Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a collection of symptoms associated with the gastrointestinal tract and which cause pain and discomfort.  Abdominal pain, bloating, cramping and alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea may accompany it. If you are suffering with IBS, here are 5 natural remedies you might want to try.

1. Avoid emotional stress and toxic people as much as possible.
2. Eat lots of vegetables - a high-fiber diet.
3. Keep a diary of what you eat and drink to determine food sensitivities.
4. Try peppermint.
5. Probiotics have been shown to reduce abdominal pain and bloating, but allow for easy bowel movement as well.

Because the symptoms of IBS are often brought on by tension and strain in your lifestyle as well as a poor diet, it is recommended that your diet consist of low-fat, high-fiber meals.  Adding plenty of greens and fruits, including spinach, whole-grain products, and drinking water instead of sodas or  citrus juices may help. Prune juice may be recommended as a stimulant to improve bowel movement.  Smoking should be avoided as it often intensifies the symptoms. And since dealing with difficult people can cause your stomach to churn, avoid unsafe relationships. Talk with a counselor about setting boundaries with people like this - you'll probably see your symptoms improve.

A daily diary noting the foods you eat may reveal food intolerances. These can surprise you since they often won't show up in classical allergy tests.  Perhaps fried foods are the cause, or you are not consuming enough vegetables or fruits.  A diary can be quite helpful in ascertaining why your bowel movements are not only irregular, but painful as well.

Peppermint is known to reduce the abdominal pain and bloating of irritable bowel syndrome due to the fact that it blocks the movement of calcium into muscle cells in the intestines, and eases muscle contractions.  It is also helpful in eliminating excess gas in the intestines. Peppermint tea is soothing and delicious with a drop of honey in it. Try drinking some after a meal to aid digestion.

Probiotics, which are primarily found in dairy products such as yogurt and fermented foods like kefir, offer a natural remedy for IBS.  In a recent study of women with IBS, probiotics were found to be more effective in reducing abdominal pain, bloating, bowel dysfunction, incomplete evacuation, straining, and gas.  Probiotics are probably the best known microorganisms one can utilize to effectively act as one of the natural remedies for IBS.

Recommended:

Gastronic Dr. and DigestAssist for Chronic Digestion Problems 

Natural Moves for Natural Constipation Relief

Gasolve Relief homeopathic