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Author: Guy Downing

Do you suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)? With the right approach, you can get your IBS under control and live a pretty normal and healthy life. 

As you know, IBS is a disease of the digestive system. The most common symptoms of this moderate to severe, quality-of-life-crushing inflammatory bowel disease include abdominal discomfort, severe abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, irregular bowel movements, as well as mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.

Based on nearly a decade of personal, hands-on research, this guide will explore 15 different types of IBS treatment and how to get significant symptom improvement.

Views on IBS vary, medical doctors, gastroenterologists, and researchers studying digestive and kidney diseases do not know the exact cause of IBS. Family history, overuse of antibiotics, bowel habits, other diseases of the digestive tract, and even a history of colon cancer are all suspected causes. So doctors don't know how to treat IBS nor have a definitive path to healing or significant symptom reduction.

The conventional wisdom is there is no cure for IBS, only lifelong management of symptoms. Here are 15 treatments, 5 common and 10 less common treatments, assembled by the CEO and Executive Director of ReThink, a U.S. nonprofit organization that specializes in researching  solutions for IBS and other challenging diseases.

Three Types of Irritable Bowel Syndrome 

As you may have learned, there are three main types of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: IBS-C (constipation), IBS-D (diarrhea), and IBS-M (mixed). The best approach for IBS usually depends on the type you have. Constipation, or IBS-C: If you have constipation, your doctor may recommend fiber supplements, laxatives, or antispasmodics. Diarrhea: If you have diarrhea, your doctor may recommend anti-diarrheal medications. Mixed: If you have mixed Irritable Bowel Syndrome, your doctor may recommend a combination of approaches.

15 IBS Treatments

Five Common Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatments

There are many different treatments available for IBS, and the right one for you will depend on your symptoms. Common approaches are:

1. Diet Changes

One of the most important things you can do to manage your IBS symptoms, among other lifestyle changes is to pay attention to certain foods. Avoiding common trigger foods, eating regular meals, eating small portions, and getting enough fiber can all help to reduce your abdominal pain and other symptoms. Certain foods such as dairy, sugar, grains, and highly processed foods cause problems for many IBS sufferers.

This is where most healthcare practitioners will begin and if your IBS is mild, this may be sufficient. Usually eliminating grains, dairy, and sugar is the starting point.

2. Exercise

Exercise is also important for managing IBS. Getting regular exercise can help relieve stress and anxiety, which can trigger IBS symptoms.

3. Medication

There are a variety of medications that can be used to treat IBS, including antispasmodics, antidepressants, laxatives, painkillers, and other medicines. Your doctor will work with you to determine the best medication for your symptoms.

4. Stress Management or Meditation

Avoid common stressors. Emotional stress can aggravate IBS symptoms, so it's important to find ways to manage your stress. Relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation can be helpful, and counseling may also be beneficial.

5. Probiotics

Probiotics are live microorganisms that can help to improve gut health. They are available in supplement form or fermented foods like yogurt and kimchi.

Ten Less Common
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatments

There are many different treatments for IBS, and what works for one person might not work for another. Although there are many common treatments for IBS, such as dietary changes and stress management, sometimes these aren't enough. To reduce your abdominal pain, constipation, and other symptoms of IBS, you may have to think outside of the box. Here are some less common treatments that may provide relief from your symptoms.

6. Try Low FODMAP Diet for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Today, every gastroenterologist should know about the low FODMAP diet, and many general practitioners. The low FODMAP diet is a special diet that eliminates foods that contain certain types of carbohydrates. These carbohydrates are known as fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. Research has indicated that low FODMAP diet is an effective treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). 

The low FODMAP diet can be very difficult to follow and is a highly unconventional diet. You will need the guidance of a healthcare professional who is experienced with the low FODMAP diet. He or she can help you create a plan that fits your individual needs and maintains healthy nutrition. 

The usual approach to a low FODMAP diet for IBS is to eliminate all high FODMAP foods from your diet for a few weeks to many months, and then slowly reintroduce foods one at a time. This will help you to figure out which foods may be triggering your IBS symptoms. 

