Irritable Bowel Syndrome The Mind Body Brain Gut Connection

An 8-step, 12-week plan for living a healthy life with a functional bowel disorder or colitis.

One in five people suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), colitis, or other functional bowel disorders. As a result, IBS is the second-leading cause of worker absenteeism. Sufferers will find an effective 8-step plan that includes learning about the causes of the disorders, the different types of disorders, looking at family history, doing self-tests, identifying problems with diet, and establishing a personalized healing plan. This book provides a holistic approach to controlling or even eliminating distressing gastrointestinal symptoms.

Cutting-edge neuroscience combines with the latest discoveries on the human microbiome to inform this practical guide that proves once and for all the inextricable, biological link between mind and body. We have all experienced the connection between our mind and our gut—the decision we made because it “felt right;” the butterflies in our stomach before a big meeting; the anxious stomach rumbling when we’re stressed out. While the dialogue between the gut and the brain has been recognized by ancient healing traditions, including Aryuvedic and Chinese medicine, Western medicine has failed to appreciate the complexity of how the brain, gut, and more recently, the microbiome—the microorganisms that live inside us—communicate with one another. In The Mind-Gut Connection, Dr. Emeran Mayer, Executive Director of the UCLA Center for Neurobiology of Stress, offers a revolutionary look at this developing science, teaching us how to harness the power of the mind-gut connection to take charge of our health. The Mind-Gut Connection, shows how to keep the communication brain-gut communication clear and balanced to: • Heal the gut by focusing on a plant-based diet • Balance the microbiome by consuming fermented foods and probiotics, fasting, and cutting out sugar and processed foods • Promote weight loss by detoxifying and creating a healthy digestion and maximum nutrient absorption • Boost immunity and prevent the onset of neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s • Generate a happier mindset and reduce fatigue, moodiness, anxiety, and depression • Prevent and heal GI disorders such as leaky gut syndrome; food sensitivities and allergies; and IBS; as well as digestive discomfort such as heartburn and bloating • And much more. Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

“Persuasive, impassioned. . . hopeful news [for those] suffering from functional bowel disease.” — New York Times Book Review Dr. Michael Gershon’s groundbreaking book fills the gap between what you need to know—and what your doctor has time to tell you. Dr. Michael Gershon has devoted his career to understanding the human bowel (the stomach, esophagus, small intestine, and colon). His thirty years of research have led to an extraordinary rediscovery: nerve cells in the gut that act as a brain. This "second brain" can control our gut all by itself. Our two brains—the one in our head and the one in our bowel—must cooperate. If they do not, then there is chaos in the gut and misery in the head—everything from "butterflies" to cramps, from diarrhea to constipation. Dr. Gershon's work has led to radical new understandings about a wide range of gastrointestinal problems including gastroenteritis, nervous stomach, and irritable bowel syndrome. The Second Brain represents a quantum leap in medical knowledge and is already benefiting patients whose symptoms were previously dismissed as neurotic or "it's all in your head."

All disease begins in the gut. —HIPPOCRATES, The Father of Medicine) ARE YOU ONE OF 45 MILLION AMERICANS SUFFERING WITH A TRIAD OF DIGESTIVE SYMPTOMS? • Abdominal pain/discomfort, • Abdominal bloating, distention/enlargement, flatulence, and/or noisy sounds, and • Bowel dysfunction (constipation, diarrhea, or both) DO YOU HAVE ONE OR MORE OF THE DIAGNOSES IN THE BOOK SUBTITLE? DO YOU ALSO SUFFER WITH OTHER SYMPTOMS? • Sleep disturbance • Chronic pain • Anxiety • Depression • Low energy/fatigue and/or • Brain fog The gut isn't like Las Vegas. What happens in the gut doesn't stay in the gut. —ALESSIO FASANO, renowned Harvard pediatric gastroenterologist DO YOU WANT TO BE HEALTHY? For those who consult with medical professionals, diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is usually made in the absence of “red flag” concerning features. Treatment is unsatisfactory, quality of life usually impaired, ability to function and work often compromised, and unnecessary health care utilization and costs result. IMPORTANTLY, INITIAL DIAGNOSIS OF IBS IS A MISTAKE, BECAUSE EFFECTIVE TREATMENT DEPENDS UPON ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS! IBS is a Disorder of Gut-Brain Interaction, which can be treated. The problem isn't "all in the head," a psychosomatic disorder, or directly caused by stress. However, there are 6 other common and specifically treatable causes that either mimic IBS or occur with it. These can be identified with blood, stool, and breath testing. Colonoscopy usually isn't necessary! THERE ARE THREE REALITIES MOST PEOPLE AND DOCTORS DON'T UNDERSTAND: • Impaired function or dysfunction of gut-brain interaction has a lot to do with the cause of chronic GI disorders. • The resident microbes (gut microbiome) are very important for both gut and whole health. • We’re all in an epidemic of chronic illness and disease. A root cause, operating at the microscopic cellular level, links them. BOTH PATIENTS AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS ARE FRUSTRATED AND DISSATISFIED. Integrative gastroenterologist WILLIAM B. SALT II, MD, takes you on a journey where you’ll learn how fire in the gut leads to fire in the body. He’ll show you how to put out the fire, heal, and discover whole health. You’re on Fire includes nearly 250 illustrations prepared by Dr Salt.

Adolescents undergo rapid physical, psychological and social developmental changes that result in management challenges, communication issues, patterns of disease and symptom presentations that are different from children or adults. This can be challenging for health professionals, who rarely have had specific training in dealing with the young people they meet in their clinical work. This ABC covers topics surrounding adolescent development, sexual behaviour and substance misuse, along with education and preventative strategies. It also features other adolescent health problems such as self-harm, eating disorders and psychosomatic presentations. This book is a valuable resource for all those who deal with adolescent patients in primary care, emergency departments, and hospital and outpatient settings.

The brain-gut connection has been increasingly implicated in biopsychosocial well-being. While there are numerous factors that directly and indirectly impact on how the gut and the brain interact, there is a growing awareness that gastrointestinal conditions need to be viewed and treated as part of a multidisciplinary approach. Psychogastroenterology for Adults: A Handbook for Mental Health Professionals is the first book to provide mental health professionals with an evidence-based, practical guide for working with patients living with gastrointestinal conditions. Timely and accessibly written, this book provides a unique, comprehensive introduction to psychogastroenterology, offering a step-by-step guide to evidence-based psychological treatment protocols. Broad in scope and expertise, the book is divided into four parts. It opens with an overview of the field, moving on to outline psychological concerns and conditions in gastroenterological (GI) cohorts. Further, it covers various approaches to psychogastroenterology, including psychopharmacological and eHealth practices. In closing, the book looks to the future, providing guidance on supervision in psychogastroenterology, and exploring challenges in the field. Written by experts in the field, this book will be an indispensable resource for those who wish to enhance their knowledge and practice of psychogastroenterology in the mental health profession, including psychologists, psychiatrists, psychosomatic medicine specialists, nurses and social workers.