Hello everyone -I read Josh's post about going on an overseas trip and it reminded me of how I used to be horrified of traveling because of the fear of eating the wrong foods, not knowing where the bathrooms were, having no energy, etc.Since this is my first visit to this site, and I have not read too many of the posts, forgive me if you've heard about the "cure" I found for my IBS about a year and a half ago.I'll try not to make this post too lengthy, but after years of suffering from IBS I found what I believe to be a cure for IBS. I use "cure" loosely because the natural substance I use for IBS is something I'll most likely use for the rest of my life, and "cure" is maybe a word meant for a one-time treatment, but now I only use it a few times per week.The natural substance I use is Oregano oil - in it's purest form.I'll tell you folks that I tried everything the M.D.'s threw at me, the last drug being Bentyl, AND I went to several Naturopathic Doc's (all the ND's said I had candida) and nothing worked. I did try the very strict diets and that did help somewhat, but if I went off the wagon and had anything with sugar or wheat in it, my IBS came right back. You all know doubt have been through it all as well.Like most IBS sufferer's, I'm sure you know what kind of a day you're going to have right when you wake up in the morning. God I don't miss those days when I'd wake up and I knew all of my energy would be zapped for the rest of the day because of the pain and just plain uncomfortableness.Anyway, Oregano oil works!!! When I started using it, I'd put 4 or 5 drops in about a fourth of a glass of water (it goes down hard like an intense shot of alcohol) and I did this about 4 times/day - or more if I was really having a bad day with IBS. Looking back now, 4 times/day may have been overkill and I wouldn't do that again. Still I didn't have any side affects from using it 4 or more times a day. BUT, my IBS symptoms were gone, TOTALLY, in about 3 days.I couldn't believe it. My mom has Chron's disease and since Oregano oil is a natural, but very potent herb, I got her to try it - after much trepidation on her part. She used it twice and had her first non-diarrheal bowel movement in 15 years.Like I said, since I haven't read all of the posts here, I can't believe that more people don't know about using Oregano oil for many intestinal problems.I was lucky in that I live next door to a reflexologist who mentioned that Oregano oil helps with all kinds of intestinal diseases, but her method was to mix it with a massage oil and working it into vitaflex or accupuncture points on the bottom of the feet. She didn't really use it that often for her patients, but used other oils on the many feet of her patients with IBS, but they kept coming back to her, which kind of told me that "if they kept needing to come back, maybe the oils weren't working.I asked her about the oils you could take orally and she gave me a pamphlet with many different kinds of oils with each stating whether they could be used internally. I saw that Oregano oil could be taken orally so I went to her house and she gave me about a half a bottle (10 ml's) and I just used it right at her house. I made a huge, huge mistake in not mixing it with water, because my mouth was on fire for an hour - I don't even think it went down my throat.The next day, I think, I put about 5 drops in some water and downed it like a shot. It went down very hard and stung for about 10 seconds. I did it again that same night.I felt better the next day, but I was still a skeptic. I remember thinking there was no way this was going to work after everything I had already tried. But I knew that herbal remedies sometimes take months before they worked and I was going to try it anyway. I used it several times the next day and I knew it was beginning to work. I was very surprised that it started helping my IBS so quickly.Well, that's my little story and I hope that many of you, if you haven't already, find some Oregano oil. Don't get a tincture or Oregano oil that's mixed with other oils, like olive oil. I've tried the tinctures and the mixtures and they didn't work for me. Maybe they will for you though. If you go to the health food store, some of the pure Oregano oil says on the label "not for oral consumption," so you obviously don't want to use it. Also, remember that it goes down hard, but you get used to it. Also, never inhale while downing it, because your throat and lungs will feel like they're on fire for awhile.I can eat anything I want now, but if I eat too much sugar or junk food, I'll feel the IBS, but it's nothing like it was before and I'll just go take the oil and within 20 minutes, my intestines feel normal.I really only use about 2 doses per week now and it's nice to have energy to live my life. Oregano oil also has a great affect on your metabolism - I believe. I've lost unwanted pounds that I couldn't lose no matter how hard I worked out when my IBS was really bad. This kind of has me thinking that IBS may be associated with parasites and the Oregano kills the parasites and or bacteria. Since it may kill the unwanted bacteria it may also kill the good bacteria, so I eat soy yogurt with active cultures or you can get acidophillus (sp?). About the weight loss, I also know that many people with IBS have no problem losing weight because they have to be careful with what they eat. My mom has always been thin because of her Crohn's.I'm not a doctor and I don't want anyone to think they should stop taking any meds. I'm just saying what worked for me and a few other people I told about the Oregano. Please use caution if you want to start taking Oregano oil, but it is a natural herb and I've had absoletly NO side affects at all.This also is not a self-serving post on my part touting Oregano oil for my benefit. You can find it out there. Try the internet and make sure you're buying the PURE Oregano oil and that it can be taken orally. Also, you don't need some of the Oregano capsules that are being sold. They actually might work, but nothing compares to the oil. And again, remember how you have to get used to the harshness of downing it like a shot.One more thing - I went to China for a few weeks at the beginning of the year and took the Oregano oil with me. I needed it because some of the food there did irritate my bowels, but, yes I did my shot of Oregano oil, and all was fine.I hope this helps some of you.Sincerely,Kenya
The ONLY thing that FINALLY "cured" my IBS
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·Thank you Kenya for the post.I remember reading about oil of oregano and the anti-virul properties it has.
