IBS, more commonly known as Irritable Bowel Syndrome or ’spastic colon’, can be an occasional nuisance or a debilitating set of problems. It’s not my intent to define IBS here; surely only people seeking help will be interested in this post. There is a wealth of information about the disorder available on the internet; sites like aboutIBS.org and The National Digestive Diseases Clearinghouse do a wonderful job of gathering and disseminating information invaluable for an IBS sufferer.
This advice is purely for the purpose of sharing what works for me, a lifelong IBS victim. I am not a physician and do not claim that these tips will work for everyone. They have been gleaned from many years of experience and the generosity of others, including my best friend, who also has IBS.
There are many links embedded in this post, for the sake of information only. I receive absolutely no payment of any kind from any of the links or products mentioned.
That said, the list is fairly straightforward, and though some items may seem overly basic, I feel each is an important part of my daily IBS life.
- Water
- It’s a cliché because it’s true.
- Exercise
- Good for body and mind, walking at least 30 minutes a day keeps my colon happy.
- Yoga helps as well. I do a few very basic stretches every day.
- Activia
- Yogurt in general is healthy, but Activia added the oomph of probiotics.
- Apples
- Apples have an astounding amount of health benefits, including anti-allergenic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral.
- Oatmeal
- The health benefits of oatmeal have been widely documented, including its soothing properties. I eat Arrowhead Mills Organic Steel Cut Oats almost every day.
- Herbal tea
- Chamomile and Peppermint teas are excellent soothers. I drink hot peppermint tea after dinner each night to aid in digestion. Feel an attack coming on? Put the kettle on, and drink it as hot as you can. Adagio sells the best loose peppermint tea I’ve found, though I also drink Celestial Seasonings. I’ve ordered from Adagio many times and have never been disappointed.
- Herbs
- I take an array of Nature’s Sunshine herbs, including CLT-X, Intestinal Soothe & Build, Pau d’arco and Food Enzymes.
Why Nature’s Sunshine? I met a woman [through my best friend] in New Mexico who sold NS exclusively in her herb shop. She had been to the manufacturing plant and was sold, both on the products and the company. I’ve been using their formulations for four years and couldn’t be happier. But yes, you can go to your local herbalist with a list of ingredients; sometimes they can even add a thing or two, if they’ve been in the business long enough. - These soldiers in the fight against my wonky colon are lined up in the kitchen pantry:
Discover your triggers. Stress is a common denominator, but which foods irritate your colon? I’m allergic to yeast, so bread can set things in motion. I also love chocolate, but my body doesn’t. A little caffeine can work in my favor at certain times of the day, but too much is not a good idea.
Carry an emergency kit. Like a First Aid kit, keep an IBS kit in the car, containing a few packets of herbal tea, baggies of herbs, even a mug. Just knowing you have tools at hand affords peace of mind.
Eat several small meals a day instead of one or two large ones. I don’t like to ’shock’ my colon. LOL! Eat like a hypoglycemic.
Find your Balance. What works for me may not work for you… or some of it might help, in varying amounts. Take what you need and leave the rest. And… pass it on!
IBS has wrestled me to the bathroom floor too many times. I’ve seen too much mucus and had too much pain from the ’seizures’ and scar tissue. It led me to develop phobias related to control, such as a fear of traffic jams, social events and single toilet homes.
But with help and experience I’ve been able to take control of my life again. If this list proves beneficial to even one person it was worth typing up. And please, if you know of another treatment, feel free to share!
