Complementary and alternative medicine for the irritable bowel syndrome

Suma Magge; Anthony Lembo

doi:10.1016/j.gtc.2010.12.005

Complementary and alternative medicine for the irritable bowel syndrome

Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2011 Mar;40(1):245-53. doi: 10.1016/j.gtc.2010.12.005.

Authors

Suma Magge¹, Anthony Lembo

Affiliation

¹ Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Rabb/Rose 1, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA.

PMID: 21333910
DOI: 10.1016/j.gtc.2010.12.005

Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common chronic gastrointestinal disorder, characterized by chronic or recurrent abdominal pain and bloating. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a diverse group of medical treatments that are not commonly considered to be a part of conventional medicine yet frequently used together with conventional medicine. CAM is widely used, particularly for chronic medical conditions that are difficult to treat. Because only a limited number of treatments are available for IBS, many patients choose CAM. This article reviews current evidence supporting the use of CAM in IBS, with a focus on prebiotics, acupuncture, and herbal medicines.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Acupuncture Therapy
Complementary Therapies*
Humans
Irritable Bowel Syndrome / therapy*
Phytotherapy
Plant Preparations / therapeutic use
Prebiotics

Substances

Plant Preparations
Prebiotics