Does your gut need a reset?

Yes, I'm Ready

Do you want to start feeling better?

Yes, Where Do I Start?

Do you want to start feeling better?

Yes, Where Do I Start?
About
Learn
Shop
Work With Us
Podcast
Login
Shop Solutions
Articles
Evidence based

Evidence Based

This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by experts.

Our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians strive to be objective, unbiased, honest and to present both sides of the argument.

This article contains scientific references. The numbers in the parentheses (1, 2, 3) are clickable links to peer-reviewed scientific papers.

Clinically Proven Natural Treatments for IBS

Written by on March 19, 2024

Effective Remedies for Symptoms Like Bloating, Gas, and On-Off Diarrhea and Constipation

Key Takeaways:

  • Irritable bowel symptoms can be helped by treating underlying food sensitivities and microbiome imbalances with the low-FODMAPs diet.
  • Probiotics may help IBS, too, in part by easing the inflammation that can lead to symptoms.
  • Other less common natural treatments include a complete gut reset and, in specific situations, antimicrobials.

With issues that range from abdominal pain and bloating to irregular bowel movements and brain fog, the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can significantly impact your quality of life. 

However, there are many positive things you can do to make living with IBS more manageable. Though every day won’t be smooth sailing, having an effective toolkit of natural treatments for IBS at your fingertips is really powerful and may even make you symptom-free again. 

In this article, I’ll walk you through using the low FODMAP diet and taking probiotic supplements, which are among the most researched and effective natural remedies for IBS. We’ll also look at some less common IBS treatments, which may be useful if your symptoms are a bit more difficult to shake off.

First, how do you know if you have IBS, and what are the distinguishing symptoms?

IBS Facts and Figures

Natural Treatments for IBS

IBS is really common, with estimates suggesting that 10% to 12% of people in the United States have it. Being female puts you at higher risk, with three times as many women as men having an IBS diagnosis [1].

The most common symptoms of IBS include abdominal pain and cramping and changes in bowel habits. Changes in motility (how quickly or slowly food moves through the gut) mean some people have diarrhea as the main symptom (IBS-D), and others have constipation as the main symptom (IBS-C). It’s also possible to have a mixture of the two. 

Bloating is also common in IBS, and you may also notice mucus in your poop. At the clinic, we’ve found that many people with IBS also report having brain fog, reduced concentration, and mood changes.

Disrupted communication between the gut and brain is thought to be the cause of many IBS symptoms [2, 3, 4], and an unhealthy gut microbiome may be behind this [5, 6]. Inflammation caused by gut microbiome imbalances could create problems in the cross-communication between the gut and brain, giving rise to symptoms. 

When you have IBS, altered levels of the brain neurotransmitter serotonin may also play a role in your gut being hypersensitive [7]. Around 95% of serotonin is stored in the gut and too little or too much can make IBS symptoms like pain and tenderness worse. Too much serotonin is linked with IBS-D, and too little serotonin is linked with IBS-C [8] .   

Food Sensitivities are Common in IBS 

Food sensitivities frequently contribute to IBS symptoms — for example, gluten [9], dairy products [10], and artificial additives or ingredients [11] have all been linked to IBS symptoms.

However, it is a category of fermentable carbohydrates known as FODMAPs (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) that may cause the most problems for people with IBS, increasing bloating and abdominal pain [12]. 

When we consume FODMAPs, these carbs move relatively slowly through the small intestine, attracting water. When they reach the large intestine (bowel), gut bacteria use the FODMAPs as fuel, breaking them down in a process called fermentation that creates a large amount of gas. 

The gas and water associated with consuming FODMAPs cause the intestinal wall to stretch and expand. While this isn’t a problem for most people, if you have IBS you are more likely to react with abdominal pain and changes in bowel movements [13].

If you have IBS, it makes sense to try a short to medium-term low-FODMAP elimination diet. Multiple meta-analyses have determined that the low-FODMAP diet improves overall digestive symptoms, abdominal pain, and quality of life [14, 15, 16, 17]. Indeed, up to 86% of patients with IBS may find improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms following a low-FODMAPs diet [18], so it is always my first dietary recommendation if you have the condition. Let’s get into the details of what’s involved. 

