The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Turmeric
Posted by Gillian (DF, Mexico) on 11/27/2007
★★★★★
have the indian spice turmeric on hand for emergencies. Usually IBS has a lot to do with our emotional well-being and suggests something is or many things are stressing us and we need to make changes in ourselves. However becoming perfect can take more than a life time so i recomend turmeric, i swallow half a teaspoonfull when I have a bad case of IBS and in half an hour I am much better. Only thing is as with lots of cures natural and pharmaceutecal, if the IBS keeps coming back eventually the effect of the turmeric or other cure is lessened. what it gives us is a chance to feel better while we try to solve the underlying problems.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Amanda (Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin) on 08/15/2007
★★★★★
I had suffered from IBS for years and years since I was about 11. It got to be so bad that my lower intestine enlarged to a point where it was pushing up against my stomach and causing severe pain. What really seemed to help me is to take a capsule of flax seed oil with a meal along with a glass of water. It made it so that I was regular. In recent years, I've been doing research on just how many illnesses are related to the consumption of animals and their byproducts such as cheese and the like. In an effort to become a healthier and more compassionate person, I became a vegan and it has done so much for me!! Not only has it completely cleared up the IBS, but numerous other things such as hypoglycemia, acne, made my skin more healthy and radient, made my nails harder, I get a more restful night's sleep, I have a TON more energy, etc. I cannot say enough about how much becoming a vegan has helped my health but the most drastic of a chsnge that I have found is the IBS. Within literally two days I was regular without the help of anything. I didn't have to watch what I ate to make sure that everything would be okay either. It was and is awesome! About an hour after I eat I have to go and it is the biggest relief! I hope those of you with IBS take my advice seriously and just think about cutting at least some of the animal products out of your diet.
Bottled Water
Posted by denise (naples fl, usa) on 06/25/2007
★★★★★
I have had severe IBS for 6 years. Before that time I could eat anything, never a stomach problem and my health was excellent. Since then I have tried every diet there is with the results that if I eliminated anything acid including citric acid which is in a lot of drinks and foods I could get by but I was still severely affected by IBS. Just one week ago I decided to try only drinking bottled water because I suspected my tap water even though we have a filtration system. I have not felt this good in 6 years. I am able to eat things (chocolate) that I haven't eaten in years. I have not been able to eat any fruits, any juices, most vegetables, in the last 6 years. I have not started to put all of them back in my diet yet as I am taking things slowly but this has been a HUGE improvement. The water I have been drinking is from a natural spring but nothing expensive (64 cents a gallon). Drinking bottled water has also improved my husbands health as he has had a skin irritation for several years that doctors could not diagnose. We both thinks it's the chlorine in the water system. By the way it isn't just the water in Florida causing the problem because we both had our health problems begin in Delaware where we also had a water filter on the tap.
Lemons
Posted by T.martin (Winslow, Nj) on 08/14/2011
★★★★★
Lemon Water works even better with distilled water. I have had great success with fresh lemon and distilled water:)
Non-Alcoholic Beer
Posted by Robert (Orlando, FL) on 01/13/2007
★★★★★
The intestinal problems I'm referring to are caused by too much acid reaching the intestines. I've found that some packaged juices such as grape juice, tomato juice and apple juice, contain a lot of acid and can eventually cause intestinal pain when overdone. I attribute that to the acid eating away at the lining of the GI tract and causing irritation and ulcers. The obvious thing that's called for in those cases is to cut out these beverages. However, even though I used to suffer from such GI tract irritation to where I had to cut out my favorite beverages, I found a way to get around that problem and drink all the fruit juices I wanted without any problems at all and have been doing so for many years now. What I found is that if non-alcoholic "beer" or brew (I prefer Miller or Coors) is drunk at the same time as these juices (I mix them together for a good fizzy drink) I can, and do, drink as much juice as I want without any of the normal problems I used to get. Plus I find it to be a healthy and tasty alternative to soda drinks. I don't know what it is about beer that neutralizes the effects of acid in the GI tract, but it works every time.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Wildstormy1 (Spokane, Wa) on 02/18/2013
I have had IBS-D for more than 20 yrs. Now that I've been Gluten Free for about a year, I have alternating bowel functions. Do you think that coconut oil will help with the dual functionality? I am so willing to try anything.
