irritable bowel syndrome

IBS Relief Secrets!

Doctors are not sure what causes this condition. The most prevalent opinions include sensitivity to certain foods,

reactions to stress, immune system differences, or a person's colon and bowel not working normally in general.

There are different symptoms for each IBS sufferer too. Common symptoms include abdominal cramping, bloating and pain. Some people with IBS will have chronic diarrhea though, while others will have chronic constipation instead. Still others will bounce back and forth between those two states.

These symptoms have been labeled with other names over the years, the most common being a spastic colon. The symptoms often increase when eating certain foods, eating big meals, or experiencing heavy amounts of stress or depression. Since nerve endings connect the colon to every part of the body, almost anything can cause problems similar to IBS. Because of this, a variety of treatments are often tried.

One out of five Americans suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Women do have a higher incidence of IBS. Fortunately, IBS is not directly connected to severe problems with the colon.

Doctors are not sure what causes this condition. The most prevalent opinions include sensitivity to certain foods,reactions to stress, immune system differences, or a person's colon and bowel not working normally in general.

Depending on the person, their doctor, and the severity of their IBS symptoms, strong prescription medications may be used to help relieve the constipation or diarrhea. We don't agree with this approach however, and feel the more natural means should be tried first. Many doctors however, will suggest these alternative approaches before suggesting medications.

The first approach to managing IBS is changes in your diet. If your IBS is caused due to intolerance or allergies of certain foods for instance, removing those from your diet can create drastic improvements. Often people have a lactose or gluton intolerance without knowing it.

Some people are also more sensitive to foods which contain heavy amounts of grease, or they're IBS problems flare up more after greasy meals. Another common trigger for IBS symptoms is eating large and heavy meals. Simply by

Many doctors believe that stress is a major factor for getting irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). They recommend the use of breathing and calming exercises to relieve the

pain. Mediation and yoga are also recommended to relieve stress.

Get a lot of exercise to relieve colon problems, including IBS. Your colon contains many muscles, and by moving your body in various ways while exercising, you're also moving those internal muscles too. Moving the colon around during exercise can also help if there are blockages causing problems.

There are several herbal approaches to dealing with IBS too however, and these tend to focus more on healing the internal problems rather than just managing the symptoms. Like most colon related illnesses, herbal specialists feel cleansing the colon should be one of the primary steps towards obtaining relief.

One out of five Americans suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Women do have a higher incidence of IBS. Fortunately, IBS is not directly connected to severe problems with the colon.

Doctors are not sure what causes this condition. The most prevalent opinions include sensitivity to certain foods,reactions to stress, immune system differences, or a person's colon and bowel not working normally in general.


Cleansing can be done with enemas, colonic flushing and irrigation, herbal laxatives, herbs which act as brooms to "scrub" the colon, and changes in dietary habits.

There are several herbs which can help balance the colon, aid it in healing, and help it to start functioning more normally. Here we'll look at several.

Slippery Elm is an herb used to assist with diarrhea. It normalizes the stools and soothes, coats and heals the entire digestive tract. Slippery Elm should be taken with lots of water.

Alfalfa or Chlorophyll are colon scrubbing herbs, which can help immensely with constipation problems. These also neutralize gas in the stomach and colon.

Cascara Sagrada is one of the strongest herbal laxatives. It promotes activity in the bowel muscles, so this could cause a bit of cramping, but it's not an irritant or a purgative.

Peppermint is an herb that works wonderfully for gas, bloating and stomach pains caused by indigestion. This her

IBS: Complementary and Alternative Treatments

While the medical community seems at a loss to treat IBS, that doesn't mean that there aren't several natural methods that help provide relief from this chronic condition.

Many individuals say that undergoing the ancient Chinese treatment of acupuncture helps them. The therapy, they explain, helps to relax the muscle spasms of this disorder and helps to improve bowel function.

