People with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) know how much pain and discomfort it can bring, but they may not know is that it can lead to malnutrition. Digestion is essential for good health. But, if you can’t digest food properly, you can’t absorb their healing nutrients. That means vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, and the rest may not be available for use by your body. You won’t have nutrients to fight off infections, stop abnormal cell growth, cleanse your blood, strengthen your bones, or boost your heart function.
Treating IBS has become a big concern for doctors. But, most Western medicine cures seem to have decidedly mixed results when it comes to recovery. As with many health conditions, their first suggested line of defense for IBS is often pharmacological. When this fails to remedy the situation, alternative medicine is used almost as an afterthought.
Recently, researchers in Belgium studied several treatments for IBS. They noted that the condition is a frequently occurring health problem, with entangled symptoms and causes, and that its therapeutic approach is therefore complex. Pharmacological therapies, prescribed alone or in combination in light of a predominant symptom, consist of antispasmodics, fibers, laxatives, anti-diarrheals, and psychotropic agents.
As for alternative therapies, the researchers identified the following as being the most helpful in cases of IBS:
— Dietary measures that include the reduction of short-chain, poorly absorbed carbohydrates
— Gluten restriction
— Assessment of food allergies
— Probiotics, which exert a beneficial action in the gut
— Peppermint oil, one of the best herbal cures, which has an established analgesic effect
— Hypnotherapy, which represents an original and effective approach to relieving symptoms
The researchers conclude their review of effective alternative treatments by mentioning an often overlooked part of IBS recovery: a solid relationship with your doctor. They suggest that education about the disease, along with reassurance and listening to the patient, combine to build a solid therapeutic relationship. According to the researchers, this positive relationship between doctor and patient represents an essential backdrop for treatment success.
Sources for Today’s Articles:
Natural Remedies Aid with Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Gerkens, A. et al., “Irritable bowel syndrome: diet and complementary medicine therapies?” Rev Med Brux. September 2012; 33(4): 430-5.