IBS Treatments from the Wana Community

Living with IBS can be crappy. Let's talk about treatments!

You might have diarrhea, constipation, or both – along with stomach cramps, pain, bloating, and fatigue. Fun stuff, right? While there's no test to diagnose IBS, IBD is a more serious condition and requires different treatment, so it's important to rule that out with a practitioner.

If you do get diagnosed with IBS, be aware that stress – along with anxiety and depression – can play a role in flare-ups. So, stress reduction (especially if you're prone to diarrhea) can reduce symptoms or make them feel more management.

Our IBS Community has spoken… these are the top treatments they use.

The Wana IBS Community has tried:

Antidepressants:

They help control mood and emotion, and can help the emotional journey of living with IBS.

CBD:

CBD doesn't cause a high, but research has shown it may relieve pain and decrease anxiety – common symptoms of IBS.

Meditation:

Meditation helps refocus our awareness away from pain and toward other parts of our body and mind that support our healing.

Probiotics:

These good bacteria are used to aid digestion and may help reduce IBS symptoms, as well as symptoms of ulcerative colitis, UTIs and upper respiratory infections. Try eating probiotic yogurts, kefir, sauerkraut or kimchi, or kombucha, a drink fermented with probiotic yeast instead of bacteria (try a ginger flavor for tummy aches!).

Yoga:

The combination of physical postures, breathing exercises and meditation can help IBS sufferers balance their gut and mindset.

Magnesium:

Studies have found that nearly 70% of us don't get enough magnesium – which means our bodies can't operate at tip-top shape.

Acupuncture:

Acupuncture can help to block pain signals, stimulate neurotransmitters, and/or release feel-good endorphins in the brain, which can ease IBS pain.

Electrolytes:

When electrolyte levels are low, serious symptoms such as severe muscle weakness, nausea and vomiting, or heart problems can occur.

Turmeric/Curcumin:

Turmeric helps tackle inflammation in the body, which can help IBS flare-ups.

Vitamin D3:

Vitamin D3 helps your immune system to fight off unfriendly bacteria, which could be causing IBS flare-ups.

To sort it all out, your practitioner will likely do lab tests (including one for gluten intolerance), order stool studies to check for infection or malabsorption, obtain imaging tests like x-rays or a colonoscopy, and more.

What is Wana?

Wana: We Are Not Alone is the community for chronic conditions – an app enabling people with chronic and invisible conditions to connect and share information. Our mission is to destigmatize chronic illness and provide you with the support you need on your healing journey. Download the app here.