
	IBS Info
	Excessive Bloating
	Fibre
	Control
	Low Starch Diet
	Products
	Relief
	Natural Treatment
	Nausea
	Pepto Bismol
	Zoloft
	Eating
	Fat Malabsorption
	Headaches, Confusion, Weakness, Tired
	Apple Cider Vinegar
	Heartburn
	Chiropractics
	Grapefruit Seed Extract
	Is it a disease
	More Alternative Medicine
	Narrow Stool
	Bad smell
	Does whisky help
	Dos and don'ts
	Fibromyalgia
	Tomato
	Aloe vera
	Constipation
	Non Drug Remedy
	Probiotics
	St Johns Wart
	More...

IBS Relief

IBS or irritable bowel syndrome is associated with a number of symptoms which include abdominal pain and bloating, as well as diarrhoea or constipation or both. Treatment involves dealing with the symptoms and as each person’s experience of IBS is unique so is the treatment. Finding relief for the symptoms is therefore a question of identifying what works for you.

The first step in tackling your IBS is to speak to a doctor who will be able to assess your symptoms properly taking your full medical history into consideration. IBS is diagnosed when there are no other identifiable causes for the symptoms and where the digestive tract looks and appears normal but it simply doesn’t function as well as it should. Once IBS has been diagnosed you can start to find ways to combat the symptoms and obtain relief.

Probably the most beneficial thing you can do is to first identify any triggers that are making your IBS worse. The best way to do this is to keep a diary of everything that you eat and drink over a period of two weeks and record any noticeable affect that any of the foods or drinks have on your digestive system and bowel movements and any stressful situations that arise during that time and what affect they had. Once you know this you can take steps to eliminate the foods that you find difficult to tolerate and of course, if stress is a predominant feature, to deal with that too.

Other ways to obtain relief

Get plenty of exercise, which will also help you to get rid of any stress and pent up emotions as well as keep your digestive system functioning. Make sure you find some time each day to relax and enjoy your leisure time.

Take your time over your meals, eat smaller portions and eat regularly. Avoid the temptation to skip meals or to leave long periods between meal times.

Drink plenty of water, at least 2 litres a day. This is especially important.

Reduce the amount of tea, coffee, alcohol and carbonated drinks.

Increase the amount of fibre in your diet in the form of soluble fibre. Avoid bran as this has been found to make IBS symptoms worse.

Cut down on foods high in starch and increase consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Deal with the most troublesome symptoms first as this is the quickest way to obtain relief. In some people, the symptoms can be mild and will come and go at different times. In these cases a few dietary and lifestyle changes may be enough to keep the IBS symptoms under control. In other people the symptoms can be a lot more severe and last a lifetime and prescribed medication may be necessary. There is no single pattern to IBS so finding relief is very much an individual affair.