Taking FODMAPs Out of Your Diet

In the first elimination phase of a low-FODMAP diet,  your aim is to remove all high-FODMAP carbs from your diet, to reduce your symptoms. The main FODMAPs categories are: 

  • Oligo-saccharides (fructans and galactooligosaccharides in foods like wheat and beans)
  • Di-saccharides (the lactose in dairy)
  • Mono-saccharides (the fructose in fresh and dried fruits and foods with added sugars, e.g, high fructose corn syrup)
  • Polyols (e.g. sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, erythritol, maltitol, found naturally in some fruits and also used as lower calorie sweeteners)

Below is a list of the high-FODMAP foods to avoid, as well as the lower-FODMAP ones you can have in their place. Bear in mind this is not a complete list, and some FODMAP food lists you find on the internet might not be accurate. For the most comprehensive and authoritative information on high FODMAP foods, I recommend the Monash University FODMAP Diet App, which has been put together by leading researchers in the field. 

Food GroupHigh-FODMAP (eliminate)Low-FODMAP (include)
VegetablesArtichoke, asparagus, cauliflower, garlic, green peas, mushrooms, onions, sugar snap peasAubergine/eggplant, green beans, bok choy, green bell pepper, carrot, cucumber, lettuce, potato (ok in moderation)
FruitApples, apple juice, cherries, dried fruit, mangos, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums, watermelonCantaloupe, kiwifruit, mandarin, orange, pineapple, blueberry
DairyCow’s milk, custard, evaporated milk, ice cream, soy milk (made from whole soybeans), sweetened condensed milk, yogurtAlmond milk, brie/camembert cheese, feta cheese, hard cheeses, lactose-free milk, soy milk (if you aren’t sensitive to soy protein)
LegumesMost legumes and beansFirm tofu, mung beans, peanuts
Meat, seafood, and eggsSome marinated meats/poultry/seafood and processed meats with additivesPlain-cooked fresh meats/poultry/seafood, and eggs; prepared meats without additives
Grain foodsWheat/rye/barley-based breads and breakfast cerealsPlain oats, quinoa flakes, quinoa/rice/corn pasta, rice cakes, sourdough spelt bread, wheat/rye/ barley-free bread
SweetenersHigh-fructose corn syrup, honey, sugar-free confectionsDark chocolate, maple syrup, rice malt syrup, table sugar (all in moderation only)
Nuts and seedsCashews, pistachiosMacadamias, peanuts (which are legumes), pumpkin seeds, walnuts

Track for Success

After 2–6 weeks on a low FODMAP diet, your IBS symptoms will likely decrease, and you can move on to reintroducing foods.

Some people with IBS have really noticeable improvements after removing FODMAPs for just a couple of weeks. But if your results are not so dramatic, it helps to track your symptom changes during the low-FODMAP elimination phase. There is a feature within the Monash University low FODMAP app that allows you to do this, or you can simply rate your daily symptoms on a scale of 1 to 10 and note how that score changes after a minimum of 2 weeks and a maximum of 6 weeks without FODMAPs.

To ensure you don’t unwittingly make mistakes while removing FODMAPs, try following these simple rules: 

  • Avoid very large meals 
  • Only eat meals you’ve prepared yourself at home
  • Avoid processed foods containing sneaky high FODMAP ingredients, such as chicory root, fruit juice concentrate, and inulin
  • Adapt recipes where necessary (so they don’t contain onion or garlic, for example)

What Does Success Look Like?

Keep in mind you don’t have to achieve perfection, and some symptoms, such as occasional gas and bloating, are a normal part of life for everybody.

Ultimately, only you can decide if your symptom response is enough to make continuing with the low FODMAP diet worthwhile. But I would recommend that you don’t give up too early and that you give it your best attempt. 

After a maximum of 6 weeks, it’s time to assess what the next step is, which will depend on your results:

  • If you have significant improvement in your IBS symptoms, then you should move on to reintroducing high-FODMAP foods as per the Reintroducing Foods section below. 
  • If you had some minor improvement but you feel this wasn’t significant enough to make continuing with the low-FODMAP diet worthwhile, you can go back to eating FODMAP foods if you want to (however, a varied low-FODMAP diet may be nutritionally sufficient for up to a year) [19]. When you do add back FODMAPs, a gradual introduction is probably best to avoid any flare in your IBS symptoms.
  • If you have no improvement at all, you can go back to your previous diet straight away and not worry about gradually changing back to high FODMAP foods.

