Peppermint oil and irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a condition that includes a range of symptoms such as abdominal bloating, abdominal pain and altered bowel habits.

IBS is often referred to as a 'nuisance' rather than a 'serious medical condition' – something that might be argued by those who suffer from IBS!

For IBS sufferers, finding an effective treatment for their condition is often an ongoing ordeal.

A recent study in Italy adds weight to the view that peppermint oil may reduce IBS symptoms. The researchers found that the administration of two enteric-coated peppermint oil tablets (each containing 225mg peppermint oil) approximately one hour before a meal over a four-week period, significantly reduced IBS symptoms.

This effect also remained another four weeks after the participants had stopped taking the peppermint oil – suggesting that there was some kind of enduring improvement.

Some previous studies have shown no effect from peppermint oil, but the Italian researchers believe their study design was better.

They took care to include only people with confirmed IBS symptoms and they administered the enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules 1 hour before meals to give the best possibility of the capsules making it through the stomach intact.

Source: Digestive and Liver Disease, June 2007