Alternative Cures for IBS

Aside from traditional medical treatments, there are also nonconventional methods of relieving the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. These treatments and methods may be useful to a patient or not, depending on many factors.  Some of them are the following:

Acupuncture
Many studies have shown that the effects of acupuncture on the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome vary. However, it is proven that acupuncture helps in the relaxation of muscle spasms and makes bowel function get a lot better.

Herbs
There are some plants with medicinal properties which are proven to help ease IBS symptoms. One of which is peppermint. This plant is an organic antispasmodic. This means that it can help relax smooth muscles found in the intestine. With this property, peppermint can help give a short-term relief from the symptoms of IBS. If peppermint is to be used, make sure enteric-coated capsules are the ones being used. This kind of herb may cause heartburn. Thus, it is better to consult the doctor to make sure that it won’t create negative reaction with the kind of medication being taken by the patient.

Hypnosis
Hypnosis as a treatment can help in the reduction of pains in the abdominal area as well as bloating. A professional being trained for hypnosis can help a patient enter a state of relaxation and leads the patient in relaxing the muscles in his/her abdomen.

Probiotics
Good bacteria that reside normally in human’s intestines are called probiotics. They can also be found in other foods like yogurt and dietary supplements. Theories suggest that people with IBS do not have enough good bacteria in their intestines. Therefore, adding probiotics can help relieve IBS symptoms, like pains in the abdomen and bloating. However, more researches are still being conducted about this.

Exercise, Yoga, Massage or Meditation
These treatments can help in the management and relief of stress. Yoga and meditation classes can be taken in gyms or can be practiced at home with the use of videos or books.