Natural remedies/treatment for IBS??

[littlec]

My SIL has Irritabel Bowel Syndrome and recently had a major allergic reaction to some meds her doctor gave her for it. She's pretty natural minded, and I'm sure even more so after that so I figured I'd ask here if you guys knew anything about it or any websites or books to recommend. Thanks.

[JaneS]

First, digestive enzymes should help immediately while you start to figure stuff out.  I like the Enzymedica brand: Digest Basic, Digest and Digest Gold (in order of strength, should start with less strong). 

Can also use enzymes between meals to fight yeast/bacteria, this website and her books are very good:

www.enzymestuff.com

Others in Allergies forum have been trying Pancreas glandulars for enzymes with very good results.

Lactose intolerance is the most common cause.

If she has IBS-C (constipation) taking magnesium will help regulate the bowels.  Most people are low in mag.  Natural Calm is a good brand to start with (start slow),

Getting on the right probiotic has helped many people but it might take some trial and error to find one that works for her.

IgG food allergy testing is often very helpful and eliminating foods that provoke a reaction resolves IBS, this book explains it well:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0976853787?ie=UTF8&tag=ggbc-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0976853787

[sbgrace]

Many IBS people in studies are carrying d. fragilis or b. hominus parasites. My son was. It's well, well worth testing imo. Metametrix stool will test for both of those as well as loads of other potential causes--it's my preferance because they do DNA analysis and so you need just one sample. She will get a lot of information that might be very helpful (parasites, bacterial counts, digestion, IGA levels, immune response levels, etc.) The other lab that does testing for those parasites is Genova but you have to do I think two or three samples as they don't use DNA. Both labs are covered out of network with my insurance. I think some insurances have agreements with one or the other though. If she does either she needs to collect stool from all parts and especially make sure she gets the end...gross I know but b. hominus hangs out at the very end of stool.

[herenow2]

The right probiotic worked wonders for my so-called IBS (according to a GI - I still think it was some sort of parasite.)  I tried several to no avail and then finally tried Garden of Life Primal Defense and Culturelle (alternating) a few times a day and that made a huge difference in my digestive issues.    

[Llyra]

For day to day management, soluble fiber can help a lot.  You can get that in supplements-- not insoluble fiber, like bran-- this is soluble fiber, like in oats.  You can also eat oatmeal-- real oatmeal, not the instant stuff.  DH suffers from IBS, and steel-cut oats have been an important part of his management of it. 

[JenCP]

I've suffered with IBS since a child, but it took me into my late 20s to find out that MILK can be a culprit! Not that it's the only culprit, but let's face it: anything an IBS sufferer can do to alleviate/prevent some problems is well worth it! Next time he has a bout, see if he had milk.  I know it surprised me!

[JaneS]

Yes, maybe it's dairy allergy/intolerance or just lactose intolerance. 

Lactose is milk sugar.  It needs lactase, the enzyme to digest it.  If you don't have lactase produced in your intestines, the lactose will cause gas/bloating/pain.  The lactase enzyme is produced at the tip of the intestinal villi, the little finger like projections on the intestines.   If they are inflamed or mowed down by other allergies... celiac is a common cause... they will not produce lactase.  In celiac disease, the patient is typically lactose intolerant until they eliminate gluten and their villi regrow.  Then they can often eat dairy just fine again.  It's been my experience that eliminating other allergies/intolerances will also restore the gut villi, so it might not necessarily be dairy that is the root cause.

The SCD diet lists lactose free dairy as "legal":

http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/legal/legal_illegal_a-c.htm

Many people with IBS/IBD have found relief with the SCD too.

[kjbrown92]

A food diary/journal can be a big help (down to ingredient level so that you can see real trends). My IBS symptoms happened to be from soy, but they can be from just about any food. As well as parasites and nutritional deficiencies.