Natural ways to reduce Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a bowel disorder which afflicts millions around the world everyday. However, the disorder is difficult to diagnose, and many people suffering from it either don’t recognize it as a disease and fail to go to the doctor, or mistake it with similar diseases like colitis, stomach ulcers and cancer. IBS is very often a chronic disorder and it may render the sufferer’s life drastically crippled, so care must be taken to identify the disease and procure ways to reduce its effects.
IBS is usually a colon defect and is characterized by severe abdominal pain, cramps, bloating in the stomach, presence of gas, frequent bowel discharge etc. The patient may feel full even without having any meals, and there might be a sensation of incomplete bowel discharge. Severe constipation and/or diarrhea are very common during IBS. As the exact causes and treatment methods of this disease are still vague, irritable bowel syndrome could have a damaging effect on the patient’s health and work-life balance, if he/she is not guided properly. If you recognize these symptoms, it’s important to go to the doctor and avoid any delay, which will make the pain progressively worse.
Diet
Drug prescriptions for patients with manageable symptoms of IBS are not recommended; it is only advised for sufferers in advanced stages of the condition. However, a good diet can go a long way in ensuring proper colon and bowel health.
It has been found out that fats and refined sugars are highly damaging during IBS. The patient should restrain himself/herself from foods such as refined foods, highly fatty and spicy foods, dairy products (which might even cause lactose intolerance in the patient), caffeine-rich beverages etc. Avoid very acidic fruits, chocolate and alcohol. It is also important to learn to have smaller meals that are easier for the stomach to digest at one time.
Vitamin C and magnesium in the diet relieve the bowel from developing diarrhea and/or constipation. These can be taken as supplements as well. A good reliever of abdominal pain is peppermint oil, which soothes the stomach passage as the food passes through. A very good herbal remedy is Licorice, which is available as a root extract and also as medicinal capsules. A daily dosage of licorice brings long-term relief to abdominal pains and cramps.
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