If you are suffering from IBS you must eliminate following things from your eating habit: skipping meals, low fiber and fluid intake, fatty and spicy food, caffeine and alcohol and if you are sensitive to dairy products stop consuming it.
Different people have different trigger food that causes symptoms of IBS. The best way to find food that triggers your symptoms is to maintain a food diary. Note down the food that you eat and when you get symptoms from particular food, mark it as a trigger food. Next time the diary will help you to skip that food.
Normal routine that we all follow is that we take stomach full meals three times a day and snacks in between. But IBS sufferers need to change a little, instead of having large meals three times a day try eating several small meals during a day because large meals causes cramps and diarrhea.
Intestinal gas is one of the major problems of IBS patients, factors that increases intestinal gas are: carbonated drinks, staying empty stomach. Food that causes formation of intestinal gas are: Bananas, Beans, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Garlic, Leeks, Nuts, Onions, Raisins.
Fructose is not digested easily in IBS sufferers hence it causes excess gas, constipation and diarrhea. The artificial sweeteners are not digestible and aggravate the condition.
Diet that is low in fat and high in carbohydrates and proteins such as whole-grain breads, pasta, rice, fruits, vegetables, and cereals. Food rich in fiber should be included in diet to avoid constipation, these are: Barley, Brown rice, dried beans, Figs, French bread, Fresh peas, Oat Bran, Pasta, Prunes, Psyllium husk, Raisins, Rice, Sourdough bread, Soy.
If fibrous diet is causing problems, then it must be taken in the form of supplements.
Adequate fluid helps in digestion and keeps the body hydrated during bouts of diarrhea.
Other than maintaining diet, exercise is very beneficial in reducing the symptoms.
How homeopathy can help in IBS?
Along with diet management homeopathy remedies can be used for better results. Medicines are given on the basis of symptom similarity and on the basis of generalities of the patient.
There are wide range of medicines, few of them are: argentum, kali phos, colocynth, lyco, nux-vom, etc.
Argentum:
Belching accompanies most gastric complaints; flatulence; painful swelling in the pit of the stomach; great craving for sweets.
Colocynth:
Dysentery after least food or drink; agonizing cutting pain in the abdomen causing the patient to bend double.
Kali phos:
Dysentery while eating; a nervous gone sensation in the pit of stomach; patient becomes delirious, abdomen swells.
Lycopodium:
After eating there is pressure in the stomach with much bloating and bitter taste in the mouth; sinking sensation worse at night; likes hot food and drinks; food tastes sour; patient is withered, complaints of gas formation.
