Health Tip: Help Control IBS Symptoms

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is characterized by its symptoms: continuous or recurrent lower abdominal pain or cramping (from mild to excruciating) in association with altered bowel motility (diarrhea, constipation, or both).

The patient support site http://www.HelpForIBS.com/ has revealed three of the most successful treatments for IBS symptoms - Diet, supplements, and stress management.

Diet (http://www.HelpForIBS.com/diet/): The diet is based on the well-established effects certain categories of foods have on the GI tract. Trigger foods (items that are high in fat, insoluble fiber) or other GI stimulants and irritants must be minimized or eliminated.

Soluble fiber foods, which soothe and regulate the digestive tract, are used as a foundation in all snacks and meals to prevent and relieve IBS symptoms, stabilize intestinal contractions, and normalize bowel function.

IBS means substitution, not deprivation! You can still enjoy comfort foods, traditional home cooking, ethnic specialties and even fancy desserts! http://www.helpforibs.com/diet/recipes.asp

Supplements - http://www.helpforibs.com/shop/: Of the numerous supplements available for IBS symptoms, patients report that soluble fiber, probiotics, and herbs are the most effective.

Prebiotic soluble fibers such as acacia (Tummy Fiber is a patient-favorite brand) are used to resolve both diarrhea and constipation. Probiotics are appreciated for reducing gas and bloating.

Among herbs that have beneficial effects on the GI tract, peppermint and fennel, as both enteric coated oil capsules and medicinal strength teas, are the most popular. Heather’s Tummy Tamers are a favorite brand of peppermint capsule for preventing IBS abdominal pain, spasms and cramps. Fennel tea is repeatedly cited for its ability to reduce bloating and gas.

Stress Management: Stress activates the sympathetic nerve plexuses, and stimulates excessive adrenaline production, which in turn upsets the rhythmic muscle contractions of the gut. Given that people with IBS are prone to suffer from irregular GI contractions by definition, it's easy to see why stress is such a powerful trigger. Several interesting studies have actually shown the direct link between emotional stressors and subsequent IBS flares.

Three important strategies for managing stress are sleep, yoga and hypnosis. Since a poor night's sleep results in fatigue and a corresponding lower stress-tolerance level, being tired allows IBS to be more easily triggered. Yoga, a system of physical and mental exercises, rests on three foundations - exercise, breathing, and meditation - with the goal of joining together the body and mind into a state of balance and harmony (http://www.helpforibs.com/yoga/). Hypnosis has been by approved by the American Medical Association as a valid medical treatment since 1958. By reaching the subconscious level of the mind, hypnotherapy can be used to alter the way a person consciously perceives health problems.

jrick of WA 5:31PM October 15, 2009