Restoring Gut Health An IBS Case with Homeopathy

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition that affects the stomach and intestines, also called the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms include cramping, belly pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea, constipation, or both.  IBS is an ongoing condition that needs long-term management.
Symptoms:
IBS symptoms include abdominal pain or discomfort, altered bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation, or both), bloating, and distention. 
Causes:
The exact cause of IBS is unknown, but factors like gut-brain interaction, visceral hypersensitivity, and dysbiosis (imbalance of gut bacteria) are thought to play a role. 

CASE STUDY:
A 55-year-old male (Patient ID: 47399) visited Life Force Homeopathy, Pimpri, in February 2023 with a known case of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). He had been suffering from symptoms for the past 2–3 years, with a gradual worsening over the last 4–5 years. His main concerns included constipation with frequent bowel movements—around 5 to 6 times a day—often accompanied by hard stools that required straining. He also experienced an urgent need to pass stools after meals, along with occasional bloating. The patient was particularly worried about the frequency of defecation and the swelling that developed in the anal region due to repeated straining. He also reported significant weight loss, having lost approximately 5 kilograms over the previous 4 to 5 months, with his current weight at 66 kilograms. At the time of consultation, he was not on any conventional medication for his condition.

His case was studied in detail. As per the case needs of Dr.Rajesh Shah, some investigations suggested & prescribed the medicines individually specific to him, & diet was also discussed and shared.
Follow-ups:
First follow-up:After the first prescription, the first follow-up, which was done on 09/04/2023, showed an improvement of around 10% in appetite, and the number of motions was reduced by 1-2 times/day. But stools were still hard and ineffectual. 
Second Follow-Up :
During the second follow-up on 15th June 2023, the patient reported a slight improvement in his bowel movements. The frequency had reduced to 3–4 times per day. However, he still occasionally experienced hard stools and an ineffectual urge for defecation. Bloating of the abdomen persisted, along with the sensation of incomplete evacuation. There was no significant improvement in overall weakness, but it had not worsened either.
Third follow-up:On 18th August 2023, the third follow-up was taken; the frequency of motions was 4-5 times/day. He would get mild bloating with heaviness of the abdomen and complained of constipation on & off with straining and presented with weakness; no further improvement was seen. As per the case, the medicines were revised.

Fourth follow-up: During the fifth follow-up, there was a worsening of his symptoms; the frequency of motions was increased to 5 times/day, with bloating and heaviness of the abdomen, and he also mentioned constipation after taking antibiotics for a cold & cough.
Fifth Follow-Up :
During the follow-up on 21st December 2023, the patient reported no significant relief in symptoms. The frequency of motions remained around 5 times per day, with persistent bloating and a sense of abdominal heaviness. Stools continued to be ineffectual, and he experienced mild pain around the anal region during defecation. General weakness was still present, with no notable improvement.
Sixth follow-up:By 22 February 2024, the symptoms of frequency of motions were a little better than before, and a little ease in bloating and flatulence was still present.
Seventh follow-up:On 12th April 2024, further improvement was noticed.
Eight follow-up: Follow-up taken  On 12th June 2024, there was no relief; he had motion 5 times/day with the ineffectual urge to pass stool, bloating, and heaviness in the abdomen, the same as at the last follow-up—no change. Took Kayam Churan once a week.
Ninth follow-up:On 08th August 2024, the symptoms of ineffectual urge to pass stool, hard stool, bloating, and heaviness reduced since 1-1.5 months. The motion frequency was reduced 2-3 times in a day. The consistency of stool was normal.
Tenth follow-up:On 18th October 2024, the follow-up that was taken showed a 40-50% improvement in his complaints, bloating, fullness, and ineffectual desire to pass stools reduced.
Eleventh follow-up:On 17th December 2025, there was no improvement after the last follow-up. again there were bowel movements 5 times/day, the ineffectual urge to pass stool with hard stools, and bloating with heaviness in the abdomen was the same.
At the last follow-up on 15th February 2025, there was a noticeable improvement after the latest batch of homeopathic medicines. The ineffectual urge and frequency of motions had reduced, along with a decrease in bloating and abdominal heaviness. The patient continued to remain off conventional treatment.
 

Conclusion:
The patient experienced significant relief in overall IBS symptoms after consistent homeopathic treatment. Homeopathy''s natural treatment approach supported the gut-brain axis balance. Overall, homeopathy offers a safe, gentle, and sustainable treatment for chronic IBS.

- Case study is written by Dr. Nagma Inamdar, Associate doctor to Dr. Rajesh Shah, MD (Hom)