If the low-FODMAP diet isn’t for you, it doesn’t mean you are stuck with your symptoms for good. You can skip the Reintroducing Foods section coming up, but that still leaves lots of other possibilities for symptom reduction, including probiotics, stress management, and natural herbal remedies (more on all these below). 

Reintroducing FODMAPs

Once you have achieved symptom reduction, re-introducing high FODMAP foods in a structured way enables you to hone in on exactly which foods exacerbate your IBS. 

It’s important to reintroduce each FODMAP separately. Working with a dietitian or using the Monash FODMAPs app can help you choose your challenge foods and doses. 

It’s best practice to do one FODMAP challenge at a time and to complete each challenge by eating a specific FODMAP once a day for a three-day period. Ideally, choose the same time each day (at a particular meal time or as a snack) to consume the high FODMAP food in question.

  • On Day 1, eat a small to moderate amount of the challenge food (no more than half your normal portion size). 
  • On Day 2, include a bigger serving of the challenge food (closer to the size portion you would normally eat) 
  • On Day 3, consume the challenge food in a serving size that is as big, or bigger, than your usual serving.

If you get very significant symptoms on day one with a specific FODMAP it’s fine to stop that particular challenge early and to keep this FODMAP out of your diet, at least for now. 

If some symptoms start to develop as you increase the portion size, you have likely found your current threshold level for tolerance to that food. To minimize symptoms, you should try not to exceed this amount going forward. 

It’s helpful to take a break of a couple of days (or longer if you are waiting for symptoms to subside) between each 3-day challenge. 

The entire reintroduction process should take around 6-8 weeks to complete.

Maintaining Your Lower FODMAP Diet

The third and final stage of a low-FODMAPs diet is moving forward with a diet that is tailored to the specific sensitivities you have uncovered. 

Your level of food reactivity may change over time however, so you can always experiment with reintroducing eliminated foods again in the future. Eating a low FODMAP diet isn’t meant to be forever, and as your gut health improves, it’s likely that you will be able to tolerate a wider variety of foods.

Probiotics for IBS

After the low-FODMAPs diet, probiotics are the next natural treatment for IBS that I recommend to my patients. The research around probiotics and IBS is very solid, with several meta-analyses showing that probiotics can treat IBS symptoms with very few side effects [20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26].

Collectively these meta-analyses show that probiotics can improve bloating, abdominal pain, and flatulence while also improving energy levels and sleep. Probiotics can also help with both constipation and diarrhea, which are the symptoms of IBS that many patients find the most difficult to deal with.

One study showed that Bacillus species probiotics reduced diarrhea and stool frequency in IBS patients [27]. Other studies showed that probiotics improved stool frequency and regularity in patients with constipation [28, 29]. 

Although any well-formulated probiotic will likely have a good effect on your IBS symptoms, taking more than one strain is almost certainly best. This approach is supported by two meta-analyses that found that a multi-strain mixture containing a blend of predominantly Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains improved IBS symptoms [22, 23].

In the clinic, we often take this multi-probiotics approach further because we’ve seen better results. More specifically, we’ve had the most success with IBS patients when they’ve taken one from each of these three main probiotic categories:

  1. A Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium blend (e.g. L. acidophilus, L. plantarum, B. infantis, and B. lactis)
  2. Saccharomyces boulardii (a beneficial yeast)
  3. Soil-based probiotics, usually Bacillus species 

Of course, everyone is different, and for some people, a Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium blend is sufficient to help considerably with IBS symptoms. But others get more benefit when they add in one, or both of the Saccharomyces boulardii and soil-based categories, too.

Why Are Probiotics So Helpful for IBS?

Probiotics are so helpful because they help to correct the microbiome imbalances — including small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)—that are common in people with IBS and can contribute to their symptoms [30, 31, 32, 33]. One meta-analysis found that more than one-third of IBS patients tested positive for SIBO, which is nearly five times more likely than healthy controls [30]. 

Another reason why probiotics are helpful is that they may help reduce gut inflammation [34]. Whether it stems from SIBO or a different form of microbiome disturbance, inflammation and gut leakiness could be what causes the disrupted gut-brain crosstalk that leads to IBS [6, 35]. 

