7 Remedies For Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) & Prevention
Treatment can help ease IBS symptoms and enable you to live as normally as possible. One of the main ways to manage IBS symptoms is to alter your diet and stay away from foods known to trigger a reaction. We will have a detailed discussion about diet tips for IBS patients later.
Some IBS medications may also be prescribed by the doctor depending on your symptoms. They include:
- Laxatives – To treat constipation symptoms
- Fiber supplements to help with mild constipation
- Antidiarrheal medications
- Pain medicines
- SSRI or Tricyclic antidepressants to help depression while also helping with pain and constipation
- Anticholinergici XDrugs that prevent acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, from causing involuntary muscle contractions in the lungs and digestive system. medications like dicyclomine (Bentyl) to help painful stomach cramps and diarrhea
Some medications that are specifically prescribed for IBS patients are:
- Alosetron (Lotronex) – It helps to relax the colon and is often prescribed to women with severe diarrhea that doesn’t respond to other treatments. It should not be taken by men and is associated with an array of side effects.
- Linaclotide (Linzess) – It promotes secretion of fluid in the small intestine and helps relieve constipation. It may cause diarrhea in some cases.
- Eluxadoline (Viberzi) – It helps ease diarrhea but is associated with side effects like nausea, mild constipation, and, in some cases, it can also trigger a condition called pancreatitisi XInflammation of the pancreas usually caused by alcohol abuse or gallstones with symptoms like vomiting and abdominal pain. .
- Lubiprostone (Amitiza) – It is often prescribed for women with IBS and constipation. It is only prescribed in case of severe symptoms when the patient doesn’t respond to other treatments.
As we mentioned, diet also has a significant role to play in treating IBS symptoms. The following section discusses some useful diet tips for IBS patients.
Diet For IBS
Those with IBS will be advised to reduce the intake of certain foods from their diet (2):
- Foods That Cause Gas – Carbonated drinks, alcohol, and certain fruits and vegetables like apples, prunes, pears, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, etc. can also aggravate symptoms of bloating and gas.
- Gluten – People with IBS were observed to show improvement upon stopping the intake of gluten, even if they did not have celiac disease.
- FODMAP Diet – Some individuals with IBS are sensitive to carbohydrates like fructans, fructose, lactose, and others known as FODMAPsi XNon-digestible carbs that cause the gut to draw water and bacterial fermentation, leading to bloating and bowel-related problems. — fermentable oligo-, di-, and monosaccharides and polyols. Such carbohydrates are commonly found in grains (wheat, spelt, semolina, barley, rye), fruits (apples, cherries, mangoes, figs), veggies (asparagus, Brussels, cauliflower mushrooms), and dairy.
IBS patients must increase the intake of certain foods to help ease the symptoms:
- High-fiber foods like grapes, berries, leafy greens, eggplant, and zucchini.
- Gluten-free foods like oats, quinoa, millet, and buckwheat.
- Nuts
- Seafood like salmon and tuna
- Lean meat and other protein-rich foods like eggs, tofu, beef, and poultry.
Now that you have a fair idea about what constitutes the perfect diet for IBS, let us look at some additional remedies that can help manage IBS symptoms. Listed below are some of the best home remedies that can help treat IBS symptoms effectively with minimal side effects.
8 Natural Remedies To Treat IBS Symptoms
1. Peppermint Oil Capsules
You Will Need
Peppermint oil capsules
What You Have To Do
Consume 180-200 mg peppermint oil capsule daily for about 6 months. Consult a doctor for the correct dosage.
How Often You Should Do This
You can take 1-2 capsules daily.
Why This Works
Peppermint oil can relieve the general symptoms experienced by IBS patients and improve their quality of life (3). This could be due to its anti-inflammatory activities.
Caution
Patients experiencing severe constipation, diarrhea, gallstones, orGERDi XA digestive disorder that occurs when stomach acid or bile repeatedly flows back into the esophagus. must avoid taking peppermint oil capsules.
2. Probiotics
You Will Need
Probiotic supplement
What You Have To Do
- Consume probiotic supplements daily after consulting your doctor.
- Alternatively, you may also consume probiotic-rich foods like yogurt or kefir.
How Often You Should Do This
You may take this 1-2 times daily or as advised by your doctor.
Why This Works
According to a study published in the World Journal Of Gastroenterology, probioticsi XLive microorganisms that help improve gut health and are found in fermented foods, such as pickles and yogurt. exhibit a beneficial effect on IBS symptoms and can be used to alleviate them (4).
3. Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an alternative medicine therapy that uses one or multiple needles on specific acupuncture points all over the body to provide IBS relief. This therapy is a great option for treating the symptoms of IBS (5). However, you must avail this therapy only from a trained acupuncture professional.
Quick Tip
The expected number of treatments may vary, and acute conditions may require up to 12 sessions to treat.
4. Slippery Elm
You Will Need
- 1 tablespoon of slippery elm powder
- 1 cup of boiling water
- Honey (optional)
What You Have To Do
- Add a tablespoon of slippery elm powder to a glass of boiling water.
- Stir well and allow it to steep for 5-7 minutes. Let it cool for some time.
