Category: Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Why is constipation so dangerous?

 

Constipation can be a serious concern for several reasons, particularly if it becomes chronic or is accompanied by certain complications. While occasional constipation is common and usually not a cause for alarm, chronic or severe constipation can have significant health implications.

 

Here are some reasons why constipation can be considered serious:

 

Discomfort and Reduced Quality of Life:

Constipation often causes discomfort, pain, and bloating. It can lead to a decreased quality of life, affecting a person’s daily activities and overall well-being.

 

Complications:

Prolonged constipation can lead to complications such as hemorrhoids (swollen blood vessels in the rectum or anus), anal fissures (tears in the lining of the anus), and rectal prolapse (when part of the rectum protrudes through the anus).

 

Impacted Stool:

In severe cases, constipation can cause stool to become impacted, meaning it becomes hard and difficult to pass. This can require medical intervention to remove the impacted stool, which may involve manual disimpaction or other procedures.

 

Bowel Obstruction:

In rare cases, chronic constipation can lead to a bowel obstruction, which is a blockage in the intestines. Bowel obstructions can be a medical emergency and require immediate treatment.

 

Secondary Health Issues:

Constipation can be a symptom of underlying medical conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), colorectal cancer, thyroid disorders, or neurological disorders. Treating the underlying cause is important to prevent further complications.

 

Impact on Digestive Health:

Chronic constipation can affect the overall health of the digestive system. It may lead to changes in gut bacteria, diverticular disease, or the development of diverticulitis (inflammation or infection of small pouches in the colon).

 

Nutritional Concerns:

Persistent constipation can interfere with nutrient absorption in the intestines, potentially leading to malnutrition or other nutritional deficiencies.

 

Impact on Mental Health:

Chronic constipation can also have psychological effects, causing anxiety, depression, or frustration due to ongoing discomfort and disruption of daily life.

 

It’s essential to address constipation promptly, especially if it becomes chronic or if you experience severe symptoms. Lifestyle changes, dietary adjustments, increased physical activity, and adequate hydration are often effective strategies for managing and preventing constipation.

 

If constipation persists or is associated with concerning symptoms, it is advisable to consult a healthcare professional for a proper evaluation and treatment plan. They can help identify any underlying causes and provide guidance on appropriate treatments or interventions to alleviate constipation and prevent serious complications.

Herbal tea laxatives

Herbal tea laxatives

Herbal teas are often used as natural remedies to promote digestive health and relieve constipation. Some herbal teas have mild laxative properties, which can help stimulate bowel movements and alleviate constipation. Here are a few herbal teas that are commonly used as laxatives:

Senna Tea: Senna is a natural laxative derived from the leaves of the Senna plant. Senna tea is known for its strong laxative effect and is often used for short-term relief from constipation. However, it should be used sparingly and not on a regular basis, as prolonged use can lead to dependence.

 

Dandelion Tea: Dandelion tea is made from the roots or leaves of the dandelion plant. It has a mild laxative effect and can help improve digestion by promoting the flow of bile. It may also help relieve occasional constipation.

 

Peppermint Tea: Peppermint tea can help relax the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract and alleviate bloating and gas, which can contribute to constipation relief. It is not a strong laxative but can be useful for overall digestive comfort.

 

Ginger Tea: Ginger tea has digestive properties that can help stimulate the digestive system and relieve constipation. It may also reduce gas and bloating, making bowel movements more comfortable.

 

Licorice Root Tea: Licorice root tea may help soften stools and relieve constipation. It is important to use licorice root tea in moderation, as excessive consumption can lead to potassium depletion and other health issues.

 

Aloe Vera Tea: Aloe vera is known for its laxative properties. Aloe vera tea, made from the gel of the aloe plant, can help relieve constipation by promoting bowel movements. However, it should be used cautiously and in moderation, as it can cause cramping and diarrhea if consumed excessively.

 

Psyllium Husk Tea: Psyllium husk is a soluble fiber that can be used to relieve constipation. While psyllium husk is often taken in powdered form mixed with water, you can also find teas that contain psyllium.

 

It’s essential to use herbal laxative teas with caution and not rely on them as a long-term solution for constipation. Prolonged use of strong laxatives can lead to dependency and disrupt the natural functioning of the digestive system.

If you have chronic or severe constipation, it’s advisable to consult a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and guidance on managing your condition.

Additionally, stay hydrated and maintain a balanced diet rich in fiber to support healthy digestion and regular bowel movements.

IBS Relief using natural products

Because IBS is a digestive condition and results in symptoms such as diarrhea, cramping, gas, and constipation — many people will find relief by changing their diet.