7. Acupuncture

8. Biofeedback

This technique helps you learn to control your body's response to stress. Biofeedback can be used to teach you how to relax your muscles and slow your heart rate, which can help reduce symptoms of IBS.

9. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Mental health therapies, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), are one of several psychological interventions that can help you manage your IBS symptoms by changing the way you think and feel about them. This type of therapy is particularly effective in treating other chronic conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. CBT for IBS typically involves meeting with a therapist weekly for many months. During these sessions, you will learn how to identify and change negative thoughts and behaviors that may be contributing to your IBS symptoms. 

10. Hypnosis

Hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation. During hypnosis, you will be guided by a hypnotist to focus your attention and control your thoughts. It is thought that hypnosis and other alternative therapies can help change the way your brain responds to pain, which can lead to symptom relief.

11. Herbal Supplements

Many different herbs have been traditionally used for gastrointestinal problems. Some examples include peppermint oil, ginger, chamomile, and licorice root. Herbal supplements can be taken in pill form or as tea.

12. Massage Therapy

Relaxation techniques can help reduce stress and tension in the body, which may be helpful for IBS sufferers. Massage can also help to improve circulation and reduce inflammation.

13. Yoga

The gentle stretching and deep breathing of yoga can help to relax the mind and body, which may be beneficial for people with IBS. Yoga can also help to improve gut motility and reduce inflammation.

14. Fecal Microbial Transplant for IBS

If you're in severe pain, this may be a treatment to consider but as a last resort.  Fecal Microbial Transplant (FMT) is the transplanting of stool material from a healthy donor into the intestines of a person with IBS.

The bacteria in your gut digest the food you eat, and the theory is that IBS symptoms are caused by an imbalance or disruptive and painful bacterial behavior. This treatment is done via fecal-filled capsules, a nasogastric tube (from the throat or nose down to the gut), or an enema. 

This treatment is not without its risks, however. The most common immediate side effects of an FMT procedure include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and general body pain. Much like regular IBS symptoms. 

Alarmingly, there are also longer-term risks of contracting diseases or health conditions from the donor stool material. Likely, allergies, constipation, digestive problems, or other diseases and syndromes that the donor has -- including hidden or not-yet-observable diseases -- may be transplanted to the recipient. The health of the donor and the donor's parents is critical. 

If you are considering FMT, it is important to discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. FMT is not necessarily a cure for IBS, but it may provide some relief from symptoms.

Because of the risks involved, including the long-term risks, FMT should be considered only as a last resort for individuals with severe, life-crushing symptoms, and should be done under the careful supervision of a medical doctor, ideally experienced with FMT for IBS patients.

15. ReThink

ReThink is an unconventional approach. Hundreds of IBS sufferers from around the world have greatly reduced IBS symptoms using ReThink principles. ReThink conducts disease research and offers a possible root cause of IBS symptoms and tools to reduce one's own symptoms. The author of this guide significantly reduced symptoms of 9 years of severe IBS in a few months using ReThink tools. 

Conclusion

Symptoms of IBS can be a discouraging condition, from severe tummy pain to irregular bowel movements, but there are treatments available that can help. If you've tried the more common treatments and haven't found relief, consider one of the less common options. Although these less common IBS treatments may not work for everyone, they may be worth a try.

Note: Although we wholeheartedly recommend these IBS treatments, they are just that, treatments and do not address the fundamental root cause, and as such do not propose to provide complete healing from IBS.

About ReThink

ReThink is an unconventional approach to healing IBS. Hundreds of IBS sufferers from around the world have greatly reduced IBS symptoms using ReThink principles. The author significantly reduced 9 years of severe IBS in a few months using ReThink Tools. Learn about his journey here.

About Guy Downing

Guy Downing is the head of ReThink, a U.S. nonprofit organization. He's been personally affected by two devastating diseases. Severe multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), progressively worsening, over 14 years. He finally reduced his MCS symptoms in a just few months. Years later, he had severe  IBS for 9 years and, even though nearly all doctors and research studies state that IBS cannot be cured, he discovered a possible root cause of IBS symptoms and significantly reduced his own symptoms in a few months. To learn more, go to ReThinkDisease.com.