These 7 Essential Oils Can Help Your Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Updated on March 10th, 2020
essential oils for irritable bowel syndrome

Do you know that there is a direct link between the causes of irritable bowel Syndrome and the food we eat? Irritable bowel syndrome is a digestive disorder that has symptoms like gas, bloating, indigestion, flatulence, constipation and stomach cramps(1). Managing everyday normal life can be challenging with these symptoms on a regular base. Using medicines, diet and complementary therapy can bring quite an amount of relief to patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.

But if you are looking for cheap. safe, quick and organic ways of getting rid of this problem, using essential oils for Irritable Bowel Syndrome must be your right cup of tea.

Some of the causes of irritable bowel syndrome are

  • Hormonal imbalances
  • Stress
  • Food allergies
  • Bacterial overgrowth in the gut

How do Essential Oils help in IBS?

Essential oils are natural extracts of flowers and tree parts. They contain compounds like ketones, oxides, and terpenes which are powerful natural compounds that aid in healing diseases. Let’s look at some ways that they help in treating irritable bowel syndrome:

  • Reducing diarrhea
  • Strengthening the immune system
  • Healing inflammation
  • Stimulating digestive juices
  • Promoting deep sleep
  • Promoting proper bowel movement
  • Soothing muscle spasms
  • Curbing nausea
  • Reducing acid reflux and heartburn
  • Reducing anxiety and depression.

Essential Oils for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

1. Peppermint oil

peppermint essential oil for irritable bowel syndrome
Image: Shutterstock

The most preferred and effective oil for irritable bowel syndrome.

Why use?

It has antispasmodic, antifungal and antibacterial properties. It can relieve stress too which is a significant factor of IBS. The active ingredient in peppermint oil, which is menthol has calcium channel blocking properties which can regulate colonic smooth muscle movement (2).

How to use?

Generally, people take enteric-coated tablets of peppermint oil. One should make sure to consume it just before a meal, as it can cause heartburn. Also, add a drop of peppermint oil to an herbal tea for relief.

2. Blackseed oil

This oil is a natural wonder oil. Some studies have shown it to relieve various diseases.

Why use?

Its numerous medicinal properties include:

  • Antispasmodic
  • Antiviral
  • Antibacterial
  • Antifungal
  • Antihypertensive
  • Insulin-sensitizing

How to use?

Add a few drops of the black seed oil to a cup of green tea and drink twice a day for significant relief.

3. Ginger oil

ginger essential oil for irritable bowel syndrome
Image: Shutterstock

Ginger is a powerful herb. Its oil can also be used in digestive disorders.

Why Use?

It has antiseptic, antibacterial and antifungal properties. It eases the pain in the intestinal tract.

How to use?

You can add a few drops of ginger oil to a warm bath for relief from the symptoms.

4. Cumin oil

This is pain reliever oil; it has excellent antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Why Use?

It speeds up digestion by stimulating the gastric juices in the stomach and offers relief from the irritable bowel.

How to Use?

Let look at a recipe to use cumin oil with other oils:

Ingredients

  • 8 drops ginger essential oil
  • 6 drops sweet orange essential oiloil to an herbal tea for relief
  • 5 drops cumin essential oil
  • 4 drops tarragon essential oil
  • 2 oz jojoba oil

Mix all the essential oils and store it in a dark place. Apply eight drops from this mixture on the stomach area whenever you notice the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

5. Fennel oil

fennel essential oil for irritable bowel syndrome
Image:ShutterStock

Fennel essential oil offers significant relief from the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome through its anti-acidic nature.

Why use?

This oil has the unique quality of to relieve abdominal pain by releasing trapped gases from the stomach. It’s also anti-spasmodic and kills and traps bacteria that affect gut health.

How to use?

Take a few drops of the fennel oil, mix with some coconut oil and massage over the abdominal area.

6. Anise oil

Anise is a Mediterranean herb. It’s the primary use as a digestive aid whose taste is much similar to that of licorice.

Why use?

It is useful in treating digestive problems like stomach pain, gas, diarrhea and bloating.

How to Use?

One can add a drop of anise essential oil to herbal tea and consume it.

7. Thieves oil

This is a unique blend of essential oils specially made for treating irritable bowel syndrome.

Why to use?

It is also known as the “four knives.” the oils mixture are rosemary, clove eucalyptus, and lemon essential oils. These are great oils well known for their antifungal and antibacterial properties. They are antioxidant-rich, especially clove oil and sometimes it’s used even to treat cold and flu with this oil.

How to use it?

The consumption can be through a tablet.

[Read: Thieves Oil Uses & Benefits ]

8. Oregano oil

oregano essential oil for irritable bowel syndrome
Image; Shutterstock

This is an aphrodisiac. It enhances the mood too.

Why use?

Often in us as a stress reliever oil which is a significant cause of irritable bowel syndrome. It’s used to relieve leaky gut syndrome and reduce inflammation in the intestine.

How to use?

Add a few drops to warm water and ingest directly. Use this mix twice every day.

Do’s and Don’ts

  • Because the oils are so very powerful and potent, one needs to check on the safety of these oils especially with ingesting them. But, with careful use and professional advice, the risks can be minimized.
  • Check the quality of these oils before buying, and one has always to remember to mix these essential oils with a suitable carrier oil like olive oil or coconut oil before application to partake maximum of its benefits.

Precautions

  1. Always use top-quality essential oils or therapeutic grade oil. It should be certified as organic and100% pure.
  2. Keep essential oils away from sensitive areas. Essential oils are considered as nature’s powerhouses as they are 40-50 times more potent than the plant it’s extracted from.
  3. Avoid using or applying essential oils to sensitive areas of the body, including the genitals or area near your eyes.
  4. Always test new oils to make sure there are no reactions before applying. A patch test is still advisable to check if the essential oil causes any redness or itching or any irritation.
  5. Never heat essential oils. What you maybe are not aware of is that boiling these oils ruins their healing characteristics.

Home Remedies for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

  1. Yogurt: Add one tsp of psyllium husk to a bowl of yogurt and add some sugar. Consumer twice daily till the symptoms subside
  2. Flaxseed: Make a fine powder of the flaxseeds and consume one tsp daily with warm water in the night.
  3. Ginger and Honey: Crush a one-inch piece of ginger and make a fine paste. Mix it with some honey and consume one tsp twice every day with warm water.

Thus, the usage of essential oils for irritable bowel syndrome is a natural and organic way of treating this nuisance. It comes with its baggage but using essential oils will help you relax your mind and body. If used correctly, essential oils can effectively cure your irritable bowel syndrome.


FAQ’s

1. Can drinking more water help IBS?

Yes, keeping yourself hydrated with fluids is the best way to treat IBS. Water helps in keeping your stomach distress at bay.

2. Is apple cider vinegar good for IBS?

Having a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with a glass of water a day can heal the lining of your digestive tract.

3. Is vitamin b12 good for IBS?

Vitamin B12 is known to be very good for your bowel health. Taking vitamin B 12 supplements can alleviate your IBS symptoms.

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