Other Natural Treatment Options for IBS

If you still need help with IBS symptoms after trying the low FODMAP diet and probiotics, other potentially useful supplements include herbals like peppermint oil capsules, soluble fibers, immunoglobulins, and antimicrobials. 

Not all of these will work for everybody, and some come with downsides, so it pays to arm yourself with the facts before trying them.

Here’s a brief roundup of the main benefits and downsides of these natural treatments: 

Peppermint oil relaxes the smooth muscles in the digestive tract, helping to decrease pain, bloating, and bowel movement urgency (diarrhea) [36]. However, it can also trigger heartburn or indigestion [37], so it is not recommended for those with reflux disease (GERD), severe constipation, or ulcerative colitis. 

Soluble fibers like psyllium or Metamucil can be very helpful for IBS patients with constipation [38] and may improve IBS symptoms more generally, not just stool consistency [39, 40, 41]. However, for some IBS patients, fiber supplements (and high-fiber foods like whole grains) can trigger bloating, gas, and abdominal pain [38], so increase any source of fiber slowly and drink plenty of water.

Immunoglobulins are a newer type of supplement that supports the immune system by binding to and neutralizing unhealthy bacteria in the gut. Clinical trials have shown that immunoglobulins can improve IBS symptoms [42, 43, 44, 45, 46], even for IBS patients who don’t respond to other therapies [45, 47]. 

Natural antimicrobials like oregano oil or even the mainstream antibiotic rifaximin can be very helpful in some IBS cases [48]. The scenario where I would be most likely to recommend an antimicrobial is if your symptoms are related to a bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). 

Calm Your Life to Quell Your IBS

Stress will often make IBS symptoms worse, so working on lifestyle changes and stress reduction alongside other natural treatments can be really helpful.

A meta-analysis concluded that meditation and relaxation techniques were able to significantly improve IBS symptom severity, anxiety, depression, and quality of life [49]. Meditation can be as simple as focusing on your breaths in and out as you sit quietly with your eyes closed. Cognitive behavioral therapy [50, 51] and hypnotherapy [52, 53] are other helpful interventions for IBS. 

Increasing your physical activity, particularly zone 2 exercise, is also great for managing stress. And if you’re a fan of yoga specifically, that’s great, as it can also have targeted anti-stress benefits for people with IBS [54]. 

Troubleshooting Flares and Trickier Symptoms

Sometimes, even if your IBS symptoms are controlled most of the time, you can still get a flare-up of symptoms. If you are struggling to tame your symptoms, a one-off gut reset in the form of a 24 to 48-hour fast would be worth considering.

Limited research suggests that fasting can soothe an IBS flare [55]. But if you find fasting too tough, consuming a liquid elemental diet may also calm your gut [56]. Elemental diets are liquid diets that provide all the nutrients you need in a predigested form allowing your digestive system to rest. So, for example, in an elemental shake, the proteins are broken down into easier-to-digest amino acids or amino acid chains.

Even a “half” elemental diet, in which you replace just one or two meals a day with an elemental shake, works to calm symptoms for some patients.

Is it Something Else?

Another possibility to bear in mind with irritable bowel symptoms that don’t resolve themselves is that you could have a separate digestive disorder or reproductive system condition.

For example, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease, and endometriosis in women can all cause IBS-type symptoms. If other gastrointestinal disorders have not been ruled out, you may need to talk to your healthcare provider about appropriate screening tests.

Knowledge Leads to Relief

When you understand your triggers and address your gut health imbalances with the natural treatment approaches above, you can experience significant relief from IBS symptoms.

However, persistence and patience are key, as finding the right combination of treatments may require some trial and error.

If your IBS symptoms still don’t improve as much as you’d like after you’ve tried all the above suggestions, your situation may need a more detailed approach. One option is to follow the 8 steps in my book Healthy Gut, Healthy You. Or, for a private consultation with one of our highly experienced practitioners, please reach out to our Virtual Clinic.

The Ruscio Institute has also developed a range of high-quality formulations to help our patients and audience. If you’re interested in learning more about these products, please click here. Note that there are many other options available, and we encourage you to research which products may be right for you.

