Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is estimated to impact between 10% - 20% of the United States population 80% of cases are reported in women. It occurs when muscles in your large intestine contract faster or slower than normal. This causes pain, cramping, gassiness, sudden bouts of diarrhea, and constipation.
IBS risk factors include a low-fiber diet, emotional stress, and diet. Some physicians believe that food allergies, fatty foods, and artificial sweeteners can cause IBS. The most common culprit is lactose and many doctors suggest removing milk and dairy products for a month to see if symptoms improve.
What Are Some Natural Treatments for IBS?
Tweaking your dietary routine is a good start and can have a significant impact on IBS symptoms. Some natural approaches that can help include:
- Avoiding refined foods such as white breads.
- Eat more lean meats, and cold-water fish.
- Use healthy cooking oils such as olive oil.
- Reduce or eliminate trans-fatty acids found in commercially baked goods.
- Increase fiber intake or take fiber supplements to help reduce pain, cramping, and gas.
- Avoid caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, and tobacco.
- Stay away from sugar substitutes.
- Drink 6 - 8 glasses of filtered water daily.
- Exercise 30 minutes daily, 5 days a week. Whole Body Vibration can be a wonderful way to get exercise in and reduce stress.
Supplements can be helpful too. Patients have reported improvements using probiotics, magnesium and ground flaxseed. Studies have shown that taking 2-5 milligrams of melatonin an hour before bed time is helpful for relieving symptoms and that peppermint oil is helpful for reducing gas and cramping in patients with IBS.
Digestive enzymes enhance the digestive process, easing not only the symptoms of IBS but also chronic indigestion. If you need help selecting a digestive enzyme, call to speak to our clinical director for the right digestive enzyme that can help you the most.
Homeopathic Remedies
Remedies listed here may help bring some relief in moderate situations, however, a constitutional remedy prescribed by Sima is often the best approach to help your system regain its balance.
Argentum Nitricum: Digestive upsets accompanied by nervousness and anxiety. Bloating, rumbling flatulence, nausea, and greenish diarrhea can be sudden and intense. Diarrhea may come on immediately after drinking water. Eating too much sweet or salty food (which the person often craves) may also lead to problems. A person who needs this remedy tends to be expressive, impulsive, and claustrophobic and may have blood sugar problems.
Asafoetida: A feeling of constriction all along the digestive tract. The person may have a feeling that a bubble is stuck in the throat, or that a lump is moving up from the stomach. The abdomen feels inflated, but the person finds it hard to pass gas in either direction to get relief. Constipation brings on griping pains. Diarrhea can be explosive, and the person may even regurgitate food in small amounts. This person may exhibit a strong emotional or “hysterical” element when this remedy is needed.
Colocynthis: This remedy is indicated when cutting pains and cramping occur, making the person bend double or need to lie down and press on the abdomen. Cramps may be felt in the area of the pubic bone. Pain is likely to be worse just before diarrhea passes, and after eating fruit or drinking water. Problems tend to be aggravated by emotions, especially if indignation or anger has been felt but not expressed. Back pain, leg pain, and gall bladder problems are sometimes seen when this remedy is needed.
Lilium Tigrinum: When this remedy is indicated, the person may make frequent unsuccessful efforts to move the bowels all day and have sudden diarrhea the following morning. A feeling of a lump in the rectum, worse when standing up, is common. Hemorrhoids may develop. Constricting feelings are often felt in the chest. The person is likely to be worse from excitement and strong emotions and may tend toward irritability or even rage.
Lycopodium: This remedy is often indicated for people with chronic digestive discomforts and bowel problems. Bloating and a feeling of fullness come on early in a meal or shortly after, and a large amount of gas is usually produced. Heartburn and stomach pain are common, and the person may feel better from rubbing the abdomen. Things are typically worse between four and eight p.m. Despite so many digestive troubles, the person can have a ravenous appetite, and may even get up in the middle of the night to eat. Problems with self-confidence, a worried facial expression, a craving for sweets, and a preference for warm drinks are other indications for Lycopodium.
Natrum Carbonicum: This remedy is often indicated for mild people who have trouble digesting and assimilating many foods and have to stay on restricted diets. Indigestion, heartburn, and even ulcers may occur if offending foods are eaten. The person often is intolerant of milk, and drinking it or eating dairy products can lead to gas and diarrhea with an empty feeling in the stomach. The person may have cravings for potatoes and for sweets. A person who needs this remedy usually makes an effort to be cheerful and considerate, but, when feeling weak and sensitive wants to be alone to rest.
Nux vomica: Abdominal pains and bowel problems accompanied by tension, constricting sensations, chilliness, and irritability can indicate a need for this remedy. Soreness in the muscles of the abdominal wall, as well as painful gas and cramps, are common. Firm pressure on the abdomen brings some relief. When constipated, the person has an urge to move the bowels, but only small amounts come out. The person may experience a constant feeling of uneasiness in the rectum. After diarrhea has passed, the pain may be eased for a little while. A person who needs this remedy often craves strong spicy foods, alcohol, tobacco, coffee, and other stimulants—and usually feels worse from having them.
Podophyllum: This remedy is indicated when abdominal pain and cramping with a gurgling, sinking, empty feeling are followed by watery, offensive-smelling diarrhea—alternating with constipation, or pasty yellow bowel movements containing mucus. Things tend to be worse in the very early morning, and the person may feel weak and faint or have a headache afterward. Rubbing the abdomen (especially on the right) may help relieve discomfort. A person who needs this remedy may also experience stiffness in the joints and muscles.
Sulphur: This remedy is often indicated when a sudden urge toward diarrhea wakes the person early in the morning (typically five a.m.) and makes them hurry to the bathroom. Diarrhea can come on several times a day. The person may, at other times, be constipated and have gas with an offensive smell. Itching around the rectum, burning, and red irritation may also be experienced. A person who needs this remedy may tend to have poor posture and back pain, and feel worse from standing up too long.
Sima Ash, Director of Healing 4 Soul, combines her expertise in whole-body health and medical research to educate everyone about the newest developments in detoxification, healthy gut, cancer, autism and other chronic diseases. To schedule your consultation call our office at (800) 669-0358.
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