New research at the University of South Alabama in Mobile demonstrated that a slow-release peppermint oil (IBgard) greatly reduced severe abdominal symptoms of IBS in less than a month.
When patients with severe or unbearable abdominal pain took peppermint oil for four weeks, they reported a 79.4 percent reduction in symptoms, compared to 40.2 percent of patients taking a placebo.
"I have begun to prescribe this peppermint oil formula for my patients with irritable bowel syndrome," lead researcher Brooks Cash, M.D., told MedPage Today.
"We had no discontinuations in either the placebo or the active ingredient arm of the trial due to problems with the agents. In fact, we had some patients who, after completion of the trial, told me they wanted to continue the treatment. We had a lot of positive feedback from the patients."
Dr. Cash added that some patients reported some relief after just 24 hours of treatment.
The findings were presented at the annual Digestive Disease Week meeting.
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