Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a disorder that causes intestinal distress. According to the National Digestive Diseases Clearinghouse, "as many as 20 percent of the adult population" in the United States has IBS. There is no cure for the condition, but in most cases, treatment controls the symptoms effectively. IBS symptoms vary in each individual. Symptoms can include constipation, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, abdominal bloating and gas. The symptoms range from bothersome to debilitating in severe cases. Few people experience severe debilitating symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Step 1
Eat a diet rich in fiber and take fiber supplements if you suffer from constipation. Fiber supplements are available at many drug stores. Foods that are high in fiber include brown rice, whole grain bread, spinach and broccoli.
Step 2
Take an over the counter anti-diarrhea medicine if you suffer from diarrhea.
Step 3
Drink peppermint tea to soothe and relax your intestinal muscles, which helps to eliminate diarrhea. For severe abdominal cramping and diarrhea symptoms, take peppermint oil. Peppermint oil supplements are available over-the-counter at health food stores and in a delayed release capsule form sold under the name "Colpermin," which is available by prescription. A study published in the Journal of Gastroenterology found that 89 percent of the study participants who took peppermint oil 30 minutes before meals had fewer symptoms of intestinal cramping, gas and diarrhea.
Step 4
Keep a diary to document your daily food intake and bowel habits. Regularly look over your diary to determine if certain foods exacerbate your symptoms. Avoid eating foods that cause your IBS symptoms to act up.
Step 5
Relax to reduce stress related diarrhea. Consider counseling, meditation, yoga, prayer or massage to help you relax. A counselor may also prescribe depression medication or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that also affect the neurons in the intestine.
Step 6
Visit your doctor if you are unable to manage your IBS symptoms at home. Your doctor can prescribe prescription medications based on your symptoms. Prescription-strength laxatives, antispasmodics, antidepressants or a special medication called Lotrinex may be prescribed for severe diarrhea symptoms.
Tips and Warnings
- Colpermin is difficult to find in some areas. Your pharmacist may have to special order it.
- Peppermint oil causes heartburn or exacerbate heartburn in some individuals.
Things You'll Need
- Fiber supplements
- Fiber rich foods
- Anti-diarrhea medicine
- Peppermint tea
- Peppermint oil supplements
- Food diary
References
- National Digestive Diseases Clearinghouse: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Mayo Clinic: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Journal of Gastroenterology Vol. 32 No. 6; Enteric-Coated Peppermint-Oil Capsules in the Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Prospective, Randomized Trial; Jenn-Hua Liu, Gran-Hum Chen, Hong-Zen Yeh, Chin-Kuen Huang, Sek-Kwong Poon; Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital; November 1997
