Natural Remedies for IBS

For those suffering from IBS, natural Remedies for IBS are an appropriate primary response as opposed to strong prescription medications, depending on the severity of your symptoms. IBS, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, is a condition thought to be undiagnosed and untreated in as many as 70% of Americans. Luckily, IBS can be curbed with natural herbal remedies.

Symptoms

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 while others will have chronic constipation instead, or fluctuate between the two.

Since we don't agree with the prescription medication approach as a cure, here are some natural remedies for IBS that could be of use.

Diet

The first approach to managing IBS is to change in your diet. If your IBS is caused due to intolerance or allergies to certain foods for instance, removing those from your diet can create drastic improvements. Often people have lactose or gluten intolerance without ever realizing it.

Some people are also sensitive to foods which contain heavy amounts of grease, and their IBS flares up after such meals. Another common trigger for IBS symptoms is the consummation of large and heavy meals. Simply by cutting down the amount you eat in one sitting, and eating fewer but smaller meals each day, can help relieve IBS symptoms.

Natural Remedies for IBS include eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables which can help curb IBS, particularly when constipation is a chronic problem. Many people try taking extra fiber supplements, but these can actually cause the gas and bloating problems to become worse. It is better to acquire your fiber from a more natural source.

Eating fruits and vegetables will regulate the stool and are quite beneficial. Bananas are especially helpful in relieving both constipation and diarrhea. Other natural remedies for IBS are stress management, exercise, and hypnosis.

Stress Management

Since many opinions claim that stress plays a primary role in IBS flare ups, managing that stress is considered to be one of the best natural remedies for IBS. You might want to consider different breathing and calming exercises, as well as meditation, and stress relieving activities such as yoga. Removing the cause of stress in your life is another recommendation, but for some that's not entirely easy to do. Changing your scenery or routine can help too, as can taking a vacation.

Exercise

Exercise is another important way to relieve colon discomfort and control your 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 any blockages causing problems.

Colon Cleanse

A colon cleanse is one of the first steps to obtaining relief from IBS, and is one reason many herbal specialists recommend colon cleanses for most colon related illnesses. Cleansing can be done with enemas. Colonic flushing, irrigation, herbal laxatives, and herbs act as brooms to "scrub" the colon, and changes in dietary habits.

Herbs for IBS

Many herbs also serve as natural remedies for IBS 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 - Slippery Elm is an herb used to assist with diarrhea. It normalizes the stools, soothes, coats and heals the entire digestive tract. Slippery Elm should be taken with lots of water


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


• Cascara Sagrada - 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 - Peppermint is an herb that works wonders for gas, bloating and stomach pains caused by indigestion. It will also help eliminate flatulance.


• Garlic - Garlic, an infection fighting herb, will also help expel gas from your system, and it has the added benefit of helping your colon rid itself of mucus and parasites which could cause some of the IBS problems.

Statements made in this article about natural remedies for IBS may not be approved by the FDA, and should not be taken as professional medical advice.

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