Introduction
We speak of a so-called irritable bowel syndrome if typical symptoms such as abdominal pain or flatulence persist for a period of more than three months and stool changes occur in addition. A prerequisite for the diagnosis of an irritable bowel syndrome is that there is no disease that can cause and explain the typical symptoms of an irritable bowel syndrome. Those affected, the majority of whom are women, suffer from a clearly noticeable reduction in their quality of life.
A causal treatment of irritable bowel syndrome is not yet known. Nevertheless, there are many tips and tricks on how to alleviate the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Drugs, household remedies or simply a change in diet can bring improvement.
Not only what we eat but also the way we eat has an influence on our well-being. People affected by irritable bowel syndrome should therefore take enough time when eating and spread their meals over the day. It is therefore bad to eat a large portion quickly in the evening.
It should be ensured that enough non-alcoholic beverages are drunk throughout the day in quantities of about two liters. You should definitely avoid incompatible drinks. These include large amounts of alcohol, coffee, nicotine, hot spices, fatty and sweet foods, as well as very cold or very hot food.
People affected by irritable bowel syndrome, who suffer mainly from constipation, should eat a diet rich in fiber and rich in dietary fiber. Dietary fiber leads to a stimulation of intestinal activity. Especially fruit, vegetables, cereals and potatoes contain a lot of dietary fiber.
If those affected suffer rather from diarrhoea, then the above-mentioned advice does not apply, of course. In addition, these patients should definitely avoid products containing sorbitol. Sorbitol is a sugar substitute that is contained in chewing gum, for example.
Patients suffering from flatulence in particular should avoid legumes rich in fibre such as lentils or beans, as they have flatulant properties. There is a wide range of home remedies and measures that can be easily used at home by those affected by irritable bowel syndrome. A proven household remedy for stomach aches is the application of heat.
A hot-water bottle is usually used, which is placed on the affected area. However, it should be noted that the application of heat must not be too hot and should not be applied directly to the skin, as this can lead to skin burns. If the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are mainly flatulence and a pronounced feeling of fullness, natural remedies such as fennel, caraway, aniseed, peppermint and camomile in the form of teas can help, as they have a flatulant and soothing effect on the gastrointestinal tract.
If those affected by irritable bowel syndrome suffer from constipation, swelling agents such as flea seed or linseed are an alternative because they have a laxative effect. However, they must be taken with sufficient liquid. The psyche also has a significant influence on the well-being of our digestive system.
Stress should be avoided, if possible, and instead sufficient time for relaxation and recovery should be on the program. It should also be mentioned again that a causal treatment of irritable bowel syndrome is not yet known. Only a symptom relief can be achieved by a suitable therapy.
In the case of cramp-like abdominal pain, antispasmodic medication can be used, also known as spasmolytics. These include mebeverine and butylscopolamine, which is also known commercially as Buscopan. Those affected by irritable bowel syndrome, especially diarrhea, may temporarily take loperamide, also known as Imodium, which inhibits bowel activity. Also Racecadotril, which is also available as Vaprino, or so-called probiotics (such as Kijimea®) can be taken in the context of diarrhea. In addition, in some cases of irritable bowel syndrome, antidepressants in low doses can alleviate the symptoms for the patient.
