The irritable bowel syndrome is the most common gastrointestinal disorder reported to general practitioners.  The exact cause of IBS is not known.  Nevertheless, a variety of physiological, psychological, and dietary factors have been identified as possible causes.  The actual diagnosis of IBS often occurs by a process of elimination.  Many conditions mimic IBS. These include intestinal parasites, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, intestinal candidiasis, diverticular disease, fecal impaction, and intestinal cancer.

Some doctors believe that IBS is nearly as widespread as the common cold.  The good news is that irritable bowel syndrome doesn’t lead to more serious medical complications and no one dies from IBS.  In the meantime, there are plenty of things you can do to take some of the irritability out of your bowels.

Royal Recommendations for Prevention and Treatment

1. Avoid processed foods (e.g., white flour products), refined foods (e.g., white sugar products), and fatty foods.  Fat, in particular, is a major stimulus to colonic contractions and can worsen your IBS.  This includes heavy sauces, fried foods, and salad oils.

2. Check your food allergies.  (See “Allergy—Foods.”)  Be especially wary of dairy products.  These contain the sugar known as “lactose” which many people are not able to digest.  The digestive enzyme, lactase, needed to digest lactose, is absent in approximately 25% of Caucasians, 50% of Negroes, and 75% of Asians.

3. Reduce or eliminate your consumption of coffee, tea, chocolate, cola, and other caffeinated products.  These stimulants will increase motility (which is bad news if you are already experiencing diarrhea).  If they don’t cause diarrhea, they may cause cramping.  Nicotine from cigarettes isn’t any better and many smokers have IBS complaints.  (See “Smoking Addiction.”)

4. Some alcoholic beverages, such as beer and red wine, can exacerbate your problems.  This is due to the carbohydrates in beer and tannin in red wine.

5. Increase your fiber intake.  Fiber increases stool production and reduces pressure in the intestines (good for both constipation and diarrhea).  Fiber also allows for more regular bowel movements.  Increase your consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables and grains.  Oat bran, guar gum, pectin, and psyllium husk are good sources of fiber which act as bulking agents in the stool. (See “Constipation.”)  Use a small dose until the bowel becomes accustomed to the fiber.

6. Increase your water intake.  This is especially important when you increase your fiber intake.  Usually 6-8 glasses of distilled, spring, or reverse osmosis water is adequate.  Remember to chew your food thoroughly, to eat slowly, and choose a relaxed environment in which to eat your meal.  Chewing your food stimulates saliva production that begins the process of digestion even before you swallow.  Eating slowly and relaxed will prevent you from gulping air and provide time for digestive juices to start flowing before the food passes by.  Eating small meals frequently, rather than large meals infrequently is another good eating habit to remember.

7. Be careful in your food combinations.  In general, protein and starches (including sugar), as well as fruits and vegetables, are poor.  Read labels to avoid sugars, especially those found in foods such as candy and gum.  Aspartame, Fructose, and Sorbitol are the most common offenders.  Diarrhea is often the result.  (See “Diarrhea.”)

8. Reduce your stress levels.  (See “Stress.”)  Various options are available which treat IBS effectively.  These include meditation, self-hypnosis, biofeedback, regular exercise, or just keeping a journal.  During an acute attack of abdominal pain, lie down, take a deep breath, or use a hot-water bottle or heating pad on the tummy to bring relief.  Find out what works best for you.

9. Be cautious with any medications.  Anti-diarrheas and laxatives should only be used on a short-term basis--if at all.  If abdominal cramping is severe and uncontrolled by other methods, Librium may be prescribed by your doctor and taken in small amounts.

10. Consider hormone supplementation if IBS symptoms peak during the menstrual cycle. Natural progesterone cream (topically) or oil (sublingually) may reduce such symptoms.  Use it in increasing amounts as the monthly cycle progresses.  (See “Premenstrual Syndrome.”)

11. Supplements to consider include: B-complex, magnesium, acidophilus, aloe vera juice, alfalfa, essential fatty acids, such as primrose, flax seed oil (if tolerated), and digestive enzymes.

12. Herbs known to be of benefit for indigestion include balm, cascara sagrada, chamomile, lobelia, pau d’arco, peppermint, rose hips, and valeriana.

13. Homeopathics found to be useful in the treatment of digestive disturbances include:  Arsenicum (difficulty digesting anything and often accompanied by diarrhea), Calcarea Carbonica (digestion is sluggish), Carbo Vegetabilis (worse after eating with both upper intestinal gas and flatulence), Colocynthis (cramp-like pains in the abdomen), Lycopodium (empty sensation if meals are missed, craving for sweets, and much flatulence), Natrum Muriaticum (especially if excessive salt is taken and constipation is present), Nux Vomica (especially if a result of excessive eating and accompanied by nausea), Podophyllum (distention of the abdomen with colicky pain), Pulsatilla (when intolerant to fats and feeling of fullness two hours after eating), and Sulphur (indicated in chronic stomach disorders and often associated with excessive alcohol consumption).

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