| |  | | Chronic Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Answered by: Christine Dennis
Question from: Bonnie
Posted on: January 28, 2008
My daughter, who is 25 years old, has suffered with IBS for most of her life. She has tried every thing ever suggested to treat it with little to no success until she started taking Dr. Schulze’s Intestinal Formula #1 regularly. She does all the "right" things to prevent IBS such as, drinking lots of water, eating high fiber foods, exercising regularly, etc. My question is: Is it safe to take this product long term? It contains: Curacao and Cape Aloe leaf, Senna leaf and pod, Cascara Sagrada aged bark, Oregon Grape root, Hawaiian Yellow Ginger root, Garlic bulb, and Habanero pepper. It also contains some cellulose. One capsule contains: 575mg and she takes three every day. She used to have to take four a day in order to have a regular bowel movement. She is hoping she can cut it back further, but time will tell. I will appreciate any information you can give me. I hope this is not having some unknown harmful side effect in either short term or long term use.
I am sorry but I am not able to comment on proprietary products. What I can tell you is that many laxatives are only meant to be used on a short term basis as they can be habit forming, that is the bowel stops moving on its own and depends on the herbs to move it. I can appreciate however, that this remedy has helped your daughter but for her long term health, she really must get this problem resolved as this is just a symptoms of something more going on in her body.
It is unclear as to what other symptoms your daughter is experiencing other than irregular bowel movements so it if difficult to make other suggestions.
There are herbs in this formula that help to tone the bowel and this is very important for good bowel health and function. There are other herbs that are anti-inflammatory on the bowel - again really important. And there are herbs that are warming and these help to gently stimulate the bowels. With many irritable bowel symptoms reducing inflammation and toning the bowels are key issues.
In my practice, a really strong tea made from fennel seed (1 part), peppermint leaf (1 part) and ginger root (1/4 to 1/2 part) has done wonders for many patients with IBS type symptoms. This tea can be drank 3 to 4 times per day. In cases of pain and spasms, 1 part valerian root can be added to the above mentioned tea blend. In really severe cases 1 part powdered wild yam root can be added as well.
In your daughter’s case, she can slowly wean off her formula that she has been taking whilst taking the tea I mentioned. If her bowels are still not moving on their own, it might be necessary to work with a colon therapist whilst doing to the tea to retrain the bowels.
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