How To Treat Ibs Naturally

Menopause Diet: Eat Your Symptoms Away

Eating the right food can completely change your menopause experience. While no single ingredient can ââ¬Ëcureââ¬â¢ you of your symptoms, you can actively manage your menopausal sweats, sleep, and mood by eating more of the ââ¬Ërightââ¬â¢ things and less of the ââ¬Ëwrongââ¬â¢.

Dietary Triggers And Ibs

Diet is the first place to start when trying to identify the causes of your IBS symptoms. You may have already identified some of your dietary triggers, such as spicy or oily foods. However, its also important to take the delay IgG food allergy test to identify any other foods that might be causing inflammation and upsetting your digestive system. You can read more about this test on my Food Sensitivities and Allergies Treatment Program.

Identifying your food sensitives gives you the power to reduce the frequency of irritable bowel incidences. Alongside this, I suggest you try the low-FODMAP diet. FODMAP foods have been identified as causing much of the gas, bloating, and cramping associated with IBS. To read more about FODMAP foods, please read my previous article entitled The Low-FODMAP Diet and Its Role in Treating IBS.

What About Alternative Treatments

Acupuncture is a Chinese treatment thatâs been around for centuries. An acupuncturist or therapist will insert very thin needles into the surface of your skin at particular points. Itâs supposed to stimulate and regulate your flow of energy — you may hear it called âqiâ — to ease pain and anxiety.

Acupuncture may ease your stress and help you relax. If youâre tense, your IBS-D symptoms may flare up. Acupuncture may also calm stomach pain and muscle spasms in your gut.

Chinese medicine also uses herbs to treat IBS-D symptoms. These may contain mixes of things like barley, cardamom, licorice, rhubarb, or tangerine peel.

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Herbs That Can Help Ibs

There are many herbs that can be used to treat IBS, and they can be prepared in a variety of ways drunk in teas, swallowed in pill form, or taken as an oil extract or a tincture .

The types of herbs you use may vary depending upon your underlying IBS triggers, but the list includes lemon balm or chamomile for a nervous stomach, and peppermint or fennel for cramping, gas, and bloating. There are many over-the-counter digestive teas. Try a few that contain different herbs and see which are more helpful.

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Is It Possible To Treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome Naturally

If you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome , then you know first-hand that it doesn’t make life easy. Uncomfortable and potentially embarrassing symptoms can be distressing, particularly when they affect your ability to get out and live your life.

So, is it possible to deal with those symptoms through lifestyle changes and natural remedies? The answer is yes, to a point. There is no cure for IBS, and all treatment focuses on managing your symptoms so you can live more normally.

As with many things, everyone is different and what works for one person might not work for another. However, there are some simple things you can try that may relieve your symptoms.

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The Most Common Ibs Symptoms

IBS is technically diagnosed when digestive symptoms have been experienced for at least three to six months. Its normal for just about all people to have times when their stomachs hurt, they have trouble going to the bathroom normally or their stool appears different than usual, so the duration of IBS symptoms is an important distinguishing factor.

Besides duration, the frequency that someone experiences IBS symptoms also tells a lot. For someone to have IBS, the symptoms should be present at least three days each month and often many more than this. For some people, several IBS symptoms might occur together in clusters, while for others only one or two symptoms seem to be strongest and most noticeable .

The most common IBS symptoms include:

• Changes in normal bowel movements, including constipation and diarrhea. Some people tend to experience either constipation or diarrhea more often than the other, but its also possible to have episodes of both. Diarrhea is considered loose stools and often going to the bathroom several times per day. Constipation is considered having less than three bowel movements weekly and/or feeling like you cant pass all of the stool you need to.
• Changes in the appearance of stools, including texture and color . Everyones poop is a little different, whether hard and small, pencil-thin, or loose and watery, so it matters most if stool changes frequently and is not consistent.
• Stomach bloating

• Frequent or urgent need to urinate

Home Remedies That Can Help Ease Ibs Symptoms

Here’s a frustrating fact: Although irritable bowel syndrome affects up to 45 million people in the U.S., we still don’t know what causes it. What’s more, there’s no cure for the condition, and it shows up differently in each person.

For these reasons, there’s no one “best” treatment for everyone. Living with the condition means working with your doctor to come up with the best strategies to manage your individual symptoms and avoid triggers that cause symptom flare-ups.

“Education plays a significant role in this condition,” Ashkan Farhadi, MD, a gastroenterologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center, tells LIVESTRONG.com. “If you know how to manage it, you will not have a flare to begin with.”

Here are some research-backed home remedies for IBS to discuss with your treatment team.

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Which Medications Can Help Me Feel Better

You and your doctor can choose the right ones based on your symptoms and how bad they make you feel.

Anti-diarrhea medicines. Loperamide helps control your frequent loose stools. You can get them at the grocery or drug store.

