Do you have IBS and don't even know it?

Do you ever feel uncomfortable after a meal? Or go through bouts of constipation, diarrhoea or cramps? It could be IBS.

IBS is about more than a stomach-ache that sends you to the bathroom right after a meal.

In fact, certain psychological factors can make IBS worse. “Some studies have found a connection between IBS and depression, anxiety and childhood abuse,” says Kerry Bone of Nutrition & Healing.

There are three kinds of IBS ‘symptom groups’:

• Stomach pain with diarrhoea,
• Stomach pain with constipation,
• Stomach pain with alternating diarrhoea and constipation.

According to Bone, the major problem with IBS is that it’s sort of a ‘last ditch’ diagnosis. “This means you’re only told you have it after everything else has been ruled out,” says Bone.

IBS is usually a bunch of different disorders lumped together under the one label and that’s why you have to find treatments that’ll go to the root of the problem.

And there are herbal treatments to help you.

Use these herbal treatments to ease IBS

An effective herb you can use to relax IBS’s characteristic stomach spasms is German chamomile.

Other good muscle-relaxing backups for chamomile include cramp bark, wild yam, corydalis and peppermint.

Studies show peppermint oil can really help IBS sufferers.

One study monitored 110 people with IBS. They got them to take either a placebo or a capsule containing 187mg peppermint oil 3-4 times per day. They had to take the capsules 15-30 minutes before each meal.

After a month the people taking the peppermint found they had less stomach pain, swelling around their gut and they could go to the toilet more often and even had less flatulence.

If you suspect you could have IBS, it’s advisable that you talk to your doctor about taking some of the supplements listed above.