Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is just as it sounds; the bowels are irritated. The intestinal tract actually goes into spasm when under stress. IBS tends to be a secondary condition caused by physical or emotional stress to the body. Symptoms can include: diarrhea, constipation, weakness, abdominal pain and discomfort.
Although there are a few effective medications to stop an attack of IBS, in the long run it is better to control the cause of the condition.
Triggers for IBS
- lack of sleep
- change in sleep schedule
- time changes
- not eating when hungry
- emotional stress
- poor diet
- emotional repression
- coffee
- cigarettes
Lifestyle Changes and Therapies for IBS
Treating IBS is not a quick fix. IBS stems from an inability of the body to handle a stressor. The way to treat IBS is not to seek a quick fix. Changes in lifestyle will have to be made to be free of IBS.
Sleep –Lack of sleep is a big trigger that will bring on IBS the next day. Drinking caffeine just irritates the bowels even more. Get enough sleep, and if IBS is a problem after a bad/short night’s sleep then try to take a 30 minute nap in the afternoon to reset the body.
Diet –Increasing fibre or using a fibre supplement will help. Bran may actually make IBS worse, so choose psyllium or chia seeds instead. Eliminate pop drinks, coffee, and cigarettes as these can irritate the G.I. tract and interfere with digestion.
Emotional Stress –The gut is impacted by the emotional environment and emotional repression. Take note of stressors and emotions when an episode starts.
Meditation – Meditation is very effective in dealing with IBS. Twenty minutes of meditation is often enough to stop an episode of IBS. There are many methods of meditation with some being passive and some guided.
Bio-feedback – Similar to meditation, bio-feedback helps reset the mind-body connection.
Sound therapy – Sound has an impact on the body and its ability to heal itself. Sound therapy can be a great way of dealing with conditions that are brought on by stress such as IBS. Dr Andrew Weil’s Sound Body Sound Mind or Self Healing with Sound and Music are very useful.
Energy Medicine– Healing modalities such as Reiki, Vortex healing, Touch therapy, acupuncture, and Bodytalk are all effective in stopping flare-ups of IBS, as well as providing a long term treatment option.
Food as Medicine
There are herbs, foods and teas that have a calming effect on the gut and may have a positive impact on an IBS attack. Some of these are:
Ginger- Not only does it have a great effect on the digestion, it also reduces inflammation. Fresh ginger can be cooked in recipes, taken as tea, or eaten as crystallized ginger; great for motion sickness or any intestinal upset.
Peppermint – Either peppermint tea, or oil taken in a coated tablet will relieve IBS.
Chamomile – An excellent calmative tea that not only calms the emotions but relaxes the lining of the gut.
Tea – Although caffeine has a negative impact on IBS, it should be noted that tea is quite beneficial to the treatment of IBS. The tannin in the tea helps relieve the distress.
Quercetin –It is probably the most effective compound in the treatment of gastrointestinal distress. Found in the outer brown onion skins and chia seeds, it is also available in health food stores in capsule form.
Valerian – Valerian is a smooth muscle relaxant.
The treatment of IBS requires a long term and positive change in healthy living. As always, treat the cause and not just the symptoms.
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