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·Thank you Kenya for the post.I remember reading about oil of oregano and the anti-virul properties it has.How severe was your IBS?I'm also a complete skeptic when it comes to herbal remedies. I recently used a Chinese remedy in a capsule and was so happy it was working, but it only worked for a few happy days.Regards,Susan
Susan,Severe? Well, my IBS drained all of my energy and I had many many bowel movements every day. I had diarrhea maybe a few times per week. I had a constant unpleasant feeling in my lower abdomen.IBS runs in my family. My mom has Crohn's and my brother has diverticulitis.I had IBS for 4 or so years before I found the Oregano oil. Coming to this board for the first time today, and I've been reading many of the back posts for the last hour now, I have not seen anything about Oregano. I'm very surprised. Take care,Kenya
Thank you Kenya, for taking the time to post this interesting information. I believe there was somebody who belongs to this board who was using oregano oil with some success. Would you mind, though, telling us what your symptoms were. Were you suffering from Diarrhea or Constipation or both. Were your episodes accompanied by pain or gas or both?Thanks------------------"Remember To Stop and Smell the Roses"Rose (C-type)
Hi Rose,I appreciate your reply. My symptoms were - very little energy, maybe 7-10 bowel movements per day, diarrhea a few times per week. Sometimes the stools were pencil thin. I also had constipation from time to time.....one time there was a blockage that I got through by massaging my abdomen and doing these "pulling my leg to my chest" exercises.I did have pain, but more often just a constant unpleasantness in my lower right abdomen (I think I mentioned lower left in an earlier reply - oops). Oh, a lot of gas....at will. The sharp pains I had were easier for me to deal with than the dull aches.Rose, I was only getting worse and worse. I had only one test in Dec 1999 - Barium and it was negative.Thanks again for your reply.Kenya
Hi Kenya,I'm glad you foud something that works for you and that you are willing to post about it. I saw an article about Oil of Oregano in The Times this week and have wondered if I should post it here (it wasn't about IBS, but still very interesting), here's the link: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,72-125531,00.html Fay
jbaz,Good question. My brother takes it with tomato juice simply because it's too harsh for him, but that works well for him - he has diverticulitis.I would think it would work with other liquids and have thought about trying it with juices, but I'm just used to the same old routine. Hope I helped.Kenya
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·Has anyone taken it for sinusitis and bronchial infections? I checked around and they talk about making a tea out of it. How does that work for the sinuses/lungs-thru your bloodstream? I also read that it is a powerful antiseptic, thins mucosal linings AND .....powerful antispasmodic. that all sounds so good to me!!
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Joan, wouldn't it be fantastic if oregano oil got rid of our sinusitis AND IBS! Hurrah!Kkenya, I'm a little concerned that oregano oil is pretty fiery stuff, surely it can irritate the stomach which may already be extra sensitive from IBS? susanp.s whilst I'm sure you're right in saying that there are no side effects (taken internally perhaps, with topical application there can be side effects), I'd like to make a general point about supplements and natural remedies. Which is, natural things can have side effects and potentially be harmful. It's not just 'medications' that do this. Just because it's natural doesn't mean it's safe or side-effect free.
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·kkenya,i think you just got dissed two times in a row! the girls are gangin' up on ya!i must say your post made me think. i've visited this site a few times, but i found it hard to ask for help for some reason.i've had IBS mainly d for 9 years. mostly gas bloating and sometimes thin stools. i drive a truck througout the state of california and it's unbelieveable how many times i've had to stop which has caused me to be late for deliveries. it's also not always easy for me to find a bathroom.a few months ago while driving i heard a radio show about oregano oil and how this md was saying how great it was in helping leeky gut syndrome and other bowl problems.i thought that since he was a doctor oregano oil might work but he was selling it whuch gave me doubts.i should have asked people on this board if they have heard about using oregano.thanks for posting your message. i think it at least gives me hope, even if it doesn't work for me. i'm kind of like yourself becasue i have tried everything but i'm getting worse.
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·KKenya and others-I'm very interested in trying this but don't want to lose time trying impotent versions or oil or oil mislabeled margoram or thyme. Does anyone know a reliable source for this oil? I'll make sure I post my reactions to the oil after a week. I'm ibs C(with occassional D) with mucous and spasms and gas.Hope this is the appropriate forum for this.Thx-Susan
KKenya, thanks for the advice about oregano oil. Will give it a try. Have tried all kinds of meds and other herbs, sure can't hurt to try this too. Research shows oregano oil to be good for lots of things especially to stop bacterias and viruses? Susan, a good but expensive source is the GNC stores. At $29.95 for a .45 oz bottle it's not cheap. Probably cheaper ordered from the 'net. Norb
Kenya, I'm so happy for your success! I can't believe I would actually try something else to relieve the gas, bloating and pain after meals but that's how we folks are I guess. I looked on the GNC website and only found one bottle of oregano oil but it had olive oil in it. If you find something else from them or another company on the internet could you list a link for us?------------------C-Type IBS (slow motility)
I got some at Whole Foods on my way home from work Friday. I took some after dinner, fell asleep at 9, woke up at 3am, had a snack and took some more. I can tell it's helping because I didn't get the odd little pains and sensations I usually get after eating. However, I'm getting some mild heartburn, I don't know if it's a side effect or coincidence. My symptoms are not as severe as most of yours, I think I'm going to try taking it once a day. I'll post results in a few weeks.Julia
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