Diet and Health FAQ

Tagged As: Natural Cure For Ibs

Question:
I just read in a magazine, in an article about remedies for stomach problems, that taking peppermint pills will sooth your stomach when you are having a bad day. I remember learning in nutrition class that peppermint is a natural remedy for an upset stomach. Any ever try these??

Answer:
Yes, a LOT.  It works. yes not pills...fresh mint...grown at home...used to just buy mint tea...now we have some mint and brought it in the house and I chew on it here and there. It does not get rid of bad pain...but it helps nausea...it calms the stomach and is good on mild cramping... and it tastes good unlike just about anything else which helps…anyone for mint golitely? Peppermint has long been recognized as soothing for the stomach etc...however, a word of caution, just because it's natural doesn't necessarily mean it works for everyone.  my GI put me on peppermint pills (they apparently relax the bowels)  I had great peppermint breath, but they made my urine really really burn on the way out, so I had to stop....this doesn’t happen to everyone, so they're worth a try I've also heard that ginger is a good natural remedy.  Has anyone tried it? According to the following article http://pharminfo.com/pubs/msb/peppermint253.html a recent meta-analysis (a statistical summary of many studies) in the American Journal of Gastroenterology states that while Peppermint Oil does have an effect on the GI system, and some studies do show that it helps IBS, there is still not enough strict scientific evidence to decide if Peppermint Oil is an effective treatment for IBS. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders, accounting for approximately 2.4 to 3.5 million physician visits each year in the United States. This high incidence of IBS contributes significantly to health care costs. The cause of IBS is unknown, making it difficult to develop an evidence-based treatment. Current treatments include muscle relaxants, bulking agents, high fiber diets, psychotherapy, and antidepressants. Essential oils have marked antispasmodic properties. The active portion of peppermint oil, menthol, has calcium-channel blocking activity and pharmacological actions similar to dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers. Many over-the-counter drugs for the treatment of IBS currently contain peppermint oil. Pittler et al performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of several studies to summarize the current evidence from random controlled trials to determine the usefulness of peppermint oil for treating IBS. Eight studies were included in the study. Five double- blind, placebo controlled, randomized trials were included in the meta-analysis. The meta- analysis showed a significant (p