Treatment for IBS should consist of different approaches to be effective. Diversity is the main part of the philosophy of treatment for IBS. Nearly all people with IBS can get help, but no single treatment for irritable bowel syndrome works for everyone. You and your doctor will need to work together to find the right treatment plan to manage your symptoms.

Many things can trigger IBS symptoms, including certain foods, medicines, the presence of gas or stool, and emotional stress. You’ll need to learn what your triggers are. You may need to make some lifestyle changes and take medication. Below are the most common approaches to treatment for IBS.

Diet and lifestyle changes

Diet for IBS is an essential part of any treatment for IBS. Diet for IBS can help improve the symptoms of IBS over time.

Below are some rules you should consider while creating a diet plan for IBS:

Add fiber to your diet with foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts.
Drink at least three to four glasses of water per day.
Don’t smoke.
Avoid caffeine (in coffee, tea, and soda).
Limit how much milk or cheese you eat.
Eat smaller meals more often instead of big meals.
Keep a record of the foods you eat so you can figure out which foods bring on bouts of IBS.
Learn to relax, either by getting more exercise or by reducing stress in your life.

Common food “triggers” are red peppers, green onions, red wine, wheat, and cow’s milk. If you’re concerned about getting enough calcium, you can try to get it from other foods, like broccoli, spinach, turnip greens, tofu, yogurt, sardines, salmon with bones, calcium-fortified orange juice, and bread, or calcium supplements.

Medications

Medications are another form of IBS treatment that has been effective. The following types of drugs are used to treat IBS:

Bulking agents, such as psyllium, wheat bran, and corn fiber, help slow the movement of food through the digestive system and may also help relieve symptoms.
Antibiotics, such as rifaximin (Xifaxan), can change the number of bacteria in your intestines. You take pills for 2 weeks. It can control symptoms for as long as 6 months. If they come back, you can be treated again.

Other treatments for irritable bowel syndrome that can help with symptoms of IBS include:

Antispasmodics is a treatment for IBS that can control colon muscle spasms, but experts are unsure that these drugs help. They also have side effects, such as making you drowsy and constipated, that make them a bad choice for some people.
Antidepressants may also help relieve symptoms in some people.
Probiotics, which are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your health, especially your digestive system; doctors often suggest them to help with digestive problems.

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome aka IBS?

IBS is also known as spastic colon, irritable colon, mucous colitis, and spastic colitis.

It is a separate condition from inflammatory bowel disease and isn’t related to other bowel conditions. IBS is a group of intestinal symptoms that typically occur together. The symptoms vary in severity and duration from person to person. However, they last at least three months for at least three days per month.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a long-term gastrointestinal disorder that can cause persistent discomfort. However, most people will not experience severe complications.

People also refer to IBS as spastic colitis, mucous colitis, and nervous colon. It is a chronic condition. However, its symptoms tend to change over the years. Symptoms often improve as individuals learn to manage the condition.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects between 6–18% of people worldwide. This condition involves changes in frequency or form of bowel movements and lower abdominal pain.

Diet, stress, poor sleep, and changes in gut bacteria may all trigger symptoms. However, triggers are different for each person, making it difficult to name specific foods or stressors that everyone with the disorder should avoid

IBS can cause intestinal damage in some cases. However, that is not common. IBS doesn’t increase your risk of gastrointestinal cancers, but it can still have a significant effect on your life.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS is a gastrointestinal disorder also called spastic colon which affects the colon or the large intestine. The diagnosis of IBS is rather difficult, and it is done by excluding other diseases. IBS is common among people between the ages of 20 to 40, and it is prevalent in women than men. Despite the fact that Irritable Bowel Syndrome is not a palatable experience, it is not life-threatening.

What are the causes of IBS?

It is unclear the causes of IBS, but experts believe that microbial factors may play a key role. Scientists have linked it to food poisoning. In fact, 1 in 9 people who experience food poisoning develops IBS at a later date. It seems that the microbes involved in infectious gastroenteritis may have an impact on the immune system that leads to long-term changes in the gut.

Possible causes of IBS include:

Diet
Environmental factors, such as stress
Genetic factors
Hormones
Digestive organs with a high sensitivity to pain
An unusual response to infection
A malfunction in the muscles that move food through the body
An inability of the central nervous system (CNS) to control the digestive system
A person’s mental and emotional state can contribute to IBS development. People with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have a higher risk of developing IBS.

