Q Are colitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) different? Can I have both?
A Colitis is an organic disease with confirmed actual mucosal inflammation, while IBS is a functional disorder without structural abnormality. The two can occur together or be mistaken for each other, so accurate differentiation matters.
Detailed Answer
Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional bowel disorder with recurrent abdominal pain, diarrhea, or constipation despite no inflammation on endoscopy. Colitis, in contrast, shows mucosal inflammation confirmed by endoscopy and blood tests. The two can overlap, or IBS symptoms may remain after colitis treatment, so differential diagnosis is necessary.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
Korean medicine distinguishes inflammatory from functional causes through pattern differentiation (byeonjeung) and prescribes accordingly. When IBS-type elements coexist, prescriptions matching qi deficiency or qi stagnation are combined to address both at once.
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