Although irritable bowel or irritable bowel syndrome is harmless in itself, it is often very agonizing for those affected. Treatment for irritable bowel is therefore aimed at alleviating the symptoms; a cure through treatment is usually not to be expected. It makes sense to find the causes and avoid them as far as possible.
In the case of acute pain, many sufferers are helped by a heat application, for example a heating or spelt pad on the abdomen, as a treatment option. Also, a gentle circular abdominal massage (from the bottom right to the top, across to the other side and further to the bottom left) often relieves the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
Irritable bowel: medication does not always help
Whether medications are useful as part of treatment should be discussed with your doctor. Some of the medications available only work for some sufferers:
- Anticonvulsant agents such as butylscopolamine help in isolated cases, but should not be taken permanently because of their side effects.
- Substances against flatulence such as simeticon relieve rather rarely, but are worth a try.
- Not recommended in the treatment are laxatives. They lead in the long run to habituation, which is rather counterproductive in the chronic clinical picture irritable bowel syndrome.
- Stuffing substances such as loperamide should only be taken in the short term.
- Severe abdominal pain can possibly be alleviated by antidepressants, as they increase pain thresholds.
Relieve cramps with herbal medicine
Herbal medicine offers cumin or peppermint oil for ingestion (tea, capsules) or even abdominal massage for cramping abdominal pain. Indian psyllium has a mild laxative effect at the same time. Dietary swelling agents such as flaxseed and wheat bran stimulate intestinal activity, but must be taken with plenty of fluid.
There are some promising studies on the efficacy of acupuncture for IBS – this may also be worth trying (as well as homeopathy constitutional therapy).
