A natural irritable bowel syndrome treatment can help ease the discomforts caused by this condition. Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition that affects the colon, which is located in the digestive tract. This condition is very common, affecting as many as one in five Americans. According to the National Institutes of Health, women develop irritable bowel syndrome more often than men.
Not everyone is affected the same way by irritable bowel syndrome. Some patients will feel bloated, or experience cramping, or abdominal pain. Others will have constipation, diarrhea, or a combination of the two. Symptoms can also include flatulence, or mucus in a person's stool. The symptoms can for long periods of time, or they can be sporadic.
Peppermint Oil Capsules
Several studies support the use of peppermint oil capsules as an irritable bowel treatment. Peppermint has properties that are soothing to the stomach and help the digestive system function properly. Some patients find that peppermint oil is among the effective diarrhea remedies, and it also reduces the bloating pain and gassiness associated with irritable bowel syndrome.
In 2001, researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia analyzed the effectiveness of peppermint oil capsules as an irritable bowel treatment. For two weeks, they studied 42 children who had irritable bowel syndrome. At the end of the study, 75 percent of the participants who received the peppermint oil capsules experienced a reduction in the pain caused by irritable bowel syndrome.
Probiotics Health Benefits
Probiotics are also effective as an irritable bowel syndrome treatment. Probiotics, which are naturally found in the human digestive tract, are known as good bacteria. It is believed they help a person stay healthy by strengthening the immune system and preventing harmful bacteria from spreading. There are several different strains of probiotics. Research has found bifidobacterium infantis to be effective in treating irritable bowel syndrome.
A month long study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, took a look at how bifidobacterium infantis affected women who had irritable bowel syndrome. 362 women participated in the study. One group was given a placebo, and the other received bifidobacterium infantis. The women who received bifidobacterium infantis noticed a reduction in their pain, bloating, bowel problems, and gas.
Yoga Health Benefits
Research suggests that people with irritable bowel syndrome can find relief from the numerous yoga health benefits. Yoga is a practice that was first started in India. Its purpose is to help a person achieve mental and physical well being, using breathing techniques, exercise, and meditation. Yoga is also sometimes used to help a person overcome physical ailments.
A 2006 study at the University of British Columbia, analyzed whether yoga could help adolescents with irritable bowel syndrome. The 25 participants were between the ages of 11 and 18. One group of participants attended a yoga class, and then practiced yoga every day at home for one month. At the end of the study, the group who practiced yoga experienced a major reduction in symptoms.
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