Expert: Dr. Kristina Conner - 9/2/2006

Question
I experience a lot of pain making bowel movements after eating spicy foods, even those that only seem mildly spicy to me.  Can you offer any nutrition suggestions for preventing or counteracting this (aside from completely eliminating all spices from my diet)?  Or are there any sort of supplements I can take to make my bowels less sensitive?  Some articles I've read about Ayurveda have recommended something called Triphala.  Would that help my situation (if you're familiar with it)?

I should add that I don't generally have too much of a problem with indigestion, and I already take a probiotic complex twice a day.

Thanks for your help!

Answer
Scott,
Thanks for your question.  
There are some symptomatic things that may help decrease the pain.  Eating dairy products or fiberous bulky foods (like brown rice) can decrease the burning due to the spices.  Taking a digestive enzyme may also help break down the food better so it's not so irritating.  Triphala is a fiber supplement that may be helpful, as any type of flax or pysllium seed- based fibers, also.  More likely, though, this will help improve digestive function for the long term when taken over time.  This will allow your system to be less reactive with all types of food.  Probiotics and GI healing/ soothing herbs like licorice, aloe juice, slippery elm root, and marshmallow root can all be helpful, too.  
A homeopathic remedy than may also help is called Nux Vomica.  This can be taken 15 minutes before or after a spicy meal to decrease any indigestion or adverse effects of the food.  It can be taken as often as needed.  
In health,
Dr Conner