EC: IBS-D stands for Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Diarrhea Predominant
Coconut Oil
Posted by Anonymous (US) on 05/20/2018
If the coconut oil has a foul smell try a different brand. The cheap generic coconut oil has a strong odor. The expensive oil smells fresh and sweet. Coconut "butter" is delicious and amazing, too. It is basically pureed coconut, flesh and oil. I noticed the expensive brand of coconut "cream" I used to use had the odor of the cheap oil, so I swiched brands. Problem solved. I tried baking with the cheap oil and the final product had an even stronger odor, I had to throw it in the trash.
Thiamine
Posted by Vera (Colorado) on 01/30/2024
★★★★★
Cecilia, I recently healed my IBS! It was a complete surprise. I started taking thiamine for other reasons. And got this gift of healing, after 30 years of suffering.
I add two teaspoons of water soluble thiamine (either HCl or mononitrate) to my bath. It's like magic -- another wonderful result is newly soft and supple skin. Best of luck to you! (I do take a B complex orally as well.)
SIBO Connection
Posted by Marnie (Nampa, ID) on 06/14/2019
Awesome!
Could you please share which strains your probiotic contained, how much of each strain per capsule, and how many capsules you took daily? My son had an emergency surgery as an infant to remove an intestinal obstruction, and he lost half his small bowel, illeocecal valve, and appendix. So he needs something to help keep his intestines in balance - being the small bowel that remains is now open to the colon (no valve to separate). Thank you!
SIBO Connection
Posted by Cathie (Nebraska) on 09/11/2019
Hello Marnie!
Were you ever able to find a probiotic for your son as described by Sylvie? Thank you!
SIBO Connection
Posted by Deborah (CA) on 03/20/2021
Can you tell me which probiotics you took.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Elizabeth (Ny) on 04/21/2017
Thank you, MT. I never knew about this root but will call the health food store and see if they have it. They probably do, they seem to have just about everything I have never heard of before. Had some fennel tea last night before going to bed and it was basically an uneventful night..very little with the going and my tummy was not as bad as it has been. Would like to try this root tea though. Thank you again.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Elizabeth (Ny) on 05/13/2017
It has been over a week now since I started taking the Echinacea tincture as well as Peppermint tincture. I take the Echinacea in the am and in the pm. I take the Peppermint three times a day, morning/afternoon/and before bedtime. I started with the Vitamin D3 as well as maybe twice a day or so having a piece of candied ginger. I bought some Fennel Tea so that I did not have to put fennel seeds in things that I cooked. After several days, the pain seemed to subside but I was still waking early in the am and running to the bathroom. I swear, I don't know what is wrong. I drink spring water and coconut water as well. And, this am was the first time I even had a few dropplings of anything slightly solid in my movement. Although I only had to get to the bathroom twice this am, the pain in my gut is horrid again. I am at my wits end and am wondering if I will ever be normal or somewhat normal again. And, I am mentioning this here simply because it is the only place I feel ever so slightly comfortable with talking about it, but when I go and it is like water, it now has a slight pea green color to it. I am bloated again and so uncomfortable. How long does it take to at least have something normal go through me after beginning to take these things? I have barely eaten anything, but last night I did have a plain burger/with backed red bliss potatoes and carrots. I only have plain scrambled eggs in the am with maybe toast or a waffle with peanut butter and I have basically forgone lunches altogether. I do have some aged cheese (over 12 months) that I may have on a few crackers to munch on. I had even gotten some non-dairy ice cream made of almond from the Health Food Store and still had issues.
Can anyone please tell me how long does it take before you even have a few normal days?
Thanks
Elizabeth
Dietary Changes
Posted by Mark (Tulsa) on 04/12/2016
★☆☆☆☆
I was recently diagnosed with IBS. My symptoms include, sever constipation, black stools, upset stomach when I eat and when I have a bowel movement. I had been taking an over the counter drug and it kept me regular. However the stools each morning were initially hard followed immediately by a loose stool. I was prescribed a IBS drug which while I was on it (taken three times a day for two weeks) I was regular but still has some stomach discomfort. When I went off the drug my symptoms returned and the over the counter drum is not effective. I had a series of tests, scopes, colonoscopy and an endoscopic ultrasound. I was not tested for parasites at all. I am on a FODMAP diet and my constipation is terrible and so far I have not seen any improvement. Any advice.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Mmsg (Somewhere, Europe) on 04/13/2016
Mark, are you drinking enough?
