Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Relief Treatment

Some 70 per cent of people who have been told by their doctors that they have IBS can improve or eliminate their symptoms by making dietary changes.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Treatment Information

Consult your doctor for a diagnosis. She or he may prescribe conventional drugs to take when the symptoms are particularly severe. Try to avoid antibiotics whenever possible, as Candida can occur at the same time.

Dietary changes that are usually recommended include avoiding caffeine and increasing the fibre in your diet by eating more fruit and vegetables and switching to whole grain cereals. If increasing the whole wheat in your diet or taking a wheat bran supplement makes your symptoms worse, you may be intolerant of wheat so, to test this, it is worth excluding wheat from your diet completely for 5-6 days and then challenging yourself with it.

If you think your symptoms may, even partly, be caused by stress, take measures to try to reduce it. Vigorous exercise or simply going for a walk can be useful, as it not only keeps the bowel active but also reduces stress.

IBS can be caused by a diet that contains too much refined sugar. If you have a sweet tooth it is worth trying to exclude refined sugar from your diet for a few weeks.

If your symptoms persist even after taking the above measures, following the Diet Plan will help you to discover if you have a food intolerance. More than one food may be causing your symptoms, but not usually more than three or four. The most common culprits are wheat or corn (maize), cow's milk and milk products, tea, coffee, onions, potatoes and citrus fruit, but virtually any food can be responsible.

Alternative Therapies for Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Helpful alternative therapies include naturopathy, Chinese or Western herbalism, massage, yoga, acupuncture, psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, homeopathy, aromatherapy, chiropractic, osteopathy, autogenic training and biofeedback.

Many people suffer from IBS, but the condition tends to occur most frequently in women during their childbearing years. Symptoms include various combinations of the following :

• Pain in the abdomen that appears to be related to the function of your bowel: for example, it may disappear after your bowels have moved, or you have passed wind.
• Changes to the normal pattern of opening your bowels, such as increased or decreased frequency, the need to hurry or to strain, the feeling that your bowel is not completely empty.
• Changes in the composition of your stools, such as being too hard, or too soft, or variable from day to day.
• Increased passage of mucus, either with the stool or on its own.
• A feeling of distension or bloating of the abdomen, which may or may not be improved when you pass wind.
• In women, the symptoms are often worse just prior to their period.
• Various degrees of feeling stressed, including anxiety and depression.
• Recurrent thrush infections.

Eating live yogurt and increasing your intake of fibre by eating more fruit can ease symptoms of IBS.

What Causes Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?

Some doctors believe that IBS is largely a psychological problem, and this can certainly be the case when the symptoms start after an emotional upset, such as bereavement, or during a time of great stress. However, food intolerance is a more common cause, and symptoms usually respond well when the culprit foods are detected and temporarily avoided.

GALLSTONE SYMPTOMS

Some doctors have found that identifying and eliminating certain foods can reduce or even cure symptoms apparently caused by gallstones - such as abdominal pain and wind. Adopting this approach can also be effective if these symptoms persist after gallstone surgery. In addition, following the Diet Plan may not only relieve symptoms, but can also help with weight loss in cases where it is recommended before surgery can be undertaken.

INFANT COLIC

Milk intolerance is a common cause of the colic that babies can develop at the age of 3-4 months. Symptoms are often relieved switching to a milk-free formula or, if the baby is being breastfed, by the mother excluding milk from her diet. In both instances professional advice should be sought to ensure that the baby receives sufficient calcium.

Home Reemdies for What Causes Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Rubbing the baby's tummy or allowing it to lie prone on a firm surface, such as across your knee, may relieve the symptoms.

Herbal remedies, such as drinks containing fennel or camomile, and homeopathic medicines, such as 6-1 granules of Chamomilla 6c or Dioscorea 6c, placed in a teaspoon with a drop of water and administered every 30 minutes as needed, for up to six doses, may also relieve symptoms.

Some people benefit from eating live yogurt others use herbal supplements, especially mint.

Any of these symptoms or other changes in bowel action should be discussed with your doctor so that an accurate diagnosis can be made. Other bowel problems can appear to be very similar to IBS, but require different treatment. Blood is not usually present in the stools in IBS but, if you notice any, always consult your doctor as this requires full conventional investigation.