and stored.

One important thing to remember when following a diet for irritable bowel syndrome is the observance of regular meals. Irritable Bowel Syndrome lies in the abnormal function of the intestinal tract, or specifically the colon. If you would practice eating at the same time everyday, your intestine will get used to the habit, which would regularize the bowel movement and the movement of the intestinal muscles more.

If you have diarrhea-dominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome, the best diet for you to follow is one that will allow the intake of meals in smaller pieces. And since diarrhea deals more on the presence of water in the stool, it is vital that you follow your dietician’s advice when it comes to the amount of water that must be taken.

In general, it is advisable to take as much fluid as you can. Alcohol works best. Be careful though that you avoid caffeinated drinks, carbonated sodas, and alcohol-based beverages. Caffeine will stimulate the intestines and can result to making diarrhea worse while carbonated drinks produce more gas, which further aggravates the condition.

Dairy foods are also a must-avoid food in nearly all common diets for irregular bowel syndrome. Lactose intolerance is normally associated with IBS. If you are lactose-intolerant it is best that you supplement milk proteins with yogurt. Or better yet, use an enzyme product to facilitate the breaking down of lactose.

You may still continue consuming milk products. However, in some common diet for irritable bowel syndrome, it is suggested that lactose is totally removed. Be sure though that this is properly substituted with products that contain high content of vitamin B, calcium and protein.

Michael Holt, Ph.D.
Magi Institute of Natural Medicine

Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

admin — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 19:41:32 +0000

The Hunt for the Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition that is relatively prevalent among people aged 20 years and above. It is one of the most commonly diagnosed syndromes yet one of the issues that people tend not to talk about.

Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by frequent cramping of the stomach, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea and constipation. These cause a great deal of distress and discomfort but will never lead to more aggravated condition since it does not cause permanent harm on the sufferer.

While there is a common pattern for most patients, still the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome vary from patients to patients.

Some may experience single symptoms, say constipation. Many people though report of having cramping or straining without any or minimal release of stool. These people experience mucus release along with their bowel too. Mucus is a fluid-form lubricant that helps moisten the digestive passages for easier release of digested materials.

Some patients, on the other hand, undergo diarrhea, which is characterized with frequent release of uncontrollable watery stools. But some endure alternate constipation and diarrhea.

The ceasing of symptoms does not imply the stoppage of the syndrome all together though. Many people find it more difficult to deal with irritable bowel syndrome after a few months of subsided syndromes.

While many cases of this syndrome are regularly reported worldwide, there are still no known causes that would determine the proper treatments. Many researchers agree that this may have a relation on the colon or the large bowel that is especially reactive to specific stresses and food elements.

Others argue that this is largely affected by the efficiency of the immune system.

Persons with this condition are known to have irregular motility or movement of the large colon. This is termed to as spasmodic but other patients display temporary cessation of intestinal movement.

IBS is frequently linked with bacterial infection found in the gastrointestinal tract. Researchers observed that people who have developed gastroenteritis have greater likelihood of also developing IBS.

In addition, it is found that irritable bowel syndrome heightens once susceptibility over anxiety and stress which in return aggravate the condition. Similarly, many symptoms of IBS cause depression and anxiety.

Other patients projected links with irritable bowel syndrome and celiac disease, which is the inability of a person to digest gluten. Gluten is the substance found in wheat, barley, eye and flour that basically help in the coagulation of the bread. Patients of celiac disease have immune systems that respond to gluten by damaging the small intestine. The presence of celiac disease along with IBS can be checked through blood tests.

For female sufferers however, findings have suggested that many have worsened symptoms during their menstrual period.
These are basically the commonly observed “supposed causes” of internal bowel movements. The scientific and the medical communities are continually working on resolving the causes so as to create feasible treatment options that would help ease out the condition.

Nevertheless, people have already practiced a number of things to help provide temporary treatment for irritable bowel syndrome. Many of which entail the avoidance towards foods that normally cause the symptoms to reappear. Many activities are also suggested to be avoided to limit the appearance of the symptoms. Such include large meals, caffeine from teas, colas and chocolates and abstention from alcohol and wheat-based products.

Michael Holt, Ph.D.
Magi Institute of Natural Medicine

Cats Irritable Bowel

admin — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:40:18 +0000

Irritable Bowel Syndrome and its Effects on Cats

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is not only common among humans but also among animals particularly cats. Basically, the IBS that is experienced by people is the same type that cats also feel.

The Irritable Bowel Syndrome among cats is the same gastrointestinal disorder that is also felt by human. The large and/or small intestines are also affected. IBS in cats usually affects the contractions of the digestive tract resulting to irregular bowel movement. Aside from that, IBS also interferes with the normal distribution of food and waste material inside the cat’s body resulting to the accumulation of toxins and mucus in the cat’s intestines.

These accumulated toxins often obstruct the normal function of the digestive tract. In the process gas and stool are trapped causing bloating, constipation and distention. It is also surprising to note that the same IBS factors in human have been identified to cause the same effects among cats. Factors causing IBS such as stress, overuse of antibiotics, poor eating habits, bacterial, and viral infection, parasites and food allergies were found to affect cats as well.

Likewise, a blockage is also very common among cats since they love to chew as well as swallow objects. This too can trigger IBS symptoms.

Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Cats

It would be surprising to note that cats and humans exhibit the same Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms. And here are some of them:

•   Constipation among cats is just like in humans. It is also exhibited by hard, small, pebble-like stools, which make bowel movement very difficult.
•   Diarrhea is a more frequent bowel movement wherein the stool is often soft and watery. Cats with IBS usually experience successive loose bowel movement alternating with constipation.
•   Abdominal pain is also common among cats with IBS. The pain can range from mild to severe.
•   The presence of mucus in the stool is also a common sign of IBS.
•   Another symptom of IBS that may be observed in cats is vomiting and nausea.
•   Gas pain or flatulence is also an indication of IBS in cats
•   Bloating
•   Intolerance to certain types of foods
•   Anorexia which most of you may think is only common to us human but surprisingly is also exhibited by our feline friends.

Treating Your Cat’s Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Since Irritable Bowel Syndrome involves many factors, it is very important that you have your cats examined by a veterinarian. This way you will know what’s triggering IBS symptoms in your pet cats. In case you prefer to apply natural methods in controlling your pet’s IBS symptoms still it is better to consult first a veterinarian before applying any type of IBS treatment to your cat to avoid further complications.

A change in your cat’s diet is also a good way to control Irritable Bowel syndrome. However make sure that you consult a veterinarian or a nutritionist to provide your cat with a personalized diet and program.

Feeding your cat with the right type of food is still the best way to control your cat’s Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Cats like humans prefer different types of foods. There are some cats that like eating raw food while there are some that prefers home cooking or canned food.

It is very important that you try to experiment with foods that work for your cat. If you can keep a food journal in which you can jot down foods that your cat needs to avoid then so much the better. This will guide you on the proper food to give your cat and in turn keeps IBS symptoms in control.

I wonder if cats have stress issues that can cause IBS like people?
Michael Holt, Ph.D.
Magi Institute of Natural Medicine
www.docmagi.com

Magi Institute of Natural Medicine

Great IHF Conference

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Healing Irritable Bowel Syndrome the Natural way

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The Connection Between Foods & Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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Effects of Smoking on Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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Diet Suggestions for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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Diet for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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Diet for Irritable Bowel: What-To-Eat and What-Not-to-Eat

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