My Go-To Natural Remedies For IBS-D Flares
For the longest time, I didn’t know what to do to calm my IBS-D flares. I tried taking Imodium, but it just doesn’t work for me unless my flare is purely anxiety-related. And if my stomach is basically already empty. I had tried medications, but none of them did anything. Over time, I started getting more and more interested in natural remedies. Below, you’ll find a list of the ones that work best for me.
Diarrhea and repeated bathroom trips
Tormentil was recommended to me by a fellow community member and I’m so incredibly grateful for that. As someone whose IBS doesn’t react well to Imodium, tormentil is the first remedy I found that successfully reduces or stops repeated bathroom trips for me.
Most of the time, especially for milder IBS-D flares, I don’t even have to take a full dose to see the effects. With stronger flares, though, I might have to take it two or three times. If it’s really bad, I add a lactobacillus rhamnosus pill on top.
Diarrhea
Lactobacillus rhamnosus is a probiotic that I had bought in the past to take with antibiotics. It worked really well, so I decided to see if it would work for regular IBS as well. And it does! At least for me, just one pill helps reduce or even stop bathroom visits. I usually only take it if Tormentil doesn’t help enough on its own. Most of the time, just one or two daily doses are enough for me, and I don’t have to use it on a regular basis.
Bloating
I have written about my experience with activated charcoal for bloating before. Since then, it has become one of the most-used remedies in our household, not only for me but also for my partner. He doesn’t have IBS, but he does experience bloating and finds it super helpful, too.
With my IBS, bloating is often a result of eating foods that contain too much fiber or dairy. Activated charcoal helps relieve the discomfort pretty fast and often makes sure that I don’t get any other uncomfortable symptoms. The sooner I take it after a triggering meal, the better it works.
I take 2 tablets at once and then another one later if needed, which is the recommended dose for the one I have. The only issue is that charcoal absorbs everything, so I have to make sure not to take any other medication within a couple of hours before and after.
Discomfort
Chamomile tea feels calming to my digestive system and comforting to my nervous system. It’s the only drink I can stomach when I’m in a flare. Sipping on hot tea always makes me feel just a little bit better when my IBS-D is acting up.
Ongoing symptoms
You know those milder, but long flares that make you overall uncomfortable and never seem to end? In my experience, calendula can work wonders for those. It feels like it reduces inflammation in my digestive system and helps it return to normal after a few days.
I personally take the maximum dose for the calendula tincture I have. It’s one of my most-used herbal remedies. I tend to take it as soon as I start feeling any discomfort that lasts longer than a couple of hours.
Based on my experience, I wouldn’t count on calendula to relieve really bad flares though. In these cases, tormentil works a lot better, at least for me.
Cramps
About two years ago, I accidentally bought a giant bag of dried yarrow online. After realizing that that was far too much for my originally intended use, I started looking up other uses online. That’s when I found out that yarrow can be great for the digestive system. In my experience, that’s very true!
Whenever I have stubborn digestive symptoms, be it after a bad flare or even a stomach bug, yarrow infusions always offer relief. I’ve also found that it’s very effective for stomach cramps, although I have to note that I rarely get severe pain with my IBS-D.
If you don’t mind a horrible-tasting remedy (yarrow infusions are pretty gross), you might consider trying this one!
What are your go-to remedies for IBS flares?
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