Yikes!

Something going on down there? Something out of the norm, but you can’t quite put your finger on it? If you’ve noticed a change in your bowel habits that aren’t linked to any other physical illness or abnormality, there is a good chance you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), otherwise known as a spastic colon.

IBS is a functional bowel disorder usually marked not only by a change in bowel habits but extreme abdominal pain. People may also experience constipation, diarrhea or change in stool. Irritable bowel syndrome is accounted for up to 50% of all visits to the gastroenterologist, making it a fairly common bowel problem.

Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome

Symptoms of a spastic colon include any of the following:

• Abdominal pain
• Frequent diarrhea or constipation
• Change in frequency of bowel movements
• Change in appearance of stool
• Other bowel habit changes

Natural Remedies for irritable bowel syndrome

Peppermint tea or peppermint oil can help relieve the uncomfortable symptoms associated with IBS such as bloating and abdominal pain. A great and convenient way to take peppermint oil for the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome is in the form of a capsule.

Drink a tea made from lemon, chamomile or rosemary. Props if you can find a tea with all three! All of these herbs carry antispasmodic properties that can help relieve the discomfort of irritable bowel syndrome.

Suffering from a sudden attack of abdominal pain? Try mixing a bit of juice from both a lemon and lime and drinking it. Don’t add any sugar! It could irritate your colon even more.

A lot of people have alleviated symptoms of a spastic colon just by adding more fiber to their diet. It not only relieves constipation but it also works for those who suffer from frequent diarrhea. You can get a good source of nonsoluble fiber from whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Take out dairy for one week. A lot of misdiagnosed cases of IBS are really cases of lactose intolerance. Try cutting out all dairy products for one week and see if your symptoms improve. That means no milk, cheese, yogurt or anything that comes from a cow. If you do find an improvement, talk to your doctor.

Eliminate caffeine all together. Caffeine is nothing but trouble for people with IBS. It is also the bane that attributes to many other illnesses. If you suffer from frequent diarrhea, you may find that cutting caffeine can help greatly.

De-stress yourself. Many cases of irritable bowel syndrome are brought on by frequent bouts of stress. Not only can de-stressing help relieve a spastic colon, but it can also help alleviate other health problems in your life.

–Magdalena

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What are Gallstones?

Gallstones, also known as cholelithiasis, are solid deposits of cholesterol or calcium salts that develop in the gallbladder (small fluid sac under the liver). Your gallbladder stores bile which helps you digest fats.

Gallstones are made from cholesterol and other substances that are found in bile. They are not cancerous and do not usually cause symptoms or require treatment. In some cases, however, gallstones can cause severe pain and discomfort.

Types of Gallstones

There are 2 types of gallstones:
• Cholesterol stones are usually yellow in color and they form when there is an excess of cholesterol in the bile. The stones may also be made up of calcium and bilibrubin (produced when the liver breaks down old red blood cells).
• Pigment stones are dark brown or black stones that develop when there is too much bilirubin in the bile.

Signs & Symptoms of Gallstones

• Abdominal pain—upper right abdomen or between the shoulder blades. Pain may occur about 2 hours after eating and can last for several hours. After the initial pain has passed, the abdominal area may be sore and ache for a few days.
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever
• Indigestion—intolerance to fatty foods (bloating, belching)
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin)

Causes of Gallstones

The cause of gallstones is unknown, but there are some theories to consider:
• High cholesterol or bilirubin in the bile
• Alternations in bile mucus
• Pigment stones usually form in people with liver disease or blood disease
• Failure of the gallbladder to empty properly, leaving residual bile that may cause gallstones to form
• Infection in the tubes that carry bile out of the liver

Risk Factors for Gallstones

• Illness—cirrhosis of the liver, coronary artery disease, small intestine disorders
• Age—your chance of developing gallstones increases with age. People over the age of 60 are more likely to have gallstones than those who are younger.
• Gender—women are more likely than men to have gallstones because estrogen causes more cholesterol to be excreted in bile.
• Weight—individuals who are overweight have a higher more likely to be afflicted with gallstones.
• Have a family history of gallstones.
• Certain medications, even some cholesterol lowering medications can increase your risk.
• Ethnicity—American Indians have the highest occurrence of gallstones in the United States. Mexican-Americans are also at a higher risk.

Home Remedies and Tips for Gallstones

Maintain a healthy weight and avoid crash diets. Extremes in weight gain and loss can result in health problems. Be sure to consult with your doctor if you’re trying to find a diet plan.
Stay active. Be sure to exercise regularly in order to decrease your risk of gallstones.
Cut the fat. Eat foods that are low in fat and high in fiber.
Vitamin C not only strengthens your immune system, but it also converts cholesterol into bile acids.
Drink your java. New studies have found that drinking a couple cups of coffee a day can help prevent gallstones.
Dandelion and milk thistle reduce cholesterol in bile. The taraxacin in dandelion and the silymarin in milk thistle stimulate bile production and thereby decrease bile concentration.
Rosemary also stimulates bile production and eliminates spasms in the bile duct.

-Nolan

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Uncomfortable and quite embarrassing, especially when you have to make frequent trips to the bathroom, diarrhea is a common cause of many people’s tummy discomfort. The most common cause of diarrhea is viral, parasitic or bacterial infection.

Some of the causes of diarrhea

Food borne illness (cause by bacteria such as salmonella or e.coli) can cause diarrhea in otherwise healthy people. Be sure you handle food properly and keep it warm or chilled to the right temperature to avoid bacteria growth. Most incidents of food borne illness can be found at parties, where food is left out too long.

