5 Ways to Reduce Bowel Pain

Bowel pain can interfere with your daily life, causing not just physical discomfort but also stress as the symptoms interfere with how you feel every day and with your normal routines.

It's critical to first see a physician to determine the cause of your bowel pain to make sure you're not suffering from any serious conditions associated with bowel discomfort. Some of those conditions, like a bowel obstruction, may require medical intervention.

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Oftentimes, a medical practitioner can give you recommendations for dealing with the cramping, abdominal pain, gas, bloating, and diarrhea that are typical symptoms of bowel pain.

Here are five ways to relieve bowel pain, but remember that each is dependent upon the cause of the bowel pain:

1. Laxatives. If constipation isn't relieved after you've added fiber and water to your diet, The Mayo Clinic said you may consider buying over-the-counter laxatives. But the website stressed that is not the first option to consider when you have bowel pain.

"If your doctor recommends laxatives, ask what type is best for you, and for how long you should take them. Laxatives are best taken short-term only, because you don't want to start relying on them to go to the bathroom," the medical website said. "Also ask how to ease off laxatives when you no longer need them. Stopping them too abruptly can affect your colon's ability to contract."

2. Probiotics. Taking a supplement containing a variety of strains of beneficial bacteria has been shown to alleviate some symptoms of conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, although more research is needed. If you try probiotics, look for one with the bacterium Bifidobacterium infantis in it, which is the most-researched strain to treat IBS symptoms, WebMD said.

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3. Fiber. This step, along with drinking more water, is often recommended for people who have persistent problems with constipation. Keep in mind that studies about adding fiber to your diet are conflicting regarding whether it helps in treating IBS or may actually cause the symptoms to get worse, WebMD said. Again, understanding the source of your bowel pain is critical.

4. Peppermint oil. Peppermint, along with a few other herbal supplements like ginger, has been shown to affect diarrhea and other abdominal symptoms. "Research is fairly solid on the subject, with one group of researchers concluding that peppermint oil is more effective and benign than drugs for GI spasm and could be a drug of first choice for IBS patients with mild constipation or diarrhea," WebMD said. Peppermint may make heartburn worse. For those who don't tolerate it, a doctor told WebMD that a pectin-chamomile mixture may work.

5. Exercise. Getting moving can be helpful in treating constipation and other bowel pains, and Everyday Health recommended this option for treating menstrual-related gut pain. Aerobic exercise is good for period cramping, but also try yoga or other meditative types of exercise, the website said.

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