  Others may find symptom relief with the following natural products.

1. Peppermint Oil

Therapeutic-grade peppermint oil is easy enough to find, and could offer significant benefits to people with IBS.

Existing research in Phytomedicine looked at 16 clinical trials that tested the use of peppermint oil as an IBS treatment. The research found that success rates for peppermint oil average at 58 percent, double that of placebos.

Any Side effects of peppermint oil were mild and temporary, including heartburn and discomfort. When compared to other solutions, the researchers said that peppermint oil should be viewed as the first natural  treatment if you have general IBS symptoms.

2. Melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone produced in the pineal gland, but it is also available in capsule form as a supplement.

It is important for both sleep regulation and digestion. When treating IBS, melatonin works to regulate intestinal motility (the movement of intestinal muscles). According to recent research reviews,  clinical studies have found there to be an improvement of IBS symptoms when you take melatonin supplements. Capsules are given in the evening at a dose of 3 mg.

Melatonin can be bought  online and at local drugstores. it is often marketed as a sleep aid because of its wide use in the treatment of insomnia.

3. Probiotics

Probiotics are the so-called “good bacteria” found in our digestive system. These are Available as supplements as well as in food and are used to keep digestive systems healthy and symptom-free. In people with IBS, they may work by restoring the balance in  troubled intestines. According to recent findings, several problems associated with IBS can be aided by probiotics. Those include: bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine, inflammation, motility, and hypersensitivity. Research into which probiotics are best is ongoing

4. Slippery Elm

Slippery elm powder is known for aiding digestive health. It can be made into a tea, stirred into food, or put in capsules. You can find slippery elm powder supplements online and in healthstores. In the treatment of IBS, slippery elm is said to be useful in treating diarrhea, constipation, and digestive discomfort. One study found that supplements containing slippery elm also aid in gas, bloating, stool consistency and frequency, and abdominal pain.

5. Chinese Herbs

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) may offer relief from IBS symptoms, too. TCM uses herbs to treat medical conditions, and those that could provide relief for IBS symptoms include peony powder, citrus, and licorice. One study that treated people with IBS symptoms using Chinese herbal preparations — including herbs like Dang Shen, bupleurum, and magnolia bark — saw significant improvements compared to control groups.

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Love Your Body by Treating IBS Without Medications

Too many people suffer day-in and day-out with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) for one very poor reason: They do not want to discuss topics like the colon, constipation, diarrhea, or gas. There is a cultural taboo about discussing such private matters, and so people are reluctant to bring the subject up, sometimes even with their health professionals. They suffer through bouts of IBS, wondering if they will ever be able to enjoy a meal or a social event without worrying about or experiencing digestive problems. Unfortunately, many IBS sufferers have used antibiotics for a long time, in the belief that it would cure whatever was causing the problem, but instead were making the condition worse by killing intestinal bacteria.

Drugs are seldom the answer to IBS for one simple reason – health professionals do not know the specific source of IBS, so drugs could not be developed to target a specific issue. As a result, the drugs currently used are ineffective. A much better solution is treating IBS with a natural holistic approach because everything in the body is related. In fact, there are a number of natural treatments that extend to dietary changes, supplementation, psychological treatments, muscle relaxation techniques, exercise, herbal treatments, and homeopathic dosages.

The complexity of IBS is such that there is no single natural treatment recommended. The ideal treatment program is a blend of alternative foods and dietary exclusions, activities and choices that promote a healthy colon. The ideal treatment program is unique to each person because each person experiences a different set of symptoms. The specific symptoms must be addressed in order to achieve the maximum benefits.

  • Dietary Changes – Food can trigger IBS symptoms, so it is necessary to determine which foods or ingredients are causing the problems. One way to narrow the list of potential offenders is to keep a food journal to detect a pattern of items you consume followed by an occurrence of symptoms. You can then begin to eliminate those foods and replace them with foods high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
  • Lifestyle Changes – Food management is not the only effective IBS management. Perhaps surprisingly to many people is the fact that there appears to be a link between depression and stress and IBS. Stress impacts the entire body so you want to address the entire body, which means potentially including various psychological treatments.

Other lifestyle changes include learning and practicing relaxation techniques for the mind and the body. Exercise will also play an important role in IBS treatment programs. Learning to manage stress and ease the tension in the body will promote healthy digestion.

  • Supplementation and Homeopathy – It is a well known fact that many herbs and homeopathic doses can treat many human diseases. IBS is no different. There are herbs that soothe the stomach and intestines, promote the production of gastric juices, and relax muscles. Homeopathic remedies can also promote a healthy digestive system, but are particularly useful for easing pain and digestive upset when IBS rages.