Dietary Changes
Posted by Sally (Tulsa) on 05/08/2016
Hi, Mark I was wondering which GI Doctor you see. I'm looking for a GI that is open to the idea of healing through a diet plan like SCD, LowFodmap, AIP etc.... I've seen several GI's over the years but none have brought up SCD for healing.
Juicing
Posted by Namaw (Al) on 03/21/2016
Thanks, Janet. I've been taking 10000 now d3 for several years now. I had taken l-glutamine for several months some time ago, but didn't see any difference. I also have bad insomnia, for which I take 3g glycine + 3g l-tryptophan + 4 mg melatonin. Not much of a difference for the insomnia but at least I go to sleep for an hour or so, then doze the rest of the night. So many things interact, I know if I'd find the right balance I'd be better. I've been taking the angstrom magnesium, but not holding it under my tongue b/c it gives me diarrhea. I use it like the mag oil, it seems to be a bigger dose.
Onion, Garlic, Apple Cider Vinegar Enema
Posted by James (TX) on 05/08/2023
Interested but how much of each ingredient?
Fennel
Posted by Amy (Georgia) on 05/05/2014
I have ibs and I get bad bloating after I eat salads and some steamed vegetables. I eat fennel seeds to help. Any other suggestions?
Dietary Changes
Posted by T (Va) on 10/02/2013
I read on Natural News about a woman with ibs-d who said she ate only raw eggs and raw meat for a month and it cured the ibs-d. I'm okay with raw, but has anyone else heard of this? Some folks appear to make comments that are far-fetched on purpose, like a troll, with no care of the consequences. I'd like to do research first.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Ed2010 (Canada) on 10/02/2013
For Ulcer, you have to take 1 raw egg early in the morning in empty stomach and you have to supplement with vitamin C. But this can work for IBS-D as well, you have to try and see. IBS, CROHNS, stomach ulcer, UC, lactose intollerance, IBD, sibo all are just the branch of the GI disease manifesting simple and aggressive symptoms. Never heard of taking raw meat, myself at least.
Blackberry
Posted by Happy Mom (Fort Worth, Tx, Usa) on 05/01/2013
★★★★☆
I think my last post didn't make it! If this is redundant- my apologies. I fought with e-coli, and started losing 1/2 a lb a day. I took pro-biotics, anti-biotics, nothing helping. I take D____, a blackberry liquid. I can only find it on Amazon, and a few nutrition stores in Dallas, TX. It totally helped. I suffer from IBS, as well, and I take the it about 2-3 x a week. It lets me live normally!!!
General Feedback
Posted by I Have Had It All (Boston, Massachusetts ) on 05/21/2012
<<<>>> I have had it all , IBS Diarhea for 30 years, Seriously, it lead to colon cancer, 25lbs of it taken out, I am now in remission, everything is going great for me, CEA of 05 out of 0.0-2 5 , so the doctors think it was related to IBS. Please be careful, I was careful and the doctors drop the ball on me. I went to my appointments and their nurse found out I was anemic as the doctor said I was good to go. Now I still have cronic Dia f- n ria which has always taken over my life for 30 years, can you believe this? It has, I am the most patient person on this earth. I have written down 11 answers to the question as to how to CURE this disease of IBS w/ D, I want, where is a bathroom, gone from my life. I have been passed on to Dr. To Dr. Idiot to Idiot if you want my opinion, the last GI Doctor just let me go one month ago, very kind of them. They had no more answers for me as to how to cure or even help the problem except for DTO / Opium, it works, it slows everything down but not always. D is stronger than anything I have ever known and I am a cancer patient. I should know, you wouldn't believe the pain from chemo drugs and having Diarrhea, its like walking in a field of flaming hot fire, well as I close here thank you to all IBS suffers you know how I feel. To all GI Doctors, You are all full of C_HIT! Sell your Crap to someone else and keep on pretending to be a Doctor, your not anywheres near being anybody- your lower than a used cars salesman. Well I am off to the bathroom AGAIN!!!
