IBS is an uncomfortable condition that can cause gas, stomach cramping, bloating, diarrhea and constipation. These symptoms can make life anything but easy.
That said, if you do suspect IBS, you’re anything but alone.
About 11 percent of the world’s population has IBS, though only 30 percent of people with this condition will get medical help. And it is known to affect more women than men.
When a person has IBS, the intestinal system is disrupted. Consequently, it doesn’t function the way it should.
According to the Mayo Clinic, common medical treatments for IBS can include fiber supplements, anti-diarrheal medications, counseling, anticholinergic and antispasmodic medications to relieve bowel spasms, and antibiotics.
That said, there are a number of other surprising treatments that just might help. Check out the following six options.
1. Meditation
The effects of meditation transcend far beyond simple relaxation. In fact, meditation just might have an impact on symptoms associated with IBS.
Researchers at Harvard affiliates Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center recently studied this concept. The study was the first to analyze just how relaxation response affects IBS.
Participants took part in a nine-week training program that encompassed the use of the relaxation response. At the end of the study, participants with IBS reported a reduction in symptoms.
“Our results suggest exciting possibilities for further developing and implementing this treatment in a wider group of patients with gastrointestinal illness,” said Braden Kuo of the gastrointestinal unit in the MGH Department of Medicine, co-lead author of the report, in an article published in the Harvard Gazette.
According to the Harvard Gazette, “the relaxation response — a physiologic state of deep rest induced by practices such as meditation, yoga, and prayer — was first described more than 40 years ago by Herbert Benson, director emeritus of the Benson-Henry Institute and a co-author of the current paper.”
In the study, subjects were assessed at the beginning, middle and end of the program as well as three weeks after completion. According to the Harvard Gazette, “Both in patients with IBS and those with IBD (irritable bowel disorder), participation in the mind/body program appeared to have significantly improved disease-related symptoms, anxiety, and overall quality of life, not only at the end of the study period, but also three weeks later.”
So try meditation to invoke a similar response. It just might help.
2. Acupuncture
Though research is limited, acupuncture may benefit IBS. Small studies show that acupuncture improves health in general and reduces bloating. So just how does this work?
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, “Acupuncturists treat people with IBS based on an individualized assessment of the excesses and deficiencies of qi located in various meridians.”
A delicate process is used to rebalance energy thought to cause symptoms. Practitioners believe the lung and spleen meridians are deficient in qi and use a process called moxibustion – burning mugwort over specific acupuncture points -- to enhance the effects of acupuncture, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
If you do try acupuncture, be sure that the practitioner you choose has experience treating IBS. This may make a difference.
3. Exercise
Exercise can be useful for more than just cardiovascular health. In fact, a study published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology shows that exercise can have a significant impact on symptoms of IBS.
In the study, 102 patients were divided into a physical activity or control group. Those in the physical activity group were led to a life of increased activity by a physiotherapist. However, those in the control group were told to keep their lifestyles the same.
Those in the control group had a greater increase in symptoms than those in the physical activity group. Study authors concluded that more physical activity improves symptoms related to IBS and that this physical activity should be a primary method of treatment in patients.
So add exercise to your IBS treatment plan. The results may surprise you.
4. Peppermint
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, some studies show that enteric-coated peppermint capsules can be helpful in managing symptoms associated with IBS.
In one such study, 57 participants were given either enteric-coated peppermint capsules or a placebo two times a day for four weeks. Seventy-five percent of those who were given the enteric-coated peppermint capsules had reduced symptoms of IBS.
A different study focused on comparing the capsules to placebos in children with IBS. After two weeks, 75 percent of the children who ingested the peppermint capsules had reduced symptoms.
And in a Taiwanese study, patients who were given the coated peppermint concoction three to four times a day for one month had less gas, fewer stools, and less abdominal issues when compared to those who took the placebo. Almost 80 percent of patients who took the concoction had no stomach aches.
5. Probiotics
It’s a well-known fact that probiotics can prevent yeast infections. However, most people don’t know that probiotics can help those with IBS.
Probiotics often referred to as “good bacteria,” can improve gut health. This may change the body’s ability to process food.
According to the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD), Bifidobacterium infantis is one of the most effective probiotics in treating and improving IBS symptoms, particularly gas and bloating.
Bifidobacteria live in the intestines. This group of bacteria is used to treat many intestinal conditions.
The easiest way to ingest this type of bacteria is by eating yogurt. Look for an organic, high-quality yogurt that lists bifidobacteria as one of its live probiotics.
6. Hypnotherapy
According to the IFFGD, studies have shown that hypnosis can be a useful treatment for IBS.
Research shows that hypnotherapy can decrease stomach pain and digestive issues associated with the condition. It also can help with other symptoms like nausea, fatigue, backache and urinary issues.
So just what’s involved in this process?
For starters, hypnotherapy is not some kind of voodoo magic where patients lose all control over the mind. Patients are fully aware and don’t do things they don’t want to do. In fact, it’s less intimidating than one would think.
“Hypnotherapy for IBS involves progressive relaxation, and then suggestions of soothing imagery and sensations focused on the individual’s symptoms,” according to the IFFGD.
The IFFGD warns that hypnosis is not an answer to all IBS-related issues. “Up to 25 percent of patients fail to respond. Even when people do improve, conventional approaches to treatment should not always be ignored,” reports the organization.
If you do decide to try hypnotherapy, the IFFGD says that a number of factors need to be considered when selecting a hypnotherapist. You need to make sure that the person is a qualified and licensed health care provider and not just a randomly certified hypnotherapist. This can include doctors, nurses, psychologists and social workers. Further, it is essential to make sure the practitioner is familiar with hypnosis for IBS.