Diet and Health FAQ

Tagged As: Natural Remedy For Ibs

Question:
Has anyone had any success with natural remedies?  I've just started researching on the web, and have seen meltonin, antioxidants, and I can't remember what else.  Any others?  Any that work?  It also needs to be safe for Pregnancy and nursing, but I can look into that.

Answer:
Magnesium is the single most helpful thing I've taken or done for FMS so far.  It helps alleviate pain, muscle twitching and cramping, and generally is very helpful for me overall.  Many people say you need to take calcium with it, but *my* body says I need much more magnesium than calcium.  If you haven't tried it, you might want to start out at, oh, 250 mg. per day for a week of some reputable brand.  If you don't notice much improvement and you don't have any nasty side effects (diarrhea is the most likely), increase to 500 mg. per day.  (Note:  I'm not a doctor or medical professional.  Discuss this stuff with someone who is to find out if you have any contraindications, okay?) If you have IBS, psyllium fiber (found in Metamucil & at least one brand of bran cereal) is useful. Another natural remedy I'm finding helpful now is physical therapy. For the record, I also find small doses of methylphenidate (Ritalin) very helpful (helps with muscle pain, enables muscles to work better, and helps alleviate brain fog), though the drug isn't exactly natural! Do you call magnets a natural remedy?  I have had absolutely tremendous success with sleeping on the magnets and using them for stressed or uncomfortable areas. I found a real energy booster in CoenzymeQ10. I take a multivitamin that includes25 mg. of COq10 per day, and 2 days after I initially started taking it, I stopped taking afternoon naps!!!!!! I also use a lot of herb teas for relaxation and stomach distress - and, if you have a source for sassafrass root bark, it is good for pain; mixed with other herbs it makes a good night-time tea. An EASY sleepy-type tea is Celestial Seasonings' Tension Tamer - the best of the bunch of pre-packaged tea bags. I've been using St. Johns Wort to improve sleep, and also fibroX which has malic acid, magnesium and valerian in it.  The valerian is a sleep aid too apparently.  Was on trazodone to improve sleep, but made me dream all night long!!!  Still not waking up real rested, but I'm better.  Still looking for answers. This is too broad a question, since different things work for different people.  Please search on dejanews for My Med List  I posted everything I take about 3 times. Also visit this web site for lots of ideas: Steve Emerson's Alternative Med Page and tons of links (start here) http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/6028/emerson.htm Lev, I have been medication free now for 2 years. I use 3mg of melatonin made by the company Natrol every night one half an hour before bed. I also help promote sleep by wearing a sleeping mask & earplugs at night. I also took yoga classes and use the relaxation techniques to help fall asleep.  I began my quest to kick fibromyalgia 2 years ago and although I still have pain, I consider myself cured. For me seeing a chiropractor once a month, and seeing a massage therapist bi-weekly along with no drugs did the trick. The massage therapy helped get rid of my trigger points through accupressure. If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to e-mail me.   If you are medication free, what do you call the Melatonin?  A Natural?  Aspirin is a Natural derivative of tree bark, but I believe it is still classified as medicine.  Digitalis is a Natural derivative too. It is also medicine.  If I've harped upon it once, I've harped a million times.  Calling something a Natural does not make it safe or OK.  Making a pill or capsule from some natural ingredient is not different than buying a Medicine at the drug store.  Some naturals are synthesized, and are then made by man from chemicals to mimic the natural drug found in the plant. Does that automatically make them unsafe or dangerous?  I don't mean to be mean or attack your view of medicine free.  I just don't think the use of medication is anything people should shun.  I get the impression that you think medication is somehow not a good thing.  But I also notice that although you claim the cure, you still have the pain.  I don't get it.  I get upset when after giving all the reasons to try this cure or that cure, the same people say, But I am still in pain.  It's why I wrote a post one day about people taking Ufell.  (You fell for another wonder cure) Right after that, I challenged anybody selling the gizmos and green powders and what not, to prove their product.  It's what got the Magnet Challenge going.  Sorry if I offend you, but the original thread asking for Natural remedies, and your answer stating you are medicine free, followed by the seemingly ever-present disclaimer of still being in pain, just riles me. Just because it is natural does not mean it is not a drug. Here in the US St Johns Wort is considered a supplement but in Europe it is given out by doctors as a medication.  Nicotine and heroin are both natural plant derived drugs.   Perhaps Sara defines cured as what I define as a temporary relief. I am able to keep the stress down and eat healthy, get adequate (sp) sleep and feel only as I did preFMS when I had overdid a bit at exercise. I am for the most part comfortable but hey I don't live in Utopia but in upstate Ny and the weather changes and BOOM, hello flare.