General Feedback
Posted by Heather53 (Palmdale, Ca) on 04/22/2013
Have you tried cutting all forms of Gluten out of your diet. I used to be like you and I am much better. You probably have undiagnosed Celiac Disease. It is very hard to diagnose even when you take all their tests. The only way to know for sure is to study gluten and all the names for it in food and remove it totally from your diet. If you have Celiac Disease and you don't remove Gluten from your diet you will get intestinal cancer. Celiac is an autoimmune disease that manifests with intestinal damage when you eat gluten products. If you have any problems eating dairy products that is also a big tip off that you have Celiac. I got lactose intolerant from intestinal damage due to Celiac. I have been gluten free for 9 months and I can eat some dairy now. Get the book "Wheat Belly", it will save your life.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Grace and Mercy (ABQ NewMexico) on 03/06/2025
The reason that most people have stomach problems are many but ultimately generally speaking, the cause has to do with eating foods that have promoted the developement of micro parasites in the gut. These parasites are present in things like bad water, fast food, too much processed white cane sugar, white bleached flours, and nonorganic foods of all kinds. The system must be cleaned out before any healing can take place. You have to clean your gut out as well as your vital organs. That can be done by taking cleansing herbs and going on an organic vegetarian diet for a while or a juice fast of fresh squeezed organic vegetables. One of the best books for learning how to use herbs to heal oneself is 'Today's Herbal Health' by Louise Tenny, MH. Or, 'Back to Eden' by Jethro Kloss. You can find both of these books on Amazon.
General Feedback
Posted by Lady From London (London, Uk) on 12/23/2011
I just heard that a diet called Low FODMAP diet is helpful in relieving the symptoms. Basically, it's keeping fermented foods out of the diet. If anyone has tried this, please do let us know. Thanks!
General Feedback
Posted by Thecalling13 (Florence, Ky) on 09/24/2013
What is the "Mother" they are referring to when mixing these remedies with apple cider vinegar or whatever? I have seen with the Mother and seen another with the X... I am skimming thru the articles but don't know what they are talking about. It is under Irritable Bowel Syndrome/ Treatment for IBS.
Any answers would be great :). Thanks
Valerian
Posted by Erin (Tampa, Fl) on 10/07/2012
★☆☆☆☆
I have to give this one a nay. I have in the past been able to take this herb with no problems as a sleep aid, but ever since my gastrointestinal problems got worse, I can't take Valerian without experiencing an IgE response. I can't see how this would possibly be healing to the gut given that reaction, and I would use it with extreme caution if you do have similar problems.
Magnesium Chloride
Posted by Christi (Florida) on 01/22/2024
By magnesium chloride, do you mean the magnesium oil that generally comes in spray form? I have this and find it to be very strong. How much did you take and how often?
Thank you!
Christi
Rutin
Posted by Chelsea (Tulsa, Oklahoma) on 02/01/2012
★☆☆☆☆
Micki from Swindon: which brand of rutin did you use because I tried this per your recommendation but am seeing no results. Thanks so much, Chelsea
Dietary Changes
Posted by Coregon (Medford, Or) on 11/03/2010
★★★★★
I used to have terrible IBS. I found that avoiding dairy helped tremendously also. I no longer have IBS. I attribute this recovery to stopping my diet soda intake (it was hard, but what a difference! ) and taking 3,000 mg (or more) of MSM daily. I've heard that aloe vera juice can also soothe the gut and clear this up. * I also used colloidal silver first to clear up any bacterial infections that may be in the system. ** Note: If you are using ANY artificial sweeteners, this will worsen IBS symptoms, at least it did in my experience and in my mother's experience.
Fennel
Posted by Darenm (Trenton, Michigan) on 02/13/2011
I too have had great results with fennel. I have been suffering from IBS on and off for several years now. Usually it only last for about two weeks. But this time it lasted about 8 MONTHS!
My IBS is strictly pain. I don't get diareha or constipation just pain on my left and right side below my ribs.
Heres what I did:
After a colonoscopy my doctor diagnosed me with spastic colon (aka IBS)and prescribed me an anti-spasmodic drug called Bentyl or something like that. Of course I refused to take it and searched for a natural alternative.
Fennel is a natural anti-spasmodic and so is Chamomile. Fennel tea does help but I found chewing fennel seeds and sucking the juice out and swallowing then spitting the seeds out helps a lot too. But so far I think it is better to actually eat the seeds. I add about 1/2 teaspoon to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. (I acutally use sunflower seed butter)
I buy my fennel seeds at a local health food store for 50 cents per ounce. Two ounces last me a 1 week or two. You can also order them online. I like Frontier Herbs since they have great prices and a HUGE selection of raw and organic herbs.