The specific treatment program depends on your specific symptoms.

In the ebook The IBS Miracle™ – How To Free Your Life From Irritable Bowel Syndrome by James Walden, a nutritionist, biomedical researcher and health consultant, you can find detailed explanations of the known natural treatments that can ease IBS symptoms.

Even more importantly, it is possible to develop a treatment program that will greatly reduce the chances of experiencing IBS flare-ups in the first place. That is the ultimate prize – good health and the freedom it gives you to live life the way you choose, unrestricted by IBS.

IBS Stands for Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Not I’ve-Been-Sick

 

Most people enjoy a variety of foods and look forward to the next meal…unless they have IBS. It is tempting to think of IBS as the I’ve-Been-Sick syndrome rather than by its true name of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. IBS is a bit like an “open secret” because it is not a condition you generally talk about with others like you would if it were high cholesterol or migraine headaches. Yet millions of people suffer with IBS, and that is no exaggeration. Based on surveys and data extrapolation, the World Gastroenterology Organisation estimates that as many as 1 out of every 10 people in the world have IBS, and 1 out of every 5 people in developed countries. So you are not alone in keeping the “open secret.”

One of the interesting aspects of IBS is that people who have it know they have something wrong with their digestive systems but are not sure what. IBS is mostly defined by its symptoms because it is a diagnosis of exclusion. That merely means that it is not a disease that can be proven through medical tests. Yet a host of symptoms characterizing Irritable Bowel Syndrome are very real. IBS is a chronic illness that presents itself through gastrointestinal symptoms that include gas, diarrhea, bloating, constipation, abdominal cramping, sudden urges to pass stool, and mucous discharge from the rectum. There is typically inefficient or uncoordinated intestinal action, and that can cause stomach or gut pain.

No two people have identical symptoms. One person may alternate constipation and diarrhea and constipation, and experience painful gas and bloating. Another person may develop mostly severe constipation and difficulty controlling urges to go to the bathroom. There may also be a number of symptoms that are connected to poor digestive processes that affect other parts of the body. For example, you may experience bad breath despite good dental care, joint or muscle pain, headaches and persistent fatigue.

Keeping Food Moving at the Right Pace

IBS represents the end result of digestive difficulties that cannot be pinned down to a particular medical condition. When you eat, food moves through the esophagus, into the stomach and eventually enters the intestines. Along the way, the food is broken down through enzyme action and mixed with various digestive juices to keep it pliable. The proteins, carbohydrates and fats are processed in a way they can enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system. Food material not absorbed by the body is moved to the large intestine, which is composed of the cecum, colon, appendix and rectum. The food waste is processed further by the colon as it extracts fluid, leaving a mass of undigested food. Muscle contractions in the colon push the mass into the rectum to be expelled through the anus.

It is easy to see how so many things could go wrong. If food empties too quickly from the stomach, the rest of the digestive system will attempt to compensate by slowing down the digestive process. There might be an undiagnosed food sensitivity impacting the efficiency of the digestive system. The gastrointestinal tract may not breakdown the food correctly due to disease or physical defects, making it difficult to move through the digestive system. Perhaps your body does not produce enough digestive juices containing the enzymes that play such an important role. Health professionals believe many people have digestive muscles that are not contracting as they should, leading to slow transport of food waste. It is also believed that IBS is frequently related to an overgrowth of bacteria in the intestines, causing severe gas as they do their job of helping to breakdown undigested food. Finally, IBS could be connected to faulty functioning of the gastrointestinal tract’s nervous system.

Responding the Right Way to Prevent Further Harm

Though medical professionals have yet to discover the specific medical reason IBS develops, the symptoms can be minimized. Fortunately, IBS does not cause permanent damage, but how people respond to the symptoms can cause great harm. For example, if you eliminate certain foods from your diet, a vitamin or mineral deficiency can develop. Eating provokes the symptoms, but to manage the syndrome it is necessary to know which specific foods to avoid, and how to supplement the vitamins and minerals lost. However, there must be other lifestyle changes and additions that help you manage stress and relax the muscles.

IBS is complicated because the causes and symptoms can vary so widely. To minimize or control symptoms, you have to know the specific dietary, behavioral and mental changes to make in your life. What you need to know to treat IBS naturally is found in The IBS Miracle™ – How To Free Your Life From Irritable Bowel Syndrome by James Walden. This ebook contains the information you need to understand IBS, its symptoms, and most importantly, the dietary, supplementation and lifestyle changes needed to treat IBS naturally so you can get back to enjoying life once again.