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.
Peppermint Oil
Posted by Lady Liza (Los Angeles) on 06/30/2021 32 posts
★★★★★
I suffered for years from IBS and so did my daughter. Until one day when I was flying through Heathrow airport, in London, I stopped at the Boots Pharmacy in the airport. I asked them if they had anything for IBS. And the gal reached around to the shelf behind her and picked up a box of Colpermin. (peppermint oil) I bought many boxes and it worked great, so great that we are both cured. You can buy something in the US that is similar. I think its peptic something, but I am sure its on google.
SIBO Connection
Posted by sylvie13 (USA) on 06/13/2019
★★★★★
If probiotic drinks and yogurt trigger your IBS, then it's possible you have SIBO.
I suffered from IBS for years, becoming more and more of a shut-in because I couldn't go anywhere without a bathroom close by. I then read an article* that stated 80% of IBS sufferers actually have SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth).
If you have SIBO, normally beneficial bacteria migrate from your colon into your small intestine and wreak havoc there. The irony about this is that those bacteria are... lactobacillus and bifidobacillus, i.e., the exact bacteria you find in nearly all probiotics, yogurt, kefir, etc.!!!
In other words, if you have SIBO, all the orthodox remedies for IBS are only feeding it and you will feel worse and worse the more probiotics you take/eat. I'd always felt that way, so I immediately stopped taking my probiotics and eating most dairy.
No more yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese, milk, etc., only a small amount of snack cheese slices here and there. Instead, I started taking probiotics, which consist of completely different strains derived from cultured, clean soil and have nothing to do with lacto- or bifidobacillus.
Within about four weeks, I was symptom-free. It was like a miracle. I still get the occasional bout of diarrhea—maybe once every two weeks—but nothing like before, where I could barely leave the house.
Of course, I can't promise that you have SIBO and that this will work for you, but if you do, you might get your own little miracle.
*amymyersmd.com/2018/04/10-signs-small-intestinal-bacterial-overgrowth-sibo/
Dietary Changes
Posted by Wendy (London) on 10/21/2018
★★★★★
I've suffered with IBS D for about 20 years. The consequence of this means going out and long journeys are a nightmare. You have to take a note of toilets en route so you don't get caught out and I have in the past. Spare underwear you have to take.
Anyway, onto the good news. I never say I am cured as this can come catch you out, but 100% better than I was.
All due to the Fodmap diet. Won't bore you all with specifics you can google them. Basically cutting out certain foods which have been tested to disagree with certain people and reintroduce sometime later with caution to see if that particular food should be avoided.
What this has done for me is amazing. Not only has it stopped the diarrhoea episodes, an ongoing problem with chronic coughing has cleared up and I notice my nails have grown longer and stronger.
Of course chronic diarrhea is depleting your body of essential nutrients and leaving it weaker.
This has been a life changer for me so wanted to pass it on to other sufferers.
Slippery Elm
Posted by Marie (Middle Tn) on 08/20/2018
★★★★★
Slippery Elm is the most potent helper to IBS that we have found. It's available in capsule form just about anywhere. My husband had IBS previously and I had never had it up until last night, and I think the thing that I ate that was different possibly was a Stevia/Erythritol sugar replacement. We already eat a very clean diet, and this was the first time I had had this type of sugar replacement, which I thought was safe. Of course I don't know for sure if that's what's caused it, I just know the Slippery Elm has helped me stop running to the bathroom. It also worked for a friend recently
Sauerkraut
Posted by Terry (Solomons, Md) on 10/31/2017
★★★★★
I have had chronic diarrhea off and on for years. I have tried most of the suggestions posted here but none comes close to what I recently discovered. I bought a jar of raw, fermented, and unpasteurized sauerkraut from my local health food store (in the refrigerated section). I tried in that same afternoon (probably eating more than I should--more about that later). The next morning I was in "stool heaven"... no diarreah in sight, and I went about 3 times that day and really cleaned myself out.
