Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
What Supplements Could Help Ease IBS Symptoms?
Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a frustrating diagnosis. Doctors describe it as a "functional" GI disorder, meaning that they can't find any physiological reason for the patient's suffering. None…
Show 1316: Protecting Your Digestive Tract
This week on our nationally syndicated public radio show, we invite gastroenterologist Nicholas Shaheen into our studio to answer your questions about protecting your digestive tract. He is a national…
Solving Problems With Both Constipation and Diar…
Irritable bowel syndrome is a common digestive disorder, affecting between 25 million and 45 million individuals in the US. For many decades, gastroenterologists labeled this a "functional GI disorder…
Peppermint and Probiotics for IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is common, affecting 7 to 16 percent of the population in the US (JAMA, March 2, 2021). This diagnosis often frustrates both patients and physicians. People experiencing…
Natural Approaches for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is common and challenging to treat. People who have IBS may feel incredibly frustrated because often doctors tell them there is no observable problem. All the same, they…
Can Treated Licorice (DGL) Ease IBS Symptoms?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has long been a mystery to doctors. Sufferers experience cramps, bloating, gas, constipation or diarrhea and other digestive distress. Until recently gastroenterologists…
How to Relieve IBS with a Low FODMAP Diet
People with irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) frequently suffer severe abdominal pain, bloating and flatulence. They often report diarrhea or constipation, or occasionally alternating bouts of both. Often…
Coconut Cookies and Peppermint Oil Ease Irritabl…
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can cause a lot of misery in the form of stomach cramps, bloating, stomachaches and either constipation or diarrhea. Doctors are not entirely certain why some people dev…
Show 1179: What Should You Do About Digestive Di…
Have you ever had horrible heartburn or a really bad bellyache? Most of us have experienced digestive distress at one time or another. When do you need to seek medical attention for your problem? What…
Raspberry Powder to Help Diarrhea from IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a miserable condition. Although doctors can find no good explanation, IBS inflicts abdominal pain, gas, cramping, bloating and either diarrhea or constipation. Occasi…
Will an Allergen-Free Diet Help Your Joint Pain?
Would you like to find a way to reduce or control your joint pain? One of the fundamental principles for people with arthritis is to keep moving, but that can be hard when your knees creak or your hip…
Can Antibiotic Help Post-Colonoscopy Problems?
Colonoscopies save lives. The procedure in which a gastroenterologist examines the lining of the colon for pre-cancerous growths called polyps allows for early detection of colon cancer. In addition, …
If Leaky Gut Syndrome Exists, How Can You Test f…
Several years ago, we were at a small conference attended by some very thoughtful physicians. The overall theme of the discussions focused on the concept of empowered patients. These doctors were tota…
Do People Who Eat Fish Grow Old More Healthfully…
Does eating fish or taking fish oil make any difference for your health? For decades, researchers have touted the anti-inflammatory benefits of the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil. They have sug…
Does Work Email Bother You at Home?
Does your boss expect you to respond promptly to email or Slack messages outside of working hours? Did you know that before you took the job? Why Answering Email from Home Could Harm Your Health: A ne…
Are You Worried about a Limit on Loperamide?
The FDA has announced plans to make the anti-diarrhea pill loperamide (Imodium) more difficult to obtain. The agency has developed this initiative as part of the government's efforts against the opioi…
People with IBS Worry about FDA Crackdown on Imo…
Sometimes the FDA takes actions that make people nervous. Concerns about abuse of the anti-diarrhea drug loperamide (Imodium) have the agency considering restrictions on this over-the-counter product.…
Will Enteric-Coated Peppermint Oil Help Your Dig…
When you learn that an herbal medicine is helpful for some type of health condition, it may be a little tricky to sort out just which problems it helps. One reader found this especially troublesome wi…
Could Probiotic Supplement Ease IBS and Anxiety?
IBS, irritable bowel syndrome, afflicts an estimated 40 million Americans. They suffer cramps, bloating, diarrhea or constipation as a result of this condition, although gastroenterologists generally …
How to Improve Digestive Health with a Poop Tran…
How do you feel about poop? Most people prefer not to talk about it. That's why we have so many euphemisms: number two, stool, feces, manure, crap or BM for bowel movement. No wonder you probably neve…
Is Xifaxan Helpful for IBS with Diarrhea?
Irritable bowel syndrome can make life miserable, although doctors often find nothing obvious wrong with a sufferer's digestive tract. A person with IBS may have embarrassing bouts of urgent diarrhea…
Irritable Bowel Symptoms Overcome by Cholesterol…
Gastroenterologists are often baffled by irritable bowel syndrome. Irritable bowel symptoms such as abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea and/or constipation are very disruptive, but don't…
Peppermint Oil for Digestive Woes (IBS) vs. Side…
Q. I've heard that taking enteric-coated peppermint oil can help IBS. My worst symptoms are stomach cramps and flatulence, but I'm reluctant to eat out or travel. Some of my friendships have suffered.…
Peppermint Tea Helps Irritable Bowel Syndrome, U…
Many of us have trouble keeping IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) distinct from IBD (inflammatory bowel disease). They are, however, totally different disorders. IBD, which includes Crohn's disease and u…
Peppermint Solves Digestive Distress
Q. I have had irritable bowel syndrome for more than 25 years. I've tried all sorts of remedies including coconut macaroon cookies. I ate so many I can't stand even looking at them! Then I remembered …
Antibiotic Battles IBS
People who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome frequently experience bouts of diarrhea and abdominal discomfort that are hard to treat. Physicians have been unable to determine a cause for this condi…
Placebo Power Probed
The power of placebos is more mysterious than most scientists ever imagined. Sugar pills are perceived as worthless since they have no active ingredients. Researchers use them for comparison when they…
Coconut Treats “Changed My Life”
Q. More than 20 years ago I was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Tests revealed no cause. Diarrhea attacks accompanied by severe abdominal pain rarely gave me time to find a bathroom bef…
Coconut Controls Colitis
Q. I have had colitis for almost three years. Last month a friend mentioned that she read an article in the newspaper about coconut macaroon cookies preventing diarrhea. I was ready to try anything, s…
Peppermint and Coconut Conquer Diarrhea
Q. I have suffered from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) for months. I read that Archway Coconut Macaroon cookies might help and looked for them with no success. When I heard they were no longer availab…
Herb May Ease Irritable Bowel
Q. I have IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). Is there a home remedy I can take to ease the discomfort? I currently use Nexium every day. I drink a lot of water and try to stay regular, but I am always un…
Coconut Macaroons For IBS
Q. Thank you so much for writing about IBS and coconut macaroon cookies. IT WORKS. I suffered with chronic diarrhea for years and have been healed for the last two years. A. We're always pleased to he…
Celiac Disease Has Terrible Consequences
Graduating medical students are sometimes told: "Half of what we have taught you is wrong...we just don't know which half." As amusing as this sounds, it rings true for a complex condition called celi…
Peppermint Solves Digestive Distress
Q. I have had irritable bowel syndrome for more than 25 years. I've tried all sorts of remedies including coconut macaroon cookies. I ate so many I can't stand even looking at them! Then I remembered …
Peppermint May Interact With Medications
Q. Periodic bouts with irritable bowel syndrome cause me painful cramping and gas. My doctor prescribes Donnatal, but it makes me drowsy. I have read that peppermint oil would help. Could you give me …
Patient Power Resurrects Drug
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the prescription drug Lotronex is about to return to drugstore shelves. This kind of resurrection is unprecedented in FDA history. Lotronex was approved for sale …