Approximately 10 to 15 percent of Americans suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), according to the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. In addition to traditional medications, some patients rely upon an oil derived from peppermint plants to help alleviate their symptoms.
Function
Natural herbal practitioners credit peppermint oil with stopping the spasms in the digestive tract that cause stomach pain, explains RxList. For this reason, practitioners recommend pepper oil encased in an enteric-coated capsule that allows the oil to reach the stomach of patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.
Clinical Evidence
A 2001 study at the University of Missouri-Columbia found that 75 percent of children who suffered from irritable bowel syndrome experienced fewer symptoms when treated with peppermint oil capsules. A 2007 study at G d'Annunzio University in Chieti-Pescara, Italy, found that 75 percent of adults treated with IBS received relief from peppermint oil.
Time Frame
The University of Missouri and G d'Annunzio University clinical trials conducted with peppermint oil found that patients began noticing changes in symptoms within two to four weeks.
Dosage
For irritable bowel syndrome, the University of Maryland Medical Center's recommended dosage of peppermint oil capsules was one to two capsules that contain .2 ml of oil, two to three times daily.
Considerations
Although clinical evidence seems to suggest that peppermint oil is an effective treatment for patients with irritable bowel syndrome, the University of Maryland Medical Center cautions that more research is needed to definitively prove its effectiveness.
Warning
If you have a history of hiatal hernia, gastroesophageal reflux disease or are pregnant or nursing, avoid taking peppermint oil, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center.
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