Another medicine, diphenoxylate with atropine , is available with a prescription.

Meds to help cramping. You might hear your doctor call these “anticholinergic and antispasmodic drugs.” They are talking about prescription meds like dicyclomine and hyoscyamine , which lessen bad cramping and unusual colon contractions.

They may help more if you take them before you have symptoms. For instance, if you usually have pain or diarrhea after eating, itâs probably better to take them before a meal.

Low-dose antidepressants. If your doctor prescribes these, you may wonder how they could help you. Some may work because they weaken pain signals your gut sends to your brain. They can also improve diarrhea by slowing the flow of food through your stomach and intestines.

Anti-anxiety drugs. Your doctor might prescribe these if anxiety triggers your symptoms. Clonazepam , diazepam , and lorazepam can help take the edge off. Usually theyâre not used for a long time because of the risk of addiction.

Other prescription medicines. Three other options work in different ways to improve both diarrhea and belly pain in adults.

Remember to follow your doctorâs instructions exactly when taking any medication for your IBS-D.

Natural Remedies For Ibs

These alternatives to potent prescription IBS drugs may offer relief without side effects.

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When you have irritable bowel syndrome , whether its marked by frequent bouts of diarrhea , constipation , or mixed symptoms , you might be willing to try anything to relieve your symptoms.

Prescription medication may come with potential side effects and arent always as effective as advertised. If youre concerned about going that route for relief, natural remedies may be helpful. In fact, they may be all you need to manage your IBS symptoms long-term.

Some natural and over-the-counter remedies can completely put some IBS patients in remission, says Brenda Powell, MD, medical director at Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Health Department in Port Angeles, Washington.

Keep in mind, you should always talk to your doctor about any treatment to make sure it is safe for you. And if youre ready, ask your provider, about these eight natural ways to find relief from IBS pain:

Recommended Reading: What To Avoid When Constipated

Test For Irritable Bowel Syndrome

There is no specific laboratory or imaging test to diagnose IBS. Your doctor is likely to begin with the analysis of your complete medical history.

This may be followed by a physical examination and tests like a stool test, upper endoscopy, breath test, X-ray, etc. to rule out the possibility of other medical conditions.

Once the other conditions have been ruled out, your doctor may use any of the following diagnostic criteria for IBS:

• Manning Criteria It focuses on incomplete bowel movements, mucousy stool, changes in the consistency of the stool, and pain that eases upon passing stool. The more symptoms you exhibit, the greater the chances of IBS.

• Rome Criteria It includes abdominal pain and discomfort that occur on an average of at least once a week in three months. This symptom may be further diagnosed with any two of the following factors discomfort and pain while passing stool, changes in bowel movements, or changes in the consistency of stool passed.

• Type Of IBS To prescribe the appropriate treatment, IBS may be classified into any of the three types depending on your symptoms: constipation predominant, diarrhea predominant, and mixed.

There is no cure for irritable bowel disease. The prescribed treatments usually aim at alleviating the symptoms of the condition.

Try The Low Fodmap Diet

An effective at-home remedy for IBS symptoms includes making changes to your diet or avoiding certain foods, such as FODMAPs. Types of carbohydrates called FODMAPs may cause digestive upset.

The low FODMAP diet eliminates these foods to improve digestive symptoms and was developed as a drug-free way for people to manage their IBS.

High FODMAP foods to avoid on the diet include:

• Wheat products: such as bread, pasta, and breakfast cereals
• Dairy products: such as milk and ice-cream
• Vegetables: such as onion and garlic
• Fruits: including apples, mangoes, peaches, pears, plums, and watermelon
• Artificial sweeteners: such as high-fructose corn syrup and honey

Low FODMAP foods allowed on the diet include:

• Vegetables: green beans, spinach, eggplant and tomatoes
• Fruits: kiwis, mandarins, bananas, and blueberries
• Nuts: almonds, pecans, pine nuts and pecans
• Meat: chicken, fish, lamb, beef, pork, and prawns
• Seeds: pumpkin and sesame seeds

The low FODMAP diet has been shown effective in over 15 clinical studies. The benefits of the diet include reduced bloating, pain, and constipation.

While a FODMAP diet can be an effective drug-free way to manage IBS, some people arenât recommended to follow a FODMAP diet . Additionally, some people find the diet overly restrictive or difficult to follow.

If you find you experience more diarrhea as part of your IBS-D, then try and add more soluble fiber to your diet.

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Build A Healthy Intestinal Flora

Living microorganisms like lactic acid bacteria are important for healthy intestinal flora. Probiotic supplements are available in yogurts and other fermented foods. When ingested via the gastrointestinal tract, however, their effects are often not sufficient.

Bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, and saccharomyces, which are also found in the healthy intestinal flora and are the most well-known probiotic strains, work better when consumed in capsule form. The microorganisms then settle on the intestinal wall like a protective layer, sealing off the damaged sections.