Dr. Michael Ruscio is a DC, Naturopathic Practitioner, researcher, and clinician. He serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Bridgeport and has published numerous papers in scientific journals as well as the book Healthy Gut, Healthy You. He also founded the Ruscio Institute of Functional Health, where he helps patients with a wide range of GI conditions and serves as the Head of Research.
➕ References
  1. Kurin M, Cooper G. Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea: Treatment is a work in progress. Cleve Clin J Med. 2020 Jul 31;87(8):501–11. DOI: 10.3949/ccjm.87a.19011. PMID: 32737051.
  2. Symptoms & Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome – NIDDK [Internet]. [cited 2023 Dec 18]. Available from: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/irritable-bowel-syndrome/symptoms-causes
  3. Jin D-C, Cao H-L, Xu M-Q, Wang S-N, Wang Y-M, Yan F, et al. Regulation of the serotonin transporter in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome. World J Gastroenterol. 2016 Sep 28;22(36):8137–48. DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i36.8137. PMID: 27688655. PMCID: PMC5037082.
  4. Barbara G, Cremon C, Carini G, Bellacosa L, Zecchi L, De Giorgio R, et al. The immune system in irritable bowel syndrome. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2011 Oct 31;17(4):349–59. DOI: 10.5056/jnm.2011.17.4.349. PMID: 22148103. PMCID: PMC3228974.
  5. Menees S, Chey W. The gut microbiome and irritable bowel syndrome. [version 1; peer review: 3 approved]. F1000Res. 2018 Jul 9;7. DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.14592.1. PMID: 30026921. PMCID: PMC6039952.
  6. Barbara G, Zecchi L, Barbaro R, Cremon C, Bellacosa L, Marcellini M, et al. Mucosal permeability and immune activation as potential therapeutic targets of probiotics in irritable bowel syndrome. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2012 Oct;46 Suppl:S52-5. DOI: 10.1097/MCG.0b013e318264e918. PMID: 22955358.
  7. Keszthelyi D, Troost FJ, Jonkers DM, van Eijk HM, Dekker J, Buurman WA, et al. Visceral hypersensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome: evidence for involvement of serotonin metabolism–a preliminary study. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2015 Aug;27(8):1127–37. DOI: 10.1111/nmo.12600. PMID: 26031193.
  8. Vahora IS, Tsouklidis N, Kumar R, Soni R, Khan S. How serotonin level fluctuation affects the effectiveness of treatment in irritable bowel syndrome. Cureus. 2020 Aug 19;12(8):e9871. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.9871. PMID: 32968548. PMCID: PMC7505258.
  9. Catassi C, Alaedini A, Bojarski C, Bonaz B, Bouma G, Carroccio A, et al. The Overlapping Area of Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS) and Wheat-Sensitive Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): An Update. Nutrients. 2017 Nov 21;9(11). DOI: 10.3390/nu9111268. PMID: 29160841. PMCID: PMC5707740.
  10. Deng Y, Misselwitz B, Dai N, Fox M. Lactose intolerance in adults: biological mechanism and dietary management. Nutrients. 2015 Sep 18;7(9):8020–35. DOI: 10.3390/nu7095380. PMID: 26393648. PMCID: PMC4586575.
  11. Schnabel L, Buscail C, Sabate J-M, Bouchoucha M, Kesse-Guyot E, Allès B, et al. Association Between Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: Results From the French NutriNet-Santé Cohort. Am J Gastroenterol. 2018 Aug;113(8):1217–28. DOI: 10.1038/s41395-018-0137-1. PMID: 29904158.
  12. Gibson PR, Shepherd SJ. Evidence-based dietary management of functional gastrointestinal symptoms: The FODMAP approach. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2010 Feb;25(2):252–8. DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2009.06149.x. PMID: 20136989.
  13. About FODMAPs and IBS | Monash FODMAP             – Monash Fodmap [Internet]. [cited 2022 Jan 18]. Available from: https://www.monashfodmap.com/about-fodmap-and-ibs/
  14. van Lanen A-S, de Bree A, Greyling A. Efficacy of a low-FODMAP diet in adult irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Nutr. 2021 Sep;60(6):3505–22. DOI: 10.1007/s00394-020-02473-0. PMID: 33585949. PMCID: PMC8354978.
