Can Aromatherapy help alleviate the symptoms of IBS?

Aromatherapy is a very ancient branch of herbal medicine. It involves the use of the pure essential oils of plants to treat a physical or mental condition.

The Medical Profession and Aromatherapy
I remember realizing that it had received endorsement from the medical profession while visiting my grandmother in the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, about fifteen years ago.

Posters describing the different essential oils and their methods of use were pinned on the walls of some of the wards and hallways. Of course, it was not supposed to be used instead of surgery, prescribed drugs or treatments, but in conjunction with them.

Aromatherapy for IBS
When one suffers from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, it is quite natural to rub your stomach, we do that from a young age if we have a tummy ache. Some essential oils are said to be helpful to the symptoms of IBS, having a relaxing and antispasmodic affect.

Massage is the most effective way of getting the oils into the body, and the easiest way, with an attack of IBS, is to use one or two drops in a basic cream or lotion ( like Baby Lotion ) and to rub it gently in circular motions over your stomach.

While a professional aroma therapy massage is said to have a much more healing effect, most of us cannot wait that long.

(Essential oils should not be overused. If you use a coin-sized amount of cream, you should add no more than two drops of essential oil. The oils are highly concentrated )

Certain essential oils are alleged to help with the pain and cramps of IBS, particularly:

Lavender
Clary Sage
Chamomile
Peppermint
Melissa

( Clary Sage and Melissa should not be used during pregnancy )

Certain of the above, such as Lavender and Chamomile, are also well known for their calming properties.

Since stress and anxiety contribute to IBS, treating those problems directly may also indirectly treat IBS.

I have found Lavender and Clary Sage to be be particularly effective, as is Neroli, Frankincense, Sandalwood and Rose.

In using the above I was tackling the symptoms of stress and anxiety rather than IBS, but if my anxiety is reduced, I have found that my IBS is also lessened in severity and frequency.

Conclusion
After using essential oils, my view is that aroma therapy can be effective in the treatment of IBS, not as a swift cure-all or painkiller, but as a gentle and relaxing aid, when massaged gently over the stomach area.

The pain of IBS is caused by the spasm of the intestines and anything that can aid in relaxing ( or preventing ) those spasms is helpful.

Please remember that some oils should not be used if ,You are pregnant,Have high blood pressure or epilepsyHave asthma, hay fever or an allergy

Can Aromatherapy help alleviatethe symptoms of IBS?

Can Aromatherapy help alleviate
the symptoms of IBS?