Natural Treatments for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a functional gastrointestinal disorder, is a blanket term for bowel discomfort and chronic bowel symptoms. Typical symptoms of IBS are chronic abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation, bloating and general discomfort. IBS is often given as result of physicians not being able to find an actual cause of all the symptoms.
Treatment for IBS can include diet changes, medication and even mental therapy (as stress is thought to be a cause in some patients – where ironically IBS causes patients a lot of stress in turn). There is no cure for IBS – the symptoms are treated as they arise.
The first step after diagnosing irritable bowel syndrome usually involves a diet change. More fiber – fruits and vegitables – is introduced. Discovering foods that may worsen symptoms may also occur. Oftentimes, food allargies celaic disease is ruled out. Celaic is a autoimmune condition of the small intestine which causes similar symptoms.
Natural treatments can be used to control or alleviate irritable bowel syndrome. Increased fiber in the diet is shown to help in most cases. However, other natural remedies include peppermint oil (said to reduce bloating, discomfort and gas), probiotics (adding the good germs back to your intestinal system) and partially hydrolyzed guar gum (said to reduce constipation, pain and diarrhea).
The best bet to taking back control from IBS is to follow a proper diet and avoid foods that are most likely to irritate your intestinal system. Obvious culprits include caffiene, hydrogenated fats, tomoato-based foods such as pizza or spaghetti sauce, processed foods and food with preservatives or MSG.
Allergy Relief This Spring
It’s that time of year again, allergy season comes with the beginnings of Spring. Tree sap starts rising, plants break ground and everything starts getting greener. For some of us, that means alleries – sniffling, sneezing, red eyes and an over-all lousy feeling of wandering about in a fog.
Some common outdoor allergens include:
- Trees – alder, birch and oak
- Weeds – ragweed, sage and nettles
- Grasses – Bermuda grass, Kentucky grass and Johnson grass
- Plants – hyacinth, tulip, pholox, and petunia
Those with allergies can do several things to alleviate their symptoms. Some simple steps include:
- Making sure no typical allergy producing plants or trees are close to your home.
- Consider wearing a paper mask during the worst part of the allergy season, mowing the lawn, or gardening.
- Accupuncture has shown to decrease allergy symptoms significantly
- Diet can also improve your allergy symptoms naturally.
Sometimes you really just need to get through your day. In that case, you will have to take a non-drowsy allergy product to get you through your work day. Many allergy relief products are now available over the counter, but if your symptoms tend to be on the severe side, a prescription may be necissary.
Make sure to discuss your allergies with a doctor before taking allergy medication.
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