  15. Black CJ, Staudacher HM, Ford AC. Efficacy of a low FODMAP diet in irritable bowel syndrome: systematic review and network meta-analysis. Gut. 2022 Jun;71(6):1117–26. DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2021-325214. PMID: 34376515.
  16. Marsh A, Eslick EM, Eslick GD. Does a diet low in FODMAPs reduce symptoms associated with functional gastrointestinal disorders? A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Nutr. 2016 Apr;55(3):897–906. DOI: 10.1007/s00394-015-0922-1. PMID: 25982757.
  17. Altobelli E, Del Negro V, Angeletti PM, Latella G. Low-FODMAP Diet Improves Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms: A Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2017 Aug 26;9(9). DOI: 10.3390/nu9090940. PMID: 28846594. PMCID: PMC5622700.
  18. Nanayakkara WS, Skidmore PM, O’Brien L, Wilkinson TJ, Gearry RB. Efficacy of the low FODMAP diet for treating irritable bowel syndrome: the evidence to date. Clin Exp Gastroenterol. 2016 Jun 17;9:131–42. DOI: 10.2147/CEG.S86798. PMID: 27382323. PMCID: PMC4918736.
  19. Bardacke JA, Yarrow L, Rosenkranz SK. The Long-Term Effects of a Low-Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols Diet for Irritable Bowel Syndrome Management. Curr Dev Nutr. 2023 Oct;7(10):101997. DOI: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.101997. PMID: 37807975. PMCID: PMC10550809.
  20. Chen M, Yuan L, Xie C-R, Wang X-Y, Feng S-J, Xiao X-Y, et al. Probiotics for the management of irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and three-level meta-analysis. Int J Surg. 2023 Nov 1;109(11):3631–47. DOI: 10.1097/JS9.0000000000000658. PMID: 37565634. PMCID: PMC10651259.
  21. Zhang T, Zhang C, Zhang J, Sun F, Duan L. Efficacy of Probiotics for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2022 Apr 1;12:859967. DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.859967. PMID: 35433498. PMCID: PMC9010660.
  22. Yuan F, Ni H, Asche CV, Kim M, Walayat S, Ren J. Efficacy of Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: a meta-analysis. Curr Med Res Opin. 2017 Jul;33(7):1191–7. DOI: 10.1080/03007995.2017.1292230. PMID: 28166427.
  23. Tiequn B, Guanqun C, Shuo Z. Therapeutic effects of Lactobacillus in treating irritable bowel syndrome: a meta-analysis. Intern Med. 2015;54(3):243–9. DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.54.2710. PMID: 25748731.
  24. Hoveyda N, Heneghan C, Mahtani KR, Perera R, Roberts N, Glasziou P. A systematic review and meta-analysis: probiotics in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. BMC Gastroenterol. 2009 Feb 16;9:15. DOI: 10.1186/1471-230X-9-15. PMID: 19220890. PMCID: PMC2656520.
  25. Whelan K. Probiotics and prebiotics in the management of irritable bowel syndrome:  a review of recent clinical trials and systematic reviews. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2011 Nov;14(6):581–7. DOI: 10.1097/MCO.0b013e32834b8082. PMID: 21892075.
  26. Ford AC, Quigley EMM, Lacy BE, Lembo AJ, Saito YA, Schiller LR, et al. Efficacy of prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics in irritable bowel syndrome and chronic idiopathic constipation: systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2014 Oct;109(10):1547–61; quiz 1546, 1562. DOI: 10.1038/ajg.2014.202. PMID: 25070051.
  27. Rogha M, Esfahani MZ, Zargarzadeh AH. The efficacy of a synbiotic containing Bacillus Coagulans in treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Gastroenterol Hepatol Bed Bench. 2014;7(3):156–63. PMID: 25120896. PMCID: PMC4129566.
  28. Majeed M, Nagabhushanam K, Natarajan S, Sivakumar A, Ali F, Pande A, et al. Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 supplementation in the management of diarrhea predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome: a double blind randomized placebo controlled pilot clinical study. Nutr J. 2016 Feb 27;15:21. DOI: 10.1186/s12937-016-0140-6. PMID: 26922379. PMCID: PMC4769834.
