Osteopathic manipulative treatment and nutrition: An alternative approach to the irritable bowel syndrome

Abstract

A simple treatment plan for manual therapists is presented based on current evidence-based lit-erature, it is designed to lessen chronic pain and inflammation in the Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). A chronic continuous or intermittent gas-trointestinal tract dysfunction, IBS appears due to dysregulation of brain-gut-microbe commu-nication. An overview of its management using Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) is described. In IBS OMT focuses on the nervous and circulatory systems, spine, viscera, thoracic and pelvic diaphragms in order to restore ho-meostatic balance, normalize autonomic activity in the intestine, promote lymphatic flow and ad-dress somatic dysfunction. Lymphatic and ve-nous congestion is treated by the Lymphatic Pump Techniques and stimulation of Chapman's Reflex Points. The food itself, food allergies and intolerance could contribute to symptom onset or even cause IBS. Furthermore the " microbi-ota " greatly impacts on the bi-directional brain-gut axis communication. This paper also pro-vides appropriate dietary modifications for pa-tients with IBS.