Peppermint oil treatment for irritable bowel syndrome
Although this post is old, a comment by a reader provided an opportunity to update the information.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal disorder that often causes abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, and diarrhea, sometimes alternating with constipation. People with IBS experience substantial discomfort and lost time from work.
The rationale for taking peppermint oil is that it relaxes the muscles of the intestinal tract, which relieves spasms and cramping. Peppermint oil is composed primarily of menthol and menthone.
But does it really work?
It appears so.
A review of 16 published studies found that peppermint oil (1 to 2 capsules taken 3 times daily over 24 weeks) might be the drug of choice in IBS patients with non-serious constipation or diarrhea. The “overall success” was 58% (range 39% to 79%) for peppermint oil and 29% (range 10% to 52%) for placebo.
How does peppermint oil compare to other drugs?
Alternative treatments such as anticholinergics, 5-HT3 antagonists, and 5-HT4 agonists did not offer superior improvement rates in studies that compared them to peppermint oil.
Peppermint oil can cause heartburn or allow food to reflux from the stomach back into the esophagus. For this reason, many commercially available peppermint oil products are enteric coated so that the contents of the tablet are released after the tablet enters the small intestine.
Because there is a risk of reflux, people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) should consult their physician before using peppermint oil.
Photo: Healin’ Hollers
8/30/06 19:59 JR
sfindlay said:
on February 21, 2009 at 1:28 pm
I have used capsules, which are enterically coated peppermint, for years. I can’t say I have noticed any real difference. It has not helped my very loose stools which are the basis for my ‘IBS’ diagnosis, but then again I don’t believe that what I am suffering is ‘IBS’ – so eating my body’s weight in peppermint is not going to help.
Too bad the doctors have thrown up their hands!
Stuart
Colon Cancer News & Discussion Forum
JR said:
on February 21, 2009 at 4:30 pm
I noticed that at the Colon Cancer News & Discussion Forum the link to find a gastroenterologist charges a fee. Another option, if you’re interested in getting a second opinion, is the American Medical Association (AMA) website. Their doctor search service is free.
Also, consider that a more recent study than the one summarized above concluded that the response to peppermint oil isn’t immediate. It might take up to 4 weeks of treatment to see a response with Mintoil enteric coated tablets. The good news in this study is that the response was maintained over 8 weeks.
Another recent review of peppermint oil concluded it was more effective than to placebo and should be considered among the commonly used treatments of fiber and antispasmodic drugs.
JR