Ibs Home Remedies That Work

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Personalize your prevention

The symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are uncomfortable and potentially embarrassing. Cramping, bloating, gas, and diarrhea are never fun. Yet there are several lifestyle changes and home remedies that you can try to provide some relief. Although everyones body is different, once you find remedies that work, you can try using them to prevent discomfort.

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Psyllium Powder For Added Fiber

If your IBS symptoms persist even after you change your dietary patterns, consider taking psyllium powder, which is soluble fiber and the active ingredient in the fiber supplementMetamucil. The ACG strongly recommends soluble fiber to treat IBS in their latest guidelines.

There is a moderate quality of evidence for psyllium for overall symptoms relief, says Kara Gross Margolis, MD, a pediatric gastroenterologist at Columbia University Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital in New York City.

According to a review published in March 2021 in Current Opinion in Gastroenterology, psyllium supplementation is recommended to help treat IBS-C and IBS-D. Stir a teaspoon of psyllium powder into your morning oatmeal or into a glass of water, and down the hatch.

If youre constipated, psyllium powder helps move your bowels. If you have diarrhea, psyllium powder gives you something to form a bowel movement around, Dr. Powell says.

/7time To Make Lifestyle Changes

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a problem that can turn problematic in the long run. While the condition usually requires you to make lifestyle changes and doctors normally prescribe medicines in the long run, the problem can be alleviated by following diet specifics.

Today, we tell you 5 such diet alterations to make to deal with the problem of chronic IBS

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Lower Your Stress Levels

Taking the time to relax at home can be a wonderful treatment for IBS as stress can be a big contributor to IBS symptoms. Relaxation techniques that can help alleviate symptoms include:

• Progressive muscle relaxation: Focusing on one part of the body at a time and relaxing it, this technique may calm the misfiring signals of the gut. This and other practices of meditation have been shown effective .
• Visualization/positive imagery: Imagining you are in a tranquil and peaceful place, surrounded by beauty helps to focus attention away from sensations in the body. This therapy helps guide you away from sensations in the body that worsen IBS.
• Deep breathing: Breathing exercises can also help calm down the nerves that are misfiring in IBS. A study from 2013 found that those who tried deep breathing exercises reported fewer IBS symptoms than those who didnââ¬â¢t.
• Hypnotherapy: One key aspect of hypnotherapy for IBS is that it involves guided relaxation and visualisations that can reduce stress. But more on that later.

Mindfulness For Stress Relief

Reducing stress with breathing exercises and mindfulness may also help calm down the gut nerves that are misfiring. The ACGs guidelines recommend various mindfulness techniques that have the potential to improve IBS symptoms. A study published in September 2020 in the journal Neurogastroenterology and Motility found that after an eight-week mindfulness-based stress reduction practice, more than 70 percent of the participants in the study reported improved IBS symptoms. The reduction in severity also continued for three months after the eight weeks of the study.

I recommend 5-5-5 to my patients, Powell says. That is, smell the roses by inhaling through your nose for a count of five. Hold that breath for five counts, then exhale through your mouth for a count of five or longer, as if you are blowing out candles on your birthday cake. This breathing technique is very calming to the autonomic nervous system, which can help with IBS, she adds. Best of all, its portable. You can do it anywhere, such as when youre waiting in your car at a stoplight.

Also Check: What Medicine To Take For Diarrhea

Alternative And Complementary Treatments For Ibs

IBS patients frequently turn to alternative or complementary therapies ranging from herbal remedies to meditation. Research shows that some patients experience improvement through any of several stress-reduction techniques taught by psychologists or other medical professionals. However, evidence of beneficial effects is lacking for most of the herbal therapies or other supplements.

How To Deal With Irritable Bowel Syndrome

As IBS treatments remain unsure, people who suffer from IBS have no choice to live with it while still develop their own ways of living. Fortunately, some significant changes in the regular diets combining with strategies of stress reduction can provide a good source of relief.

Following are top 15 home remedies for IBS that should be taken into consideration. They have shown to be the safest, most natural and effective. Also, natural remedies for IBS are well explained in greater details to help you easily follow.

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Try Peppermint Oil To Help With Gas And Bloating

Peppermint oil has been used as an herbal remedy for a number of ailments for centuries. Now the ACG acknowledges that this herb soothes the gut and recommends it to provide relief for all IBS symptoms. A recent meta-analysis published in January 2019 in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies looked at 12 different trials from three different continents, and found that regularly taking a peppermint oil capsule with meals helped reduce IBS symptoms, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating, and constipation.

Its worth noting that peppermint oil could make heartburn worse so be careful how much you take. Talk to your doctor if you are thinking about trying peppermint oil, since IBS is a complicated condition and shell need a complete picture of the remedies youre using to determine an overall treatment plan.

Additional reporting by Jordan M. Davidson.