Here's what I learned: you don't need to eat a whole lot of the sauerkraut, just a nice forkful...I am trying it out once a day, but I think as I go along, maybe just 3 forkfuls a week would be OK because you don't want to upset the balance of the good and bad bacteria in your gut. I am thrilled with this finding. Several weeks before my "gastro doc" prescribed Cholesdtyramine for oral suspension. It's a powder that you mix with water or juice. That did work for about 3 days and it was back to diarreah. Anyway, it messes up your cholesterol and bile and who wants that? Please try this natural, easy to eat sauerkraut and let everyone know who you do. Thanks for reading.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Mm Sethi (New Delhi, Delhi) on 02/09/2012
★★★★★
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR. What a wonderful natural remedy. I have been suffering from IBS for years. One evening when I was having too much of problem, I surfed the net and came across this remedy. I took a single dose of ACV and felt better. I took one dose next morning and passed the day without any problem. Now I am taking just one dose in the morning and feeling good. One precaution, n it causes constipation so you have to keep this in mind
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Mikeh95 (Salem, Oh, United States) on 04/09/2011
★★★★★
Amazing how this instantly cured my IBS! I have been suffering with IBS for about a year now. I got IBS at age 14 and it really made high school a living hell. Now I'm currently 15 and I'm cured! The quality of life is so much better for me now. I recommend AVC to everyone with IBS, it works amazingly.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Paula (Westhampton Beach, Ny) on 02/26/2011
★★★★★
I took your advice and have been drinking the ACV with Mother for 5 days. I feel much better and have noticed a little energy surge. Thanks so much for this great idea. What is funny is that my Dad drank ACV and honey every day way back in the 60's and my mom made us kids drink it too. I never knew why, maybe they knew about it's healing ability. :~)
Cold Showers
Posted by Zvonko Spasic (Belgrade, Serbia) on 05/14/2008
★★★★★
Cold showers helped me to become stronger. When I was little, stomack problems often troubled me. Diarea, for example. Whenewer it was cold you could se me running home or to the nearest bathroom. Sometimes I would not eat anything for houres, so I would not have the need to go. Also, I had a few embarassing moments because of my problem, but nothing to seiouse. Then, one day I came across the idea of a cold shower, because I saw the Russians runing in to the frozen lake after being in a sauna for 15 minutes, as a tradition. There were children, little boys and girls among them. I remember thinking:"Those must be some strong people.". Then it also came to me that we, in Serbia, have a simillar tradition, but without the sauna and as a part of oure religiouse heredity. Those are definitly strong people, because most of them are members of serbians ellite police force. That made me step up. I wanted to become stronger... And i did. I have been taking relatively cold showers for a year and a half now. I have stomack problems very rarrely now and they are more under my controle. I rarely get a cold now, although i hade a few ones only because I took a cold shower and went in to a, not so warm, room. So be carefull. Don't make the same mistake. That would be stupid,as was I. Also, my whole body functions much smoother... I can't explane it, but it feels good. Then I made another step. I joined the Serbian tradition and jumped in to the lake in the middle of winter, alongside the members of the police force and some more people like me. It was freezing. Despite the air themperature, wich was 12 degreas (Celsius), the water was 3-4 degreas (Celsius, don't know how much is that in Farenheits). It felt like my mind separated it self from my body and alowed it to run on authomatic for a few seconds. When I came out off the wather I expected to get a flew or something, but I was just fine, and had a simbolic lunch with the other guys who jumped. Anyway, cold showers helped me plenty. With my body and mentally. The coldnes takes youre thoughts from the things that are on youre mind and leave you in a peacefull state. Try it... If you like it, continue, and begin with babysteps. Sorry for the gramar mistakes and for writing this much. Greatings...
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Suzi (Dayton, Ohio) on 11/19/2006
★★★★★
Apple Cider Vinegar cured my Sore throat, sinus infection, loose stools, gas, lack of energy, depression, decreased my appetite, cleared up a dermatologic problem. My sister got me started taking organic ACV 1 tsp in 8 oz spring water 3 times a day. At first I tried it because I had a sore throat that was immediately gone, my sinus infection went away within 24 hours or so. I have IBS and have been battling foul-smelling loose stools for years. Within a couple of days my stools were formed with almost no odor. I feel 100% better. My appetite just dropped and I'm not getting fatty food cravings like I used to and I've lost 22 pounds so far. Also, I have had big
painful butt boils off and on for years and my hindquarters cleared up within a couple of days.
Cumin
Posted by Gord (Alabama) on 02/25/2019
★★★★★
Those of you suffering from IBS may want to consider taking Cumin.