It is not contagious and does not have links to cancer. Hormonal changes can make symptoms worse. For example, symptoms are often more severe in women around the time of menstruation. Infections such as gastroenteritis may trigger post-infectious IBS (PI-IBS).

Below are some of the possible factors that can cause IBS. These factors can affect the pattern of contraction in the bowel.

Food

Some food to certain people can cause a sudden change to the pattern of contraction, and this could trigger IBS. Food such as chocolate, milk, spice, and carbonated drinks among so many can trigger IBS.

Stress

Mental stress is found to be common to all patients with IBS, and it is found not exactly as the cause but tends to aggravate it.

Smoking

Smoking is also considered to be a trigger and could also aggravate irritable bowel syndrome.

Hormonal Changes

Hormonal changes which are common more in women than men make IBS more prevalent among women. Hormonal changes are common around the women’s menstrual cycle and at menopause.

Infections after effect for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Gastrointestinal infection tends to aggravate or excite IBS when a patient has such an infection.

Symptoms of IBS

Bloating or flatulence

A feeling of bloating which is generally aggravated by certain food such as cheese, fried food, dairy products can be one of the symptoms. The release of gases tends to bring a temporal relief to the patient.

Pain in the upper and lower abdominal areas

This is the most common of all symptoms of IBS as pain is felt in the abdomen part of the body. The pain comes in various ways and varies in individuals. Some experience sharp pains while other dull pains but are relieved by the passage of stool.

Mucous in stools

This is not always experienced in all patients, but mucus is seen in some person stools.

Other symptoms that can be seen include the following such as headaches, anxiety, loss of libido, backache, tiredness, muscular pains, and urinary difficulties are other conditions that can be seen. They are not directly caused by IBS but are experienced by patients.

The symptoms of IBS typically include:

Cramping
Abdominal pain
Bloating and gas
Constipation
Diarrhea

It’s not uncommon for people with IBS to have episodes of both constipation and diarrhea. Symptoms such as bloating and gas typically go away after you have a bowel movement.

Symptoms of IBS aren’t always persistent. They can resolve, only to come back. However, some people do have continuous symptoms

Symptoms of IBS in women

Women may tend to have symptoms around the time of menstruation, or they may have more symptoms during this time.

Menopausal women have fewer symptoms than women who are still menstruating. Some women have also reported that certain symptoms increase during pregnancy

Symptoms of IBS in men

Symptoms of IBS in men are the same as the symptoms in women. However, a lot fewer men report their symptoms and seek treatment.

The symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome can vary from patient to patient and to make matters difficult; it shares symptoms with some other diseases. Below are common symptoms that are usually reported.

Natural treatment for IBS

Natural treatment for IBS is another treatment for IBS that has proven to be helpful without causing any side effects. Listed below are different holistic approaches to the natural treatment for IBS.

Home remedies for IBS – the most common natural treatment for IBS

Home remedies for IBS are natural remedies IBS that can help reduce the symptoms of IBS at home. Listed below are home remedies for IBS

Exercise

Exercise is a home remedy for IBS that is thought to ease IBS symptoms. The release of natural painkiller endorphins may improve abdominal pain and other symptoms. Additionally, exercise has been shown to lower rates of depression and anxiety, known to overlap with IBS

Yoga

Yoga is another home remedy for IBS. Yoga can help you become more ‘in touch with your senses and developing a positive feeling. Research suggests that yoga helps to restore normal signals in the nervous system.

Lower your stress levels

Taking the time to relax at home can be a wonderful treatment for IBS. Stress can be a big contributor to IBS symptoms. Learning how to manage it can really help alleviate symptoms, and the following techniques have been shown effective:

Progressive muscle relaxation: Focusing on one part of the body at a time and relaxing it, this technique may calm the misfiring signals of the gut. This and other practices of meditation have been shown effective by research.
Visualization/positive imagery: Imagining you are in a tranquil and peaceful place, surrounded by beauty helps to focus attention away from sensations in the body. This therapy helps guide you away from sensations in the body that worsen IBS.
Deep breathing: Breathing exercises can also help calm down the nerves that are misfiring in IBS. A study from 2013 found that those who tried deep breathing exercises reported fewer IBS symptoms than those who didn’t.