- Drink the concoction.
- You can also add honey to the mixture for flavor.
How Often You Should Do This
You may drink this 1-2 times daily or as prescribed by your physician.
Why This Works
Slippery elm powder is an herbal remedy that helps in treating inflammatory bowel disease with its antioxidant nature (6). This makes it an effective remedy to manage the symptoms of IBS.
5. Artichoke Leaf Extract
You Will Need
Artichoke leaf extract supplement
What You Have To Do
Consume artichoke leaf extract supplement daily after consulting your doctor for a suitable dosage.
How Often You Should Do This
Consume this based on your physician’s advice.
Why This Works
Artichoke leaf extract can help in treating IBS symptoms and improving the quality of life of the patients. It was found to be as good or even better than other existing treatments for managing IBS symptoms (7).
6. Aloe Vera
You Will Need
2-4 ounces of aloe vera juice
What You Have To Do
Consume 2-4 ounces of aloe vera juice once daily. Consult a doctor before doing so to be sure that this remedy doesn’t interfere with any other medications that you are on.
How Often You Should Do This
You can drink this once daily or as prescribed by your physician.
Why This Works
The intake of aloe vera juice can help to alleviate the symptoms of IBS. These benefits could be due to its anti-inflammatory and laxative effects. However, this remedy should only be used for short-term treatment (8).
Quick Tip
You can choose capsules if you’re seeking an alternative to juice. Aloe powders are also available, and can be added to shakes, smoothies, and morning juices.
7. Triphala
You Will Need
Triphala supplement
What You Have To Do
Consume Triphala supplement daily. Talk to your health care provider to find the correct dosage of Triphala for you.
How Often You Should Do This
You may take this on a daily basis, preferably between meals.
Why This Works
Triphala is an herbal concoction that is made of three therapeutic plants native to India, namely, amla, bibhitaki, and haritaki. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties exhibited by this concoction make it an effective treatment option for managing IBS symptoms (9).
8. Vitamin D
You Will Need
Vitamin D supplement
What You Have To Do
Consume it after a meal for better absorption inside the body.
How Often You Should Do This
You can take it once a week or as advised by your doctor..
Why This Works
Vitamin D deficiency has been commonly observed in people with IBS. Taking vitamin D supplementation for irritable bowel syndrome may help manage the symptoms. A study conducted on 90 patients with irritable bowel syndrome found that taking vitamin D for 6 months showed significant improvement in symptoms such as flatulence, abominable pain, distention, and overall gastrointestinal symptoms as compared to the placebo group (10).
Now that you know all about the natural hacks for managing irritable bowel syndrome, how about some tips to prevent its symptoms from recurring often?
How To Manage IBS
- Exercise regularly.
- Get enough sleep and rest.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol.
- Quit smoking.
- Manage your stress levels.
- Limit your dairy intake.
- Eat smaller meals more frequently instead of large meals.
Did you find this post informative? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
Infographic: Common Triggers For IBS Symptoms
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) generally manifests as abdominal bloating, gas, diarrhea or constipation, and general discomfort. While living with IBS is hard, it is a manageable condition once you know the dos and don’ts.
Learn from the infographic about the most common IBS triggers to find out ways to mitigate them.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a painful gastrointestinal disorder. Bloating, pain in the stomach, and gas are some common symptoms of this condition. Stress, hormonal changes, and certain foods like chocolate, milk, and caffeine are the major IBS causes. Peppermint oil capsules, probiotics, acupuncture, slippery elm, artichoke leaf extract, and aloe vera are some natural remedies for irritable bowel syndrome. In addition, you also can drink plenty of fluids, quit smoking, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep to help prevent IBS. However, consult your doctor if none of these remedies work.
Sources
-
- “The epidemiology of irritable bowel syndrome” Clinical Epidemiology, US National Library Of Medicine.
- “Diet in irritable bowel syndrome: What to recommend, not what to forbid to patients!” World Journal Of Gastroenterology, US National Library Of Medicine.
- “Peppermint oil in irritable bowel syndrome.” Phytomedicine, US National Library Of Medicine.
- “Effectiveness of probiotics in irritable bowel syndrome: Updated systematic review with meta-analysis” World Journal Of Gastroenterology, US National Library Of Medicine.
- “Effectiveness of acupuncture to treat irritable bowel syndrome: A meta-analysis” World Journal Of Gastroenterology, US National Library Of Medicine.
- “Antioxidant effects of herbal therapies used by patients with inflammatory bowel disease: an in vitro study.” DescriptionAlimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, US National Library Of Medicine.
- “Artichoke leaf extract reduces symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in a post-marketing surveillance study.” Phytotherapy Research, US National Library Of Medicine.
- “Aloe vera Is Effective and Safe in Short-term Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis” Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, US National Library Of Medicine.
- “Triphala: current applications and new perspectives on the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders” Chinese Medicine, US National Library Of Medicine.
- “Effect of vitamin D on gastrointestinal symptoms and health-related quality of life in irritable bowel syndrome patients: a randomized double-blind clinical trial” Neurogastroenterology and Motility, Wiley Online Library.