I recently started it and initially seeing great improvement after 35+ years of IBS. I just boil 1 tsp of Cumin seeds in water for 5 minutes then strain and drink. I have tried many different things for my IBS and this has helped more than others. There is also a study showing its benefits for IBS.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24829694
Chromium Picolinate
Posted by Rajat (New Delhi, India ) on 09/13/2018
★★★★★
I have had ibs d from last 2 yrs. After so many treatments, I found chromium picolinate helps a lot. My symptoms gone.
Guinness Beer
Posted by Steve (Nsw Australia) on 11/09/2017
★★★★★
Please forgive my English . I had the IBS over 25 years . Doctors couldn`t do anything for me . So, By a chance The Guinness Draught has fixed my problem . [ Please drink responsibly .As we all know the alcohol is bad for every person. I can only recommend 440ml a day. No more then 440 ml.
To start 440 ml a day for a week. After that 440 ml every second day.
You should notice the improvement in two weeks time. It took me 2 months to clear of this IBS problem. I wasn`t going to write this article because of the alcohol content, but if it helps even one one person would be a help.
It contains BARLEY.
Cheers
Diatomaceous Earth, Probiotics, Enzymes, Aloe
Posted by Dee Dee (North Carolina) on 09/26/2015
★★★★★
I am not a medical practioner, however this is what worked for my IBS.
First, go to the health food store and buy FOOD GRADE DE, diatemaceous earth. Mix 2 tablespoons with 1/2 cup water. Drink it down - tastes chalky, but this will rid your colon of any parasites. Do the research for FOOD GRADE DE, it helps cleanse your entire system.
Next, buy a good PROBIOTIC and DIGESTIVE ENZYME. Take as suggested.
***ALOE VERA JUICE - 2 or 3 Tablespoons, I mix with 1/2 cup water and again drink it down, two or three times a day. Aloe Vera juice is VERY healing.
To your health!
Magnesium Chloride
Posted by Sweetorange (Larnaca, Cyprus) on 11/11/2015
★★★★★
Hi, Leila,
Your complaint seems to be IBS with D and mucus in the stools, and you're using magnesium chloride orally to try to clear the mucus. I hope that's working for you and that you're feeling better.
I'm writing about another aspect of IBS – chronic bowel spasticity. Low magnesium levels can contribute to this spasticity. If magnesium levels are low, TRANSDERMAL magnesium chloride oil can relieve the misery of spastic bowels within 20-30 minutes.
To be sure we're on the same page, this is how I would describe spastic bowels. They're contracting constantly and the bowel contents are moving along faster than normal. Transit time is reduced, so the large intestine can't absorb or remove much water from the stool before it is excreted. The stool may be too liquid when passed. A diarrhea-like condition may persist, even after the pathogen that started the diarrhea is long gone. Or, the stool may be solid and just be passed frequently in small amounts. The constant contractions of the bowel may compel the sufferer to run to the bathroom every 15-30 minutes round the clock, even preventing sleep.
Why do the bowels become spastic? Well, calcium is required for muscles to contract, and magnesium is required for muscles to relax. This is true of all muscles -- skeletal muscles, the muscles of the heart and blood vessels, and the smooth muscles such as those of the airway or the digestive tract. Low magnesium levels can prevent the bowels from relaxing.
Oral magnesium supplements are poorly absorbed (we absorb only about 4% of mag oxide taken orally) and can contribute to loose stools. Magnesium taken transdermally (applied to the skin) is better absorbed and doesn't contribute to loose stools. The magnesium ions are taken up by the capillaries under the skin and the whole dose is circulating through the body within 15-20 minutes.
In my case, I had bowel spasticity on and off for 1-1/2 weeks, slowly worsening despite any remedies I tried including oral magnesium, and I was exhausted. Only 20-30 minutes after the first transdermal application of magnesium oil, the spasticity was relieved and NEVER CAME BACK. From this result, I understood that my magnesium levels must have been very low. I decided to apply magnesium oil daily for a month to bring the levels back to normal.
Transdermal magnesium oil WILL NOT kill parasites or other pathogens in the digestive tract; that would have to be dealt with in another way. But it can rescue you from misery forever, if your persistent bowel spasticity is caused by low magnesium levels.