If you're not familiar with acupuncture it's a treatment based on the natural meridians of your body. An acupuncturist uses very slim, small needles and places them along certain pathways of your body. Depending on the pathways chosen, this treatment helps to alleviate various symptoms.

Others use products that are referred to as probiotics. These are the "good" bacteria that normally live in your intestines. They're found in some foods, especially yogurt, as well as some dietary supplements.

The theory is that individuals with IBS may be lacking in the amount of good bacteria their systems have. Adding probiotics to the body may help to relieve your IBS-related symptoms. There have been several studies that have shown that probiotics can actually help reduce their severity.

Still many other people find relief through the use of herbal remedies. One of the best is peppermint. A natural antispasmodic, it works by relaxing the smoother muscles of the intestines. If you decide to use this herb as a supplement, be sure to buy the enteric-coated capsules.

One of the side effects of peppermint for some people is heartburn. If you find this occurs, you may want to try a different herbal remedy.

Many suffering with IBS choose chamomile as an alternative for alleviating their symptoms. This legendary herb is renowned for its ability to soothe the digestive tract. It's also a noted anti-spasmodic. Chamomile can be taken as a tea or as a capsule.

You may also want to try the herb ginger. This has long been noted by professional herbalists to relieve a variety of gastrointestinal problems. Ginger, additionally, helps to improve the muscles of the intestines. This herb also possesses some anti-inflammatory properties.

Before starting on any supplement program with herbs, you want to be sure to check with your health care professional. He'll be able to tell you if any of the herbs you're planning on taking will interfere with any of your current prescription medications.

Additionally, it's also a good idea to consult a professional herbalist prior to choosing an herbal regimen. She may also be able to provide you with even more alternatives in this area that may relieve your specific symptoms of IBS.

Since stress has the potential to play a vital role in the severity of your symptoms, you may want to discover a way to manage your stress without the use of drugs. You may find that meditation helps you to tolerate the ups and downs of your life a little better. Many individuals find relieve in self-hypnosis. Still others discover the calming effects of yoga for both the body and the mind.

Any of these activities can be self taught. Or you can join classes to learn the basics of these therapies. All of these require a certain amount of discipline. The benefits, many individuals discover, though are really worth the effort.

IBS: Symptoms

Part of the problem in the diagnosis of IBS is that the symptoms differ widely from person to person. The symptoms often mimic those of other diseases as well. This makes it difficult for your health care provider to pinpoint IBS as the cause of your bowel discomfort.

Among the most common problems of irritable bowel syndrome include abdominal cramping or pain, a bloating, as well as gas. Other symptoms may include diarrhea or constipation. In some cases, an individual complains of alternating bouts of these problems. Another common symptom is the appearance mucus in the stool.

If you're like many of the people, you may be mildly bothered by these symptoms. For a few individuals, these problems can literally be disabling. And in a very few instances, the symptoms may be so stubborn that they don't even respond to medical treatment.

Everybody at one time or another has the occasional sign or symptoms of IBS. But you're more likely to develop a chronic condition of this disorder if you're young and female. For most individuals, IBS appears before a person reaches the age of 35. Similarly, if you've reached your 50th birthday, then the odds are in your favor you won't be developing it.

More than twice as many women as men develop IBS. Researchers are still looking into the role of genetics or heredity plays in IBS.

Fewer than half of the people who display symptoms of IBS actually seek medical attention. But it really is important to see your health care practitioner should you have a lasting change in your bowel habits. The possibility exists that you may have an even more serious condition than IBS.

Additionally, your health care practitioner may be able to help you to find different ways to relieve your symptoms. She can also help you avoid some possible complications that eventually develop, such as chronic diarrhea.

Other complications from this health disorder include constipation which in turn can aggravate hemorrhoids.

Because of your IBS, you may sometimes feel discouraged or even depressed. If your symptoms appear due to certain food triggers, you may discover that, in avoiding these foods, your system isn't receiving all the nutrients it needs for your energy and overall well being.