Herbs for IBS – effective and safe natural treatment for IBS

Herbs for IBS belong to another group of natural remedies for IBS that help reduce the symptoms of IBS without causing side effects.

Below are listed the most effective herbs for IIBS

Slippery Elm

Slippery elm is a herb for IBS that has a long history of use by Native Americans as a remedy for a variety of health conditions. In terms of digestive health, slippery elm is thought to calm irritation by coating the lining of the intestinal system

Artichoke Leaf Extract

A newer natural remedy to the IBS treatment list, artichoke leaf extract (ALE) shows some surprising promise. In a 2016 meta-analysis, various studies indicate that it is effective in reducing bowel movements from regular constipation and diarrhea down to “normal. Artichoke Leaf Extract is a natural treatment for IBS diarrhea

Amalaki

This is the fruit of the Amalaki tree is found throughout Asia and used often in Ayurvedic medicine. It is thought to positively affect overall digestion and serve as a laxative. Amalaki is a natural remedy for IBS diarrhea

Triphala

Triphala is an herbal preparation made the fruit of the bibhataki, haritaki, and Amalaki trees. In addition to its laxative effect, Triphala is thought to reduce abdominal pain and bloating. This is another natural remedy for IBS diarrhea.

Acupuncture for IBS – an ancient Chinese natural treatment for IBS

Acupuncture is an ancient healing practice that comes from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Practitioners of acupuncture insert hair-thin needles into specific acupuncture points on the body to release blocked energy and correct imbalances. These acupuncture points correspond to and stimulate the body’s internal organs.

A possible explanation for why acupuncture for IBS works is that needling acupuncture points help stimulate the nervous system, releasing feel-good chemicals and hormones. This may reduce the experience of pain, stress, and other symptoms.

Acupuncture for IBS is a popular alternative therapy for IBS and other conditions. It’s proven effective for treating chronic pain, according to researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

A study shows that acupuncture for IBS may help with abdominal bloating and other IBS symptoms.

Homeopathy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome – #1 natural treatment for IBS

There are drugs found effective for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, and their selection is based on the symptoms to be treated. Also, the psychological state of the patient including the mental state is put into account when administering Homeopathic treatment to each patient. This is because each patient is unique and there is a need to completely eradicate IBS in the system by getting to the root of the disease. Treatment requires some time, and it needs to be followed through.

There are some common remedies for the treatment of IBS among many other remedies. Enumerated below are five of these remedies, and it is important to know that these remedies are not necessarily applicable to all Irritable Bowel Syndrome conditions. It is necessary to consult a qualified Homeopath.

Aloe

Aloe is the best homeopathic remedy prescribed for IBS when diarrhea is observed. The patient feels a bearing down feeling around the rectum, and mucus may be seen in the stool of such. Due to the uncertainty that surrounds the way the person feels, the patient feels insecure most times.

Nux Vomica

Nux Vomica is best for a patient who feels constipated most times and also feels the inability to release the bowels conveniently. Such patients are stocked to the consumption of coffee, tea, and alcohol and are usually aggressive in temperament.

Pulsatilla

Apart from other common symptoms, there is a feeling of thirst and a bitter taste in the mouth. Such a person dislikes warm food as well as fatty foods. Being in the open air brings some relief and such shows a docile tendency.

Carbo Veg

Carbo veg helps out when there is bloating, flatulence, or gas inconveniencing the individual. The patient is always full of gas after taking any food in, and the uncomfortable gets worse when lying. Such a patient avoids meat, milk, or fatty food.

Argentum Nitricum

High affinity for sweets is common to Irritable Bowel Syndrome patients that need Argentum Nitricum. Such a person easily gets nervous which could lead to diarrhea when having any meaningful engagement coming. The patient belches so much.

Homeopathic Treatment for IBS in Philadelphia

Homeopathy is one of the most effective methods of treatment for IBS. At the Philadelphia Homeopathic Clinic, Dr. Tsan usually combines homeopathy with acupuncture for a better result. The philosophy of Holistic Medicine to look at a patient as one big system helps homeopaths to understand the causes of the disease in each particular case and to choose the most appropriate remedies based on the principle of similarity.

To make an appointment for Homeopathic Evaluation contact our clinic (267) 403-3085 or use our online scheduling system.