-----
To make your own magnesium oil at home and save money, buy a pound or a kilo of magnesium chloride flakes. I trust the flakes from the ancient Zechstein sea deposits. Other Earth Clinic folks have used flakes from other sources and found them effective. This amount of flakes may last you 6-12 months, depending on how often you apply the magnesium oil. Store the unused flakes in an airtight container. Magnesium chloride is a thirsty salt and will absorb water from the air if left out in the open.
Magnesium oil recipe:
• Fill a drinking glass with magnesium chloride flakes and pour them into a glass bowl.
• Fill the same drinking glass with distilled water and add it to the bowl.
• Stir with a wooden spoon for 5 minutes until the salts are dissolved and the liquid is clear and sparkling.
• Pour the liquid through a funnel into a clean spray bottle; glass is best, but plastic is okay.
Instructions for use:
• Magnesium oil has a bleaching effect on fabric. It's best to apply it to dry skin in the bathroom after a shower but before getting dressed.
• Spray the magnesium oil into your open palm and rub your hands together. Massage the magnesium oil into your skin until it begins to feel dry.
• Repeat until you've applied it to arms, legs, chest and back, a total of about 15-20 squirts. This is a ball park figure; the exact amount isn't important.
• Dress after your skin is completely dry.
• If you have sensitive skin, you can dilute the magnesium oil with up to an equal amount of water, to be better tolerated.
• Most information sources say that low magnesium levels can be corrected with daily application of magnesium oil for about a month. It stands to reason that, if you're diluting the magnesium oil, it may take longer.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Carol (Central, Ma) on 09/14/2012
★★★★★
After I saw the recommendations on this site, I started mixing coconut oil into smoothies, adding to butter on toast etc and within hours of the first time I used it my stomach stopped hurting and making that percolating sound for the first time in over a year. I take a little bit now whenever my stomach seems out of sorts (I can even eat a bit of chocolate which is an IBS trigger for me if I have some coconut oil afterwards) and the chronic discomfort is gone.
L-Lysine
Posted by Kay (London, England) on 08/04/2012
★★★★★
I've suffered from IBS for over a year and tried various remedies without success. I read an article on the internet that stated taking L-Lysine tablets could help cure IBS. I started taking one tablet (500mg) each day on an empty stomach. I noticed an improvement within a week and now two weeks later all symptoms of IBS have disappeared. I mentioned this to the owner at my local health store but she was adamant that L-Lysine would not ease IBS symptoms. I feel totally free of all the symptoms that I have suffered with over the past year so would suggest to any IBS suffers just to try L-Lysine for a month in hope that it works for you. Good luck.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Daniel (Hyde Park, Utah) on 10/10/2012
This response is for Kazim from Pakistan - Kazim, I would also recommend reading Jordan Ruben's book entitled, "Patient Heal thyself". Your condition is most certainly resulting from a "Leaky Gut" which is how you have developed so many food allergies. Leaky Gut comes about by way of Gut Flora inbalance (Dysbiosis), or other words, your gut is over run by bad bacteria and other micro-organisms. My 6 year old has had IBS since she was 2. We are currently using the "GAPS Diet" to treat her. In order to heal you must achieve the following. 1st - Starve the bad bacteria through diet. 2nd - Nourish the body with proper food and probiotics. It can take some time to heal. Also read "Gut and Psychology Syndrome" by Natasha Campbell-Mcbride (GAPS) It has the detailed information you need to adjust your diet so you stop feeding your bad micro-organisms. We are starting to see formed excreta (mixed with Diahrea) after four terrible years with IBS. Stomach pains are totally Gone. Quality of life is much improved. Also, find a highly rated Enzyme supplement. This will help you to digest while you are healing. Oh and one more thing. Modern day wheat is a pernicious evil. You must eliminate is from your diet emediately! Good Luck to you! I am 100% certain that you can heal yourself! Keep going! "And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. " -Luke 11:9
Chromium Picolinate
Posted by Kimma (Prescott, Az) on 06/23/2016
★★★★★
I second that! I recently started taking Chromium Picolinate to help with blood sugar regulation. Right away I noticed my digestion and subsequent bowel movements improved significantly. Wish I would have known this a long time ago.
Aloe Vera Juice
Posted by lyn (grapevine, tx) on 04/28/2009
Please keep in mind that aloe vera can deplete potassium from your body. Just a little fyi. I have seen it on lab values affect a patient's potassium level and she swore by aloe vera juice for everything.