The other thing that is GREAT is to eat a fennel bulb that you can buy at a grocery store. I buy mine at Meijer or Kroger. But some krogers don't carry them. It's a white bulb with a long green stem. The best way I've found to prepare it is by cutting it like an onion into half in strips then STEAMING it. It makes it very soft and easy to chew. Sometimes I also sautee it with butter.
Eating the fennel bulb is probably one of the best in my opinion.
I also like to combine the steamed bulb with rice as it makes a nice substantial meal. And rice helps a lot for me.
The other thing that I recently purchased that HELPS A LOT is Organic Acacia sennegal fiber. There is a seller online with a great price for a round tin that contains a good amount. The brand I bought is specifically made for IBS sufferers. I think it was like $16. You can find it online by doing a google search for "Acacia Fiber IBS".
The final thing that has helped me is STRESS reduction and watching comedy! START LAUGHING! IT HELPS I SWEAR. Go on youtube and look up Louis CK he is hilarious! Or just type in comedian and watch some of those videos.
GOOD LUCK I HOPE THIS HELPS.
-darenM
Buttermilk
Posted by Jeff (Portsmouth, Ohio ) on 06/03/2017
You don't really have to drink a whole liter every day do you?
Biotin
Posted by Cindy (Mo) on 09/19/2018
Are you still taking Biotin now?
Ginger
Posted by Clyde (Chesapeake, VA) on 06/21/2008
★★★★★
Fresh Ginger Root also helps Acid reflux and IBS. peel off a small teaspoon size chunk of the root (after peeling and rinsing) chew it well. NOTE: the root is very spicy (hot) but not too bad.
Dietary Suggestions, Aloe Vera, Multi Vitamins
Posted by Asy Metrix (Manchester, UK) on 01/04/2008
★★★★★
I had stomach problam that could have been IBS.
It felt as if i had dead bowels / colon' with no food passing to excretion - no movement in colon.
Even if it is not IBS my success may help.
1) NO spices in diet eg curry
2) NO fatty or greesy foods like fries
3) 5 TBL Aloevera conc 3 times a day
4) Multivitimin supplement + minerals daily
5) stress related issues effect colon so I took a smoke of 3 spliffs a day for just over a week. yes i mean cannabis.
6) alternative to spliff is chinese herbs for headaches - they work by removing stress (Zheng Tian Wan) - 2 weeks supply.
7) eat greens, lentils, fruit especially apples and eggs.
hope this will help someone as it helped me, no matter how drastic the solution.
Bottled Water
Posted by Msanna (New Orleans, LA) on 06/02/2014
Re: Irritabe Bowel Syndrome and Water Filters. Not all filters are created equal I have a gravity filter based on Black Berkey filters. Has done wonders for over all health along with water cure. Berkey removed flouride as well if you use the secondary PF2 filter. Most common filters do not remove flouride. There is one on TV right now being heavily advertised and it only claims to remove one thing from water. I assure you there are many many more things in water. Do your research. Google black berkey comparison. Flouride shuts down the thyroid.
Magnesium
Posted by Natasha (Winnipeg, Manitoba,canada) on 02/12/2010
★☆☆☆☆
I tried taking magnesium before breakfast and it didn't relieve my severe IBS c. I tried up to 1000mg. since my c is severe but had no luck sadly. I'm surprised it has not helped.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Ed2010 (Oakville, Canada) on 02/18/2013
Hello Wildstormy1, IBS [Irritable Bowel Syndrome] is caused by variety of issues, even hiatus hernia can manifest IBS or low stomach acid can also show symptoms of IBS or hypothyroid can also show the same symptoms. Main reason, infection in GI.
First start with Ted's alkalizing formula 3 times a day.
To heal the intestine, drink wheat grass juice 30ml a day. Colonize your intestines with probiotics by taking Milk Kefir, Miso, Saurkraut.
Once the intestines starts to heal your digestion will improve. This will take long time.
I urge you to read Hemorrhoids section in EC, it is has more information regarding UC and IBS.
There are variety natural treatments to treat IBS, above said are the simple ones. Ted's alkalizing formula is a must, Without alkalizing your body the healing process will not begin.
Good Health