Viral or parasitic infections are very common causes of diarrhea that usually resolve in a few days. Chances are, if you have the flu or a wicked cold, you may experience some diarrhea.

Excessive use of alcohol and caffeine can give you diarrhea.

Malabsorption, which is the inability to absorb certain kinds of food, can cause diarrhea. People who are lactose or gluten intolerant or people who suffer other food allergies may experience this.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is another possible cause of frequent diarrhea. IBS is also referred to as a spastic colon, characterized by changes in bowel habits (like diarrhea) and abdominal pain.

Cases of chronic diarrhea may be a symptom of another more serious illness like Crohn’s Disease or even colon cancer. If you experience diarrhea for more than two weeks, you should consult your family doctor.

Home remedies for diarrhea

Oregano oil is naturally antibacterial and anti-parasitic, making it a good treatment for diarrhea that resulted from food borne illness and other bacteria.

Drink plenty of fluids. Diarrhea causes dehydration and should be treated by drinking water or 100% juice. However you should stay away from apple juice and beverages with caffeine and alcohol in them. They make dehydration worse.

Looking for something sweet? Try eating some blueberries which relives both diarrhea and constipation. It’s chock-full of soluble and insoluble fiber.

A puree of cooked carrots helps reduce diarrhea by acting as a binding agent. It also replaces vital minerals and vitamins you lost.

Products made from cow’s milk should be avoided while you have diarrhea, but yogurt with live cultures is beneficial to eat. Yogurt is especially helpful in reducing the risk of developing diarrhea while on antibiotics.

Eat plain wheat toast. No butter. No jam. Nothing. This helps bind you up and reduces the time you have diarrhea.

–Magdalena

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Have heartburn? You may have a hiatal hernia.

A hernia is when one part of the body pushes through an opening or gap into another part of the body. In the case of a hiatal hernia, this is when part of your stomach pushes up into your esophagus, allowing easy passage for stomach acid to go where it should not go. It sounds pretty dire, but most small hiatal hernias don’t cause problems at all.

Larger hiatal hernias however can lead to heartburn, acid reflux and powerful chest pain. Some hiatal hernias require surgery, but self-care is oftentimes enough to keep the discomfort caused by a hiatal hernia in check. Some even claim such home remedies have helped end their long struggle with pain after meals.

Home remedies for heartburn and acid reflux

Eating bits of celery can help curb heartburn. The alkaline properties of celery neutralize the acid in your stomach and keep everything kosher down there.

Drinking peppermint tea after a meal, before heartburn has a chance to settle in, can help too. You may have used peppermint to soothe an upset stomach as a child. This works by neutralizing the acid from the stomach, calming you down before the acid has a chance to rise and cause heartburn.

Bananas are like nature’s antacid, and they’re just plain good for you too! Relieving the symptoms of heartburn is now easy and tasty.

Apples help soothe the pain of acid reflux. Like bananas, apples control the level of acids in your stomach, making for easier digestion without the pain.

Drinking a glass of water after you eat will help dilute stomach acid and settle your stomach, stopping acid reflux before it even has a chance to start.

-Magdalena

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We’ve all had stomach problems of some type. While we may not enjoy talking about such issues, it’s important to understand the different types of stomach conditions and what can be done to reduce the pain and prevent the problem.

One common condition is gastritis in which the stomach lining or mucous becomes inflamed. Generally pain or discomfort is felt in the upper portion of the abdomen. Many factors can contribute to gastritis, but it is often caused by a bacterium called helicobacter pylori which is also the cause of most stomach ulcers.

Types of Gastritis:
Acute gastritis-brief condition that occurs suddenly and is likely to cause discomfort, burning pain and nausea.
Chronic gastritis-occurs slowly over time and may cause a feeling of fullness or a loss of appetite. However, for many people there are no signs or symptoms.

Although most cases of gastritis aren’t serious and symptoms improve quickly with treatment, gastritis can lead to other problems such as ulcers and an increased risk of stomach cancer.

Symptoms

• Pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen-this pain may improve or worsen when you eat
• Headache and dizziness
• Loss of appetite
• Feeling of fullness after eating
• Belching-may lessen pain briefly
• Nausea and vomiting-vomit may include undigested food and can vary in color-green, yellow and sometimes bloody

Causes

Usually the stomach inflammation is caused by a bacterial (such as helicobacter pylori) or viral infection and is not an ulcer.

Diet issues-overeating, eating food that is improperly cooked, excessive intake of coffee, tea or alcohol, or consuming large amounts of sauces and/or condiments.

Stress overload-anxiety, worry, grief and tension can cause acute gastritis.

Medication-NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as naproxen ibuprofen, and aspirin can contribute to both acute and chronic gastritis when used on a regular basis or when taken too often. These drugs can irritate the stomach lining and can potentially cause ulcers with regular or overuse. If NSAIDS are only taken occasionally, stomach irritation and inflammation will be lessen likely to occur.

Gastritis may be associated with other medical conditions such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, influenza, and Crohn’s disease.

Home Remedies

Coconut water provides the stomach with essential vitamins and minerals. This helps the stomach return back to normal if nothing but coconut water is given during the first twenty-four hours.

Eat figs or put them in warm water, strain and drink.

Take 1/2 potatoe juice (add carrot or lemon juice to enhance the taste) to 1 full glass of water 30 minutes before meals 2-3 times a day.

Apply heat with a hot compress or water bottle two times a day either on an empty stomach or a few hours after meals.

Maintain a healthy diet by eating smaller meals more often. Monitor what you eat and avoid any foods that cause upset stomach (often foods that are salty, spicy, acidic, fried or fatty).

-Nolan

Do you have any remedies or stories about gastritis? Comment and tell us. We’d love to hear from you!

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