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When the stomach does not allow to forget about it - the irritable colon syndrome

     Almost one third of patients visiting doctors because of gastric problems suffer from this disease which has not been well known until recently. Women constitute a straight majority of these patients.
     It is a strange disease which often manifests itself with opposed symptoms, from diarrhoea to constipation accompanied by abdominal spasms and/or aerogastria. Such ailments usually recede after moving bowels or breaking winds.
     Symptoms of the disease are caused by some dishes which are characteristic of a given patient. They are generally intensified by wheat flour, corn, potatoes, onion, dairy products (which are indigestible for a dozen or so per cent of people), animal fat, chocolate, eggs, nuts, fish, coffee, alcohol and/or preservatives. It is good when a patient knows which products he or she should avoid. The ailments are also intensified by stress and medicines (painkillers, those neutralizing the acidity of gastric juice and some drugs prescribed for hypertension).
     The treatment of this disease follows a multi-directional course. It must begin with eliminating symptom-provoking substances from the diet. It is important to keep a proper diet. If a patient has diarrhoea, he or she should eat more white bread but less fruit and high fibre vegetables (fibre is scarce in carrots, potatoes or cabbage). Dishes should be prepared by steaming or stewing. However, if a patient suffers from constipation, high fibre food, such as fresh fruit, grits, brown (wholemeal) bread and/or wheat bran (if the person is not allergic to gluten) should be eaten.
     Apart from the diet the lifestyle must be normalized by reducing the amount of stress, even by consulting a psychiatrist if necessary. It must be kept in mind that emotional problems are most likely the main and basic reason for this disease.
     At Father Grzegorz's Phytotherapy Centre the suggested preparations are administered depending on the cause of the disease. Depribon is used when there are depression symptoms which are common for the irritable colon syndrome. On the other hand, Nerwobon, or a herbal blend Nerwobonisan are applied if a patient suffers from anxiety.
     It must be born in mind that if the symptoms are accompanied by bloody stool or they continue after having used herbs, a patient must consult a doctor in order to rule out a more serious disease.