One in every ten people suffers from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which causes pain, bloating, and unpredictable bowel movements that can be loose or firm. Stress, inconsistent eating, and a lack of sleep all contribute to the problem, but home remedies can often help.
IBS can resemble serious conditions, but if such conditions are ruled out, you are left with a diagnosis of IBS, which is considered a functional disorder.
There are three types of IBS: 1) Mixed, that is a mixture of diarrhoea and constipation; 2) IBS where diarrhoea is dominant; 3) IBS where constipation is dominant.
Imagine IBS as an imbalance in the digestive system. The Rome criteria define it as pain associated with bowel changes: diarrhoea (IBS-D), constipation (IBS-C), or both (IBS-M). Approximately one-quarter of the cases alternate wildly, with one-third leaning loose and one-third hard. Traditional approaches to constitutional types explain why different people get different types: someone who has a tendency toward thinness, dryness (skin, bowels), worry, insomnia, overthinking, and anxiety will have the mixed type, which includes cramps and swings from diarrhoea to constipation and back again, as well as a lot of flatulence (IBS-M).
It is important for these people to build rhythm in their lives to stabilise the gut. Eating regular, warm-cooked meals and skipping late snacks is helpful. Try soluble fibres like oats or psyllium but start slowly – they firm loose stools and soften hard ones. Walk daily and breathe deeply, building meditation into your daily routine or practising yoga or Tai Chi. If you become bloated, sipping chamomile, peppermint, or ginger tea can help ease the discomfort.
People who have a predominantly warm-dry temperament and are driven to succeed tend to generate excess heat in digestion and emotions when out of balance. They are a fiery type, and if they have IBS, it will be characterised by much more diarrhoea than constipation. They will have frequent loose stools, cramps, and urgency.
These individuals can ease their symptoms by making a few simple dietary and lifestyle adjustments. It is helpful to cut out common triggers such as caffeine, alcohol, and fatty foods, as well as spicy dishes, which may provoke bouts of diarrhoea. Opting for small, cooling meals like rice, bananas, and yogurt can be gentler on the stomach and easier to digest. Staying well hydrated is essential, and if diarrhoea persists, adding oral rehydration salts can help replace lost fluids and electrolytes. Herbal remedies may also provide relief; peppermint oil capsules or chamomile can calm intestinal spasms, and milk thistle may offer additional digestive support.
People who are the ‘salt of the earth’ – calm, composed, and steady – can also have gut issues if sluggishness and congestion build up in their system. These types of people will develop IBS that is characterised by constipation, with infrequent stools, bloating, and straining.
A person suffering from this form of IBS needs to stay well hydrated. They are the one type of person that needs to drink water regularly.
They would also benefit from adding flaxseed to cereal and adding in a regular brisk walk to their daily routine to boost peristalsis in the gut. Laxatives should be avoided, but prunes can be added to cereal along with flaxseed.
IBS may be viewed as a very personal imbalance, with gut issues reflecting your own body-mind makeup rather than a one-size-fits-all problem. Whether you have erratic swings, urgent diarrhoea with inflammation, or sluggish constipation with bloating, the key is to tailor your approach to the problem by recognising your own innate pattern. If you suffer from the mixed type, then grounding warmth and rhythm in your life is what is needed. If constipation occurs, balance can be restored by combining tactics such as regular meals, soluble fibres, fibres (oats, psyllium, and flaxseed), stress-relieving walks or breathing exercises, and time-tested remedies.
Triphala may be available in your local health shop, and it is a balancing Ayurvedic fruit blend that promotes regularity. Use slippery elm, a soothing demulcent that moistens and eases passage, or dandelion root, a mild bitter that stimulates digestion, but always start slowly and stay hydrated. Chamomile, fennel, and peppermint remain versatile pain relievers and pleasant teas for all three types of IBS.
