Peppermint for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Published by tummyblogger August 9th, 2007 in Teas, IBS, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, IBS therapy, Adjuncts, IBS SymptomsOne of what I call “adjuncts” to the therapy (not treatment, per se) of IBS is peppermint. Another is teas, which I’ve talked about before. This week’s Newsweek has a short article on the researched benefits of smelling peppermint, and, when it comes to IBS, ingesting peppermint. Here is the IBS part of the article:
One of the best uses of peppermint may be to help relieve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, which can include abdominal cramping and pain and bloating. How does it work? Researchers say that menthol, the waxy, crystalline substance in peppermint oil, blocks calcium channels. This, in turn, helps relax muscles in the walls of the intestine. Sufferers can take the mint as a tea, or in peppermint capsules.1
If you are taking guaifenisin for the therapy of Fibromyalgia, you should not take most forms of peppermint at the same time–this includes mint toothpaste, mint breath drops, mint lifesavers and other candies, and mint tea. The jury is still out on whether enteric-coated–that is, gets through your stomach and small intestine into your large intestine (bowel) before it opens–peppermint capsules can be used. The capsules I mean are Heather’s Tummy Tamers™ Peppermint Oil Caps, available from Heather’s web site, and from Amazon.com as well. I also checked Vitacost.com for peppermint capsules, but all I saw were soft gels, which would dissolve in your stomach and not reach your gut.
- The column is “To Your Health,” and the URI is http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20181695/site/newsweek/, accessed on August 9, 2007. [↩]
4 Responses to “Peppermint for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)”
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I have since stumbled upon the following article that describes a very well done research study on the effectiveness of enteric coated peppermint capsules. You will find it here.
Enteric-coated capsules that only contain peppermint oil are available at this source, which I haven’t tried yet. I have tried the ones available at Heather’s web site, Help for IBS. Although they are named “Peppermint Capsules,” Heather’s site sells capsules that have, in addition to peppermint, ginger and fennel. Both ginger and fennel are herbs known to be helpful in IBS. They just haven’t been included in studies of the combined effectiveness of such capsules. I’d say, “Take your pick.”
Has anyone tried either kind of capsule?
I just started plain enteric peppermint today picked up for a health food store. If I am one of the 70% or so (depending on the study) who get some relief I will be buying it online by the case!!!
BTW Vitacost has at least has the kind I bought Pepogest by Nature’s Way as does several other places iherb.com, swansonsvitamins.com luckyvitamin.com vitaminshoppe.com mothernature.com Prices and shipping vary with most offering flat rate shipping.
Thanks for your helpful comment on enteric coated peppermint. Please feel welcome to come back and continue the dialogue.
All the best,
Tummyblogger
Hi unfortunately I had to stop the enteric peppermint. Even with the coating it aggravated my acid reflux beyond what my medication for it could control. I think it was helping the IBS but could only take it for 3 days :( Two days off the peppermint and the reflux was back to normal and the irritation in my throat gone.
I hope others don’t have bad acid reflux like me and so can give enteric coated peppermint a proper trial to see if it helps their IBS.