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Stomach Ache and Diarrhea: Is it IBS? The Real Cause Beyond Simple Enteritis

Have you ever worried that you might have a serious illness because you have frequent stomach aches and continuous diarrhea? Even if you visit a hospital with symptoms of "stomach ache and continuous diarrhea," you are often diagnosed with "Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)" and advised to manage stress or improve lifestyle habits.

It can be frustrating when tests show no abnormalities. It's easy to think it's just a temporary condition or poor health, but this chronic discomfort significantly lowers quality of life and can be a sign that your body's balance is being disrupted in the long term.

💡 [Key Answer] The 3 most common causes of stomach ache and continuous diarrhea: ① Imbalance between the gut and brain (Gut-Brain Axis disruption) / ② Proliferation of harmful gut bacteria (Weakened intestinal barrier function) / ③ Chronic stress (Overactivation of the autonomic nervous system) Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic uses Intestinal Detox Treatment to restore damaged intestinal barrier function and improve the internal gut environment, regaining healthy interaction between the gut and brain.

Sudden stomach aches and diarrhea are common experiences. Most cases resolve on their own within a few days. However, if symptoms of "stomach ache and continuous diarrhea" repeat for more than 3 months, you may suspect Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) rather than simple enteritis. IBS is classified as a 'functional disease' where no specific cause can be found through colonoscopy or blood tests. In other words, there is no inflammation or structural problem in the intestine itself, but rather an abnormality in the regulation of intestinal function.

While enteritis is an acute inflammatory reaction usually occurring after infection or consuming certain foods, IBS is a chronic state where the sensitivity of the intestine increases, causing it to overreact even to minor stimuli. In particular, abdominal pain tends to improve after a bowel movement and is often accompanied by changes in the frequency or form of stool. It is characterized by sensitive reactions to stress and symptoms that wax and wane. Many IBS patients also complain of other symptoms related to autonomic imbalance, such as headaches, dizziness, insomnia, and chronic fatigue.

In modern Korean medicine, IBS is not viewed simply as a problem of the intestine. The gut and brain in our body are closely connected and interact through a neural network called the 'Gut-Brain Axis.' The gut has so many neurons that it is called the 'second brain,' and it not only receives influence from the brain but also sends signals to it. Having a stomach ache or diarrhea when stressed is a representative example of this gut-brain axis. Disruption of the gut-brain axis due to persistent stress, irregular lifestyle, and poor eating habits increases intestinal sensitivity and weakens the intestinal barrier, creating an environment where harmful gut bacteria can easily proliferate.

A 2026 study by Professor Koh Seok-jae's research team at Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, reported in Health Chosun, confirmed that the herbal medicine 'Banhasasim-tang' can regulate intestinal inflammatory responses, one of the core causes of IBS. Through network pharmacology analysis and animal experiments, the team revealed that Banhasasim-tang acts on the signaling system that induces inflammation in the body, suppressing inflammatory reactions and improving intestinal function abnormalities and pain. Particularly in animal experiments, key indicators related to IBS, such as decreased intestinal length, changes in defecation status, and increased pain behavior, were significantly improved, and inflammatory cytokine levels also showed a decreasing trend. Researchers evaluated that these results opened up the possibility of a fundamental treatment approach that goes beyond temporary symptom relief to treat the pathogenesis of the disease.

These research results show that IBS is closely related to intestinal inflammatory responses beyond a simple functional disease, supporting the importance of intestinal detox treatment aimed at by Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic. Removing toxins accumulated in the intestinal wall and improving the internal gut environment to increase the immunity of the intestine itself and restore healthy communication of the gut-brain axis can be a fundamental solution.

