Chamomile tablets?

[Kpops]

I've been reading that chamomile tablets are good for anxiety, which I think is one of the main reasons I suffer with Ibs d. Has anyone tried them, if so what's your thoughts?

[Gingercookie]

Hi there

I'm a regular of the IBS-anxiety-IBS cycle and, if I'm honest, I don't quite know what came first. They both feed each other back. Chamomile (either in tablets or any other form) can help you calm for a while, but your body will soon get used to it and it will cease to have any effect. Also, chamomile taken daily or in big doses can upset your stomach and make your stool loosen.

I'd recommend that you use them sparsely, when you're particularly anxious. You can also use beverages like sleepy time teas and such. But do it seldom. The best way to tackle anxiety in my experience is CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), which techniques you can learn on your own, and mindfulness, which requires an effort on your side to learn but is incredibly helpful in the long run.

Hope it helps!

G

[dinghy]

I agree with Gingercookie that CBT is really the way to go for long-term fix to anxiety, its management and therefore less triggers to your IBS. I have stress induced IBS and know this is true in my case. I managed to rationalise my anxiety and manage it now without professional help but guidance is available from CBT practitioners. There is also a good book by a psychologist that I'm working with currently that may help you (and co-written by Prof Dancey ex-IBS Network) - "IBS - Navigating Your Way to Recovery" by hammersmithbooks.co.uk and looks at the brain / gut axis and many self-help strategies to manage daily symptoms including anxiety. And of course the IBS Network itself will have information on its forum theibsnetwork.org .

I also work with the British Herbal Medicine Association and some herbal medicine manufacturers and chamomile is used by medical herbalists as a calming herb. However, you may also find valerian and avena sativa helpful. There are tinctures or tablets available for both. I haven't used chamomile myself as I believe quality of chamomile products is hard to verify. However, valerian I have used to good effect to help me through stressful times and I still keep some to hand. I use RelaxHerb or A.Vogel Dormeasan from Boots, and in my handbag I have A.Vogel AvenaCalm from avogel.co.uk which also has a useful stress hub that has lots of nutritional and herbal tips. Foods containing B Vitamins for instance have a calming affect on the nervous system.

Most of my anxiety is connected to travel / meetings / eating out - I use silicolgel to manage my upset stomach problems before any event linked to these and it has been my saviour. I tend to use the herbal remedies at nighttime when stress effects me most waking in the middle of the night - I simply have to identify when I'm feeling stressed and take them before bedtime - this has 99% ended waking in the night, breathless, palpitations and needing the toilet and agitated and unable to sleep again.

Hope the above helps.

[christina1952 in reply to dinghy]

Hi - how much silicol gel do you take and does it help with the "Big D"? I do take Imodium which has been my saviour over the years if I have to go to meetings etc. but they also make me wee a lot! Also, can you take the sleep aids if you are taking Citalopram as I get the night waking problems as well if I'm stressed.

Many thanks

[dinghy in reply to christina1952]

I take 1 tablespoonful the night before a meeting and one on the morning of the meeting. You can take up to 3 tablespoonfuls a day. Maybe if you feel you have severe diarrhoea you could try taking 3 tablespoons across the day before and one on the morning? It's a bit trial and error. Regarding taking sleep aids with other medicines I don't know the answer other than that if you buy a herbal medicine which is licensed and displays the THR symbol on its packaging, it should tell you if there are any contraindications. If in doubt you should ask your GP. There is also a natural tryptophan chocolate flavour drink called Zenbev which I haven't tried as valerian works for me. It's made from pumpkin and so it might not have any interaction with your medicine but safest bet is to ask your doctor or email the companies that make the products for advice. Hope that helps. You can take silicolgel with medicines as long as it's an hour before or an hour after taking Meds. I still carry an immodium instant just in case but haven't had to use any for as long as I can remember now. It's still a comfort to know it's there though!

[christina1952 in reply to dinghy]

Thanks you so much - have a bottle but have been nervous to try it to much!

Am going to take your advice and give it a go today. Imodium are rally good but I worry they will become ineffective if I take too often. I also think the Citalopram, although has staved off any major depressive episodes for 10 years, seems to make me very anxious and I don't feel emotions like I should either good or bad. I've done much better on some of the old tricyclic ones. Have been on it a long time so maybe need to try something else. I feel that the IBS D has been a major contributor to it in any case.

Will let you know how I get on!

[dinghy in reply to christina1952]

Good luck and fingers crossed

[Worry-not]

To be honest I've tried pretty much everything available. I have IBS-D but mine has been diagnosed as stress induced IBS. I do a lot of driving so toilets are never really available and too embarrassed for an accident behind the wheel. Also I suffered with a bad back. I explained all this to the consultant I was under. I was prescribed 10 mg of amitriptoline I have to be honest it worked a treat. One tablet before bed every night I'd have the most amazing sleep wake the next and aniexty gone and pretty much a controllable bowel the odd flare up of a morning but controlled. Any way I had to stop using the amitriptoline tablets as I was very tired the next day so I was put on nortriptoline which I'm on but not tired the next day and Ive been great for months. It's not a cure but in stressed related IBS I feel it does give you some control of your life back. I also found if I was on holiday everything would go back to normal and be like I'm not an IBS sufferer. I hope you find some of this helpful.

[Kpops in reply to Worry-not]

Thanks for your reply, I think I'm reluctant to go to docs and have them prescribe something for fear of coming dependant on it, but then again if it makes life easier I will certainly consider it.

[Worry-not in reply to Kpops]

No I agree with you it's not nice to be dependent on tablets but pending on your occupation and availability of a toilet it certainly does help. I know it's not a cure but when in work it's not always possible for me to get to a toilet. I suppose you could alternate like a week on them a week off them or a month on them and a month off them. I myself may go a week or two before I put a repeat prescription in and don't have any real problems.

[Steph83 in reply to Worry-not]

If your travelling a lot for work with having medically diagnosed I.b.s you can apply for a radar key which might help with the stress of planning your journey/day knowing you have it for an emergency?

[Hidden]

I have terrible depression and axiety and like you I know im my worse enemy.

if I get an upset/shock then I get the runs and suicidal thoughts follow.

I am in the care of the local mental health team.

i am on citalopram and sleeping tabs too.

Do you get help too ? I am also having cognative behavural therapy ( CBT )

[Kpops in reply to Hidden]

No I've never had help, I think the ibs started first, which has now made me anxious about going out, so know I find its the anxiety bringing on the ibs. It's like a vicious circle.

I'm the same, if I get some bad news I'm straight on the loo.

Hope things will improve with you.