  29. Ibarra A, Latreille-Barbier M, Donazzolo Y, Pelletier X, Ouwehand AC. Effects of 28-day Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis HN019 supplementation on colonic transit time and gastrointestinal symptoms in adults with functional constipation: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, and dose-ranging trial. Gut Microbes. 2018 Feb 8;9(3):236–51. DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2017.1412908. PMID: 29227175. PMCID: PMC6219592.
  30. Chen B, Kim JJ-W, Zhang Y, Du L, Dai N. Prevalence and predictors of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Gastroenterol. 2018 Jul;53(7):807–18. DOI: 10.1007/s00535-018-1476-9. PMID: 29761234.
  31. Schmulson M, Bielsa MV, Carmona-Sánchez R, Hernández A, López-Colombo A, López Vidal Y, et al. Microbiota, gastrointestinal infections, low-grade inflammation, and antibiotic therapy in irritable bowel syndrome: an evidence-based review. Rev Gastroenterol Mex. 2014 Jun;79(2):96–134. DOI: 10.1016/j.rgmx.2014.01.004. PMID: 24857420.
  32. Takakura W, Pimentel M. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth and Irritable Bowel Syndrome – An Update. Front Psychiatry. 2020 Jul 10;11:664. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00664. PMID: 32754068. PMCID: PMC7366247.
  33. Liu H-N, Wu H, Chen Y-Z, Chen Y-J, Shen X-Z, Liu T-T. Altered molecular signature of intestinal microbiota in irritable bowel syndrome patients compared with healthy controls: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Dig Liver Dis. 2017 Apr;49(4):331–7. DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2017.01.142. PMID: 28179092.
  34. Colletti A, Pellizzato M, Cicero AF. The possible role of probiotic supplementation in inflammation: A narrative review. Microorganisms. 2023 Aug 26;11(9). DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092160. PMID: 37764004. PMCID: PMC10535592.
  35. Banaszak M, Górna I, Woźniak D, Przysławski J, Drzymała-Czyż S. Association between Gut Dysbiosis and the Occurrence of SIBO, LIBO, SIFO and IMO. Microorganisms. 2023 Feb 24;11(3). DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11030573. PMID: 36985147. PMCID: PMC10052891.
  36. Alammar N, Wang L, Saberi B, Nanavati J, Holtmann G, Shinohara RT, et al. The impact of peppermint oil on the irritable bowel syndrome: a meta-analysis of the pooled clinical data. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019 Jan 17;19(1):21. DOI: 10.1186/s12906-018-2409-0. PMID: 30654773. PMCID: PMC6337770.
  37. Munjal A, Dedania B, Cash BD. Current and emerging pharmacological approaches for treating diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2020 Jan;21(1):63–71. DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2019.1691524. PMID: 31738621.
  38. El-Salhy M, Ystad SO, Mazzawi T, Gundersen D. Dietary fiber in irritable bowel syndrome (Review). Int J Mol Med. 2017 Sep;40(3):607–13. DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2017.3072. PMID: 28731144. PMCID: PMC5548066.
  39. Moayyedi P, Quigley EMM, Lacy BE, Lembo AJ, Saito YA, Schiller LR, et al. The effect of fiber supplementation on irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2014 Sep;109(9):1367–74. DOI: 10.1038/ajg.2014.195. PMID: 25070054.
  40. Furnari M, de Bortoli N, Martinucci I, Bodini G, Revelli M, Marabotto E, et al. Optimal management of constipation associated with irritable bowel syndrome. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2015 May 30;11:691–703. DOI: 10.2147/TCRM.S54298. PMID: 26028974. PMCID: PMC4425337.
  41. Bellini M, Gambaccini D, Salvadori S, Tosetti C, Urbano MT, Costa F, et al. Management of chronic constipation in general practice. Tech Coloproctol. 2014 Jun;18(6):543–9. DOI: 10.1007/s10151-013-1093-9. PMID: 24272606.
  42. Wilson D, Evans M, Weaver E, Shaw AL, Klein GL. Evaluation of serum-derived bovine immunoglobulin protein isolate in subjects with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. Clin Med Insights Gastroenterol. 2013 Dec 5;6:49–60. DOI: 10.4137/CGast.S13200. PMID: 24833942. PMCID: PMC4020402.
  43. Hilal R, Mitchell P, Guerra Jr. E, Burnett BP. Case Series of 10 Drug-Refractory IBS Patients Who Respond to Oral Serum-Derived Bovine Immunoglobulin/Protein Isolate (SBI). OJGas. 2014;04(10):321–8. DOI: 10.4236/ojgas.2014.410046.
