Gas, bloating, alternating constipation and diarrhoea, pain, mucus, an uncomfortably full feeling and abdominal cramping. Some of you will be familiar with these symptoms which can develop over time, with no structural or anatomical change that can be detected as cause. And for those of you who are familiar with them, this could mean a diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS. This is a distressing condition which nobody should have to endure. If you are someone suffering with this digestive problem then you’ll learn from the video on this page how to use Qigong for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Janice Tucker is a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Medical Qigong. She is also the founder of the Space To Relax online programme of Qigong video lessons.
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What Causes Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
1. Stress
In Traditional Chinese Medicine a “liver-spleen disharmony” due to stress is one of the most common causes of IBS. Normally, the liver is in charge of the free flow of energy (or Qi), blood and oxygen to the spleen and stomach. Stress, frustration, anger, moodiness and tightness in the body (the liver is sensitive to these emotions) can cause stagnation of the “free flow” of Qi through the digestive organs. This can cause acid, belching, nausea, abdominal distension and bloating. Diarrhoea, constipation and irregular bowel movements can also occur.
2. Food sensitivity
There are some foods which can trigger IBS symptoms. You may already have identified them but if not consider what you may be eating from the list of trigger foods below:
- Cold, raw vegetables: Eating too many cold, raw vegetables dampens the digestive fire and leads to malabsorption of nutrients.
- Wheat and gluten.
- Cruciferous vegetables and legumes: They can cause gas and bloating in sensitive individuals.
- Dairy: Lactose intolerance can lead to digestive ailments.
3. Time and Manner of Eating
This is as important in Chinese Medicine as what you eat. Eating “on the run” or too quickly, while angry or hurried all impede healthy digestion. When you eat or drink quickly, you might also be inhaling too much air and eating too much.
The Solutions
1. Reduce Stress With Meditation and Qigong For Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Easing stress would be the most important aspect of your plan to treat the root cause of IBS, or any other digestive problem for that matter. Qigong for Irritable Bowel Syndrome management is ideal as it is very effective at relieving stress.
Research carried out at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on meditation and IBS found that women who practiced mediation had around a 38 percent reduction in symptoms, according to U.S. News. Click here for the full article.
Meditation focuses on deep breathing and staying in the moment to relax the mind and body.
For an explanation of Qigong meditation go to a previous video I made – click here.
Practice simple Abdominal Breathing. Breathe in and out through the nose. As you breathe in the belly expands. As you breathe out the belly shrinks. For a full explanation and to watch a previous video click here.
2. Movement and Exercise
Massaging the abdomen (9x clockwise, 9x counter-clockwise) can be very helpful. Also, exercises to move things around such as moving Qigong exercises or Tai Chi can relieve stagnation of Qi and promote its free flow to the digestive organs.
3. Eliminate Trigger Foods From Your Diet (see the list above).
4. Eat In A Relaxed Environment Without Rushing
5. Other Treatments
The inclusion of probiotics to increase good bacteria in the stomach, herbal teas such as fennel and peppermint, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can also be of great help in the management of IBS..
What Do I Do Next?
If you would like to learn even more Qigong for irritable bowel syndrome management then:
- Head over to my Space To Relax homepage where you can sign up for a free 3 part video series of Qigong lessons. These three lessons will show you just how easy it is to get started with Qigong. Once you’ve completed the free series you’ll have the opportunity to join my Space To Relax online membership programme of Qigong video lessons. This will allow you to take your practice to a whole new level where you will learn many exercises to eliminate health issues before they become a major problem. I’ll guide you step by step through many more effective Qigong methods which you can use to manage many digestive issues, including Qigong for irritable bowel syndrome management.
- Subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking the red “Subscribe” button. That way you won’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. Also please give this video a “Like” and share with me in the comments box your best remedies for IBS.
- Join my free Facebook group, “Space To Relax Free Group” and leave any comments or questions for me there. I’ll be happy to answer them. Also, by joining this group, you will receive regular posts of Qigong articles and videos with really useful tips about how to use Qigong to improve your state of health.
