IBS is an uncomfortable condition that can cause gas, stomach cramping, bloating, diarrhea and constipation. These symptoms can make life anything but easy.
That said, if you do suspect IBS, you’re anything but alone.
About 11 percent of the world’s population has IBS, though only 30 percent of people with this condition will get medical help. And it is known to affect more women than men.
When a person has IBS, the intestinal system is disrupted. Consequently, it doesn’t function the way it should.
According to the Mayo Clinic, common medical treatments for IBS can include fiber supplements, anti-diarrheal medications, counseling, anticholinergic and antispasmodic medications to relieve bowel spasms, and antibiotics.
That said, there are a number of other surprising treatments that just might help. Check out the following six options.
1. Meditation
The effects of meditation transcend far beyond simple relaxation. In fact, meditation just might have an impact on symptoms associated with IBS.
Researchers at Harvard affiliates Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center recently studied this concept. The study was the first to analyze just how relaxation response affects IBS.