IBS is prone to recurrence if only symptoms are suppressed. Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic in Songdo focuses on the root causes of symptoms—gut-brain axis disruption and weakened intestinal barrier function—and provides treatment to help the body gain self-recovery power.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted at Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital from September 2023 to January 2025, the efficacy and safety of Modified Gwakhyangjeonggi-san (mGJT) were evaluated in 60 patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS. After taking mGJT or a placebo three times a day for 4 weeks, the overall response rate in the treatment group was significantly higher than in the placebo group (55.2% vs. 26.7%, P<0.03). In particular, the stool form response rate also improved significantly in the treatment group (P<0.03), and abdominal pain improvement was confirmed in the overall symptom evaluation (P<0.02). Researchers concluded that this pilot study suggests mGJT can be helpful for patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS.

These research results demonstrate the objective effectiveness of Korean medical treatment for IBS. Based on these data, Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic in Songdo prescribes herbal medicine tailored to each individual's constitution and symptoms, and helps recover intestinal health by strengthening the intestinal barrier and balancing gut microbiota through intestinal detox treatment. Our body's intestinal barrier is an important defensive line that blocks external toxins and harmful bacteria. If the barrier function weakens, toxins spread through the blood to cause inflammation throughout the body, which can adversely affect brain-gut interaction and further aggravate IBS symptoms. Dalimchae's intestinal detox treatment focuses on breaking this vicious cycle, healthy purification of the intestine, and increasing the body's natural healing power.

Count how many of the following questions apply to you.

• Has abdominal pain been repeated at least once a week for the last 3 months?
• When you have abdominal pain, does the pain tend to improve after a bowel movement?
• Do stool forms change frequently, such as diarrhea, constipation, or alternating diarrhea and constipation?
• Has the number of bowel movements increased or decreased differently than usual?
• Does your stomach feel unusually bloated and gassy after eating?
• Do symptoms of stomach ache or diarrhea worsen when you are stressed?
• Do intestinal symptoms get worse when you are tired or can't sleep well?
• Is chronic indigestion or bloating of unknown cause accompanied?

[Judgment Criteria]

• 3 or fewer: Simple functional intestinal problem or early IBS suspected → Prioritize dietary and lifestyle improvement, and consult an expert if symptoms persist.
• 4-6: Moderate IBS suspected → Review of integrated Korean medical treatment including intestinal detox treatment at Dalimchae Clinic in Songdo is needed.
• 7 or more: High possibility of severe IBS → Immediate visit and precise diagnosis are required, and active Korean medical treatment should be sought to prevent worsening and promote fundamental recovery.

Q. How long should IBS be treated to recover? A. The treatment period for IBS varies depending on the severity of symptoms, duration of onset, constitution, and lifestyle. Usually, improvement can be expected through consistent treatment and lifestyle management for about 3 to 6 months.

Q. What's the difference between simple diarrhea and IBS? A. Simple diarrhea usually occurs temporarily due to acute infection or food problems, but IBS is a chronic functional intestinal disease where abdominal pain improves after a bowel movement without a specific organic cause and is accompanied by changes in stool. IBS is characterized by recurring symptoms for more than 3 months.

Q. Can IBS be fundamentally resolved through Korean medical treatment? A. Yes, Korean medical treatment focuses on gut-brain axis disruption and weakened intestinal barrier function, the root causes of IBS, to build the body's recovery power. Improving the internal gut environment through intestinal detox and restoring autonomic balance helps alleviate symptoms and lower recurrence rates.

Q. Does stress affect IBS? A. It has a very significant impact. Stress directly affects intestinal motility and sensitivity through the gut-brain axis, serving as a major factor that aggravates IBS symptoms. Therefore, stress management is an essential part of treatment.

Symptoms of "stomach ache and continuous diarrhea" are not problems that can be solved by enduring. You no longer have to ignore the signals your body has been sending for a long time. If you approach it in the right direction, your body reacts faster than you think. Bring your current symptoms as they are. Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic will find the cause together.

Where life blooms. For herbal medicine, it's Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic. Check your symptoms first through the AI consultation on the Dalimchae Clinic website!

This information was compiled by Dalimchae medical staff based on frequently asked questions in the consultation room. Medical Supervision | Based on Intestinal & Digestive Diagnosis Standards, KMD Oh Hyunmin, Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic Songdo Branch (Bowel Issue Column)