Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Prevention Washington DC

Turmeric for IBS

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According to the National Resource Women’s Center, more than 37 million Americans suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), a condition that affects the movement of food through the intestines. IBS symptoms vary but may include constipation, diarrhea, bloating, pain and discomfort. The disease tends to affect more women than men.

Since IBS is difficult to treat, the encouraging results of a recent study using turmeric (Curcuma longa), a leading spice in Indian food, may be just what the herbalist ordered. In the study, published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 207 participants suffering from IBS received one or two 72-mg tablets containing dried standardized turmeric daily for eight weeks. IBS symptoms were assessed at baseline and after treatment. A post-study analysis revealed a 53 percent fall in IBS prevalence in the group taking one tablet, and 60 percent in those taking two. There was also a decrease in abdominal pain, with reductions of 22 percent and 25 percent respectively.

Although once thought to be primarily a stress-related condition, it is now known that many factors contribute to IBS including certain foods, eating habits and imbalances in intestinal flora.

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