Irritable Bowel Syndrome Herbs

Irritable bowel syndrome, also known as IBS, spastic colon, or spastic colitis, is a gastrointestinal disorder. Traditional medical treatments for the condition include avoiding certain trigger foods, drug therapy, and psychological counseling. Herbs may also be beneficial in the management of irritable bowel syndrome.

Causes

• IBS often occurs in adolescence or early adulthood and is more common in women. Anatomical causes of the syndrome include food irritants, lactose intolerance, food poisoning or colon cancer. The condition, however, is more often associated with psychological factors such as stress, depression, and anxiety.

Symptoms

• Symptoms include abdominal pain, gas, bloating, diarrhea or constipation.

Hops

• Although there is no scientific research to date, hops, an essential plant in the brewing of beer, has traditionally been used to calm anxiety associated with irritable bowel syndrome.

Lemon Balm

• Lemon balm, with its well-known soothing qualities, can be used in conjunction with rest and heat to calm a nervous stomach linked to the syndrome.

Peppermint

• When peppermint is ingested after meals as a coated capsule, rather than by its leaves, it helps to decrease the severity of symptoms caused by irritable bowel syndrome.

Other Herbs

• Four hundred milligrams of garlic, two to three times a day, is beneficial for antibacterial or antifungal activity. Twenty milligrams of cat's claw and 250-500 mg of olive's leaf help in the same way.