  44. Post-Infectious Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Functional Diarrhea Following C. difficile Infections: Case Studies of Responses Using Serum-Derived Bovine Immunoglobulin | Crawford | Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research [Internet]. [cited 2022 Jul 13]. Available from: http://www.ghrnet.org/index.php/joghr/article/view/900
  45. Valentin N, Camilleri M, Carlson P, Harrington SC, Eckert D, O’Neill J, et al. Potential mechanisms of effects of serum-derived bovine immunoglobulin/protein isolate therapy in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. Physiol Rep. 2017 Mar;5(5). DOI: 10.14814/phy2.13170. PMID: 28275113. PMCID: PMC5350178.
  46. Shaw AL, Tomanelli A, Bradshaw TP, Petschow BW, Burnett BP. Impact of serum-derived bovine immunoglobulin/protein isolate therapy on irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease: a survey of patient perspective. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2017 May 31;11:1001–7. DOI: 10.2147/PPA.S134792. PMID: 28615929. PMCID: PMC5460652.
  47. Weinstock LB, Jasion VS. Serum-Derived Bovine Immunoglobulin/Protein Isolate Therapy for Patients with Refractory Irritable Bowel Syndrome. OJGas. 2014;04(10):329–34. DOI: 10.4236/ojgas.2014.410047.
  48. Saadi M, McCallum RW. Rifaximin in irritable bowel syndrome: rationale, evidence and clinical use. Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 2013 Mar;4(2):71–5. DOI: 10.1177/2040622312472008. PMID: 23556126. PMCID: PMC3610260.
  49. Jandaghi G, Zia-Tohidi A, Firoozi M. Psychological Interventions for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis of Iranian Randomized Trials. Arch Iran Med. 2021 Jun 1;24(6):496–504. DOI: 10.34172/aim.2021.71. PMID: 34488313.
  50. Zhao S-R, Ni X-M, Zhang X-A, Tian H. Effect of cognitive behavior therapy combined with exercise intervention on the cognitive bias and coping styles of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome patients. World J Clin Cases. 2019 Nov 6;7(21):3446–62. DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v7.i21.3446. PMID: 31750328. PMCID: PMC6854400.
  51. Lackner JM, Jaccard J, Keefer L, Brenner DM, Firth RS, Gudleski GD, et al. Improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms after cognitive behavior therapy for refractory irritable bowel syndrome. Gastroenterology. 2018 Jul;155(1):47–57. DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2018.03.063. PMID: 29702118. PMCID: PMC6035059.
  52. Peters SL, Muir JG, Gibson PR. Review article: gut-directed hypnotherapy in the management of irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2015 Jun;41(11):1104–15. DOI: 10.1111/apt.13202. PMID: 25858661.
  53. Miller V, Carruthers HR, Morris J, Hasan SS, Archbold S, Whorwell PJ. Hypnotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome: an audit of one thousand adult patients. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2015 May;41(9):844–55. DOI: 10.1111/apt.13145. PMID: 25736234.
  54. Kavuri V, Raghuram N, Malamud A, Selvan SR. Irritable bowel syndrome: yoga as remedial therapy. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015 May 6;2015:398156. DOI: 10.1155/2015/398156. PMID: 26064164. PMCID: PMC4438173.
  55. Kanazawa M, Fukudo S. Effects of fasting therapy on irritable bowel syndrome. Int J Behav Med. 2006;13(3):214–20. DOI: 10.1207/s15327558ijbm1303_4. PMID: 17078771.
  56. Pimentel M, Constantino T, Kong Y, Bajwa M, Rezaei A, Park S. A 14-day elemental diet is highly effective in normalizing the lactulose breath test. Dig Dis Sci. 2004 Jan;49(1):73–7. DOI: 10.1023/b:ddas.0000011605.43979.e1. PMID: 14992438.
➕ Links & Resources

Further Reading: 

Need help or would like to learn more?
View Dr. Ruscio’s, DC additional resources

Get Help

Discussion

I care about answering your questions and sharing my knowledge with you. Leave a comment or connect with me on social media asking any health question you may have and I just might incorporate it into our next listener questions podcast episode just for you!

Transform your health

Every product is science-based, validated by real-world use, and personally vetted by Dr. Ruscio, DC.

Shop Now