IBS and Aloe Vera Juice
#232995 - 12/21/05 05:10 AM
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After months of agonizing tests and no help from 3 gastro's, it looks like I have IBS. Not as severe as some but it is definitely impacting my life. Epidodes of slight cramping and diarhea are mostly my problem. My family Dr. gave me Librax although I haven't taken it cause i'm nervous about the side effects. I went to a Naturopathic Dr. and she told me to put Aloe Vera Juice in my water twice a day cause it heals the intestines. Does anyone know if the Aloe Vera Juice will actually help or should I stay away from it? And has anyone taken Librax and if so should I be nervous? The fealing of desperation is overwhelming..
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There are many posts about Aloe on the site. It would be good to do a little web reserch also. Not everyone reacts the same to meds and herbs.
This should take you to the news letter.
Aloe IBS News Leter
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If one end don’t get yah, the other will.
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I take Librax. I haven't really had much trouble with side effects from it. I started off with just one per day, but during "attack mode" I increase it to 3/day. I also see a naturopath and I take a probiotic and herbal formulas (Nature's Sunshine IBS formula and Slippery Elm.) My new GI doc is talking about taking me off the Librax because he doesn't like the side effects, but I'm not sure about that one! I guess the only thing to say is.....
Welcome to the club! 
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Are you a C or a D? My doc put me on librax, but I'm afraid it will increase my C..I'm a big C person. I'm on Miralax and think the Librax would cause the C to be even worse.
Quote:
I take a probiotic and herbal formulas (Nature's Sunshine IBS formula and Slippery Elm.
Which is the probiotic and which is the herbal formulas? I'm confused here. Where did you get the Nature Sunshine IBS formula? Is that the probiotic?
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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I just posted this somewhere else.....my doctor told me that Librax didn't work and when I asked him if I could try it he straight-up told me "NO". Is it the side effects they're concerned about?? The only reason he gave me was that it didn't work worth a DA~M, (straight from the horses' mouth). So, I was kind of upset about that. It makes me wonder, then......why are soo many people on it??? It must be doing something right!!! I"m sooo ticked that he won't let me try it that I am going to ask my psychiatrist about it when I go in January. If he feels like it's an appropriate drug for my anxiety can he give it to me or does it have to be prescribed by a GI doc???? I REALLY WANT TO TRY THIS MED!!! It's like being a kid and being told "no".......you want to do it anyway, even more than you did before being told "NO"!!! I wanna know what they hype is all about!!!
Michelle 
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IBS-D. Hiatal Hernia, GERD
Unstable
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It says on the internet that if you have a hiatal hernia not to take Librax. I have a hiatal hernia, so maybe my doctor isn't as much of an idiot as I thought he was.....maybe he is looking out for me. ????
Michelle
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IBS-D. Hiatal Hernia, GERD
Unstable
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I am D. But not all the time. One Dr. told me it might not even be IBS, it might be chronic colitis!!! The Naturopathic Dr. is ordering some IBS repair kit for me and I found a Dr. in Minnesota who says he can help. I don't know if any of this is good for you or can actually help. I'm thinking I might just need to try the Librax when I have an attack and see what happens.. Thanks for your reply
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Okay, but Quote:
Which is the probiotic and which is the herbal formulas? I'm confused here. Where did you get the Nature Sunshine IBS formula? Is that the probiotic?
What is this Doctor in Minnesota going to do with you? When you say you will take the Librax when having an attack, do you define attack as D?
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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Yes I do, which I know sounds minimal compared to the suffering a lot of people go through. I am confused myself as to wether or not it actually is IBS that I have. I get slight cramping in my lower left quadrant a lot but it isn't painful. Monthly cramps are worse to be honest. And if I eat something I obviously shouldn't, I get D. That's what my syptoms are. I was very sick over the summer with D and severe nausea, lost 30 pounds cause I wouldn't eat. When I did everything just went through me. That's how it started. I was like that for 2-3 months and then it just stopped and now I just get a little crampy and D if I eat certain foods. I noticed on Halloween I ate chocolate and nothing happened to me but 2 weeks ago I ate one to many cookies and had D and vomited. I am confused about all of this. 2 Gastro's said it was IBS, 1 Gastro said he doesn't know and my family Dr. said he thinks it chronic colitis. I have no idea if it really is IBS or colitis or what and how to treat it. This is the name of that website that the Dr. says he can help, he's in Ohio (my mistake)- IBS Treatment – Dr. Dahlman Online Thank you for replying...
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Earlier this year I used the Aloe Vera Juice (strawberry kiwi flavored) and at first it worked great, for like 2-3 months. I still had an episode everynow and then but nothing like before. But eventually my attacks started to make more appearances, so I gave up on the juice. It is hard to say if it was the juice that helped or I was just in a period of time where my body was doing ok, which happens about every 2-3 months for about 2 weeks. I would defintely give it shot and see how it does for you, even if it is just a period of rest, it is better then nothing.
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Have you had tests done like colonoscopy, etc. to rule out any problems?
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Thank you for your reply. It helps to know someone tried it.
I will give it a try and see what happens... 
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Yes. I had a colo, upper endoscopy, abdominal cat scan and ultrasound, blood work, stool work up and all is normal...
So the Dr.'s are clueless..
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I've been drinking aloe vera juice for almost 2 weeks and its helping me a lot really. My aunt drinks it for acid reflux and she says it also helps, and I've read many times, here for example that aloe vera can be good for IBS so I decided to give it a try. Btw I drink natural juice that I make by myself, not bottled one.
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Welcome to the board,
Presumably you are IBS-C (i.e. constipation predominant) and you use aleo vera to help with the C. There is plenty of misinformation about aloe vera and IBS on the Web.
Heather has an excellent write-up on aloe vera and IBS in on of her newsletters title Aloe Vera and IBS "Can aloe vera help my IBS symptoms? Is it safe?" in which she says the following:
"Who would have thought aloe vera could be bad for you? Keep reading to learn just why it can be downright dangerous."
"Because aloe is well-known as a gentle external treatment for minor burns and skin irritations, it's easy to assume that it would be safe for use internally as well. This is not necessarily true. Even though aloe vera is a plant, and thus "natural", it is still classified by the FDA as a Class 1 harsh stimulant laxative. There are substances called anthroquinones and anthrones in aloe, which produce a laxative effect by increasing colonic peristalsis and intestinal water content, by opening chloride channels of the colonic membrane to cause a net reduction of liquid absorption by the colon.
"In plain English, this means that aloe causes faster and stronger contractions of the colon - something that people with IBS are already overly prone to, and which can cause violent abdominal cramps, painful spasms, and diarrhea."
There is plenty more information in the article. One should think about the possible side effects before using aleo vera with IBS. 
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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
FODMAP Chart & Cheatsheet
The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
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