In a clinical study using a fixed combination of peppermint/caraway oil in enteric-coated form, 45 patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia and the majority with IBS were studied in a double- blind placebo-controlled trial. The test group took one capsule taken three times daily for a period of four weeks.While all patients complained of moderate to severe pain before the commencement of therapy, almost one half of the patients(42.1%) in the test group were free from pain in just two weeks after taking the combination therapy. Only one patient(5%) in the placebo group reported freedom from pain. After four weeks of treatment, (63%) of the patients were pain-free; (89%) showed improvement in the test group, versus (25%) in the placebo group. With regard to clinical global impression, (95%) of the test group showed overall improvement in their condition. Thus, in this trial the fix combination was effective and  a well-tolerated treatment.

May B, Kuntz HD, Kieser M, Kohler S. Arzneimforch Drug Res. 1996; 46(II) 1149-1153.

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After reviewing the research on IBS and comparing the clinical studies, it was found the fixed combination of peppermint/caraway oil to be the most effective. The fixed combination produced pain-free results in as little as two weeks, and produced the best relief of IBS symptoms after just four weeks of treatment. (Fixed combination results: 63% pain-free;95% showed improvement. Colpermin results: 55% pain-free;79% showed improvement.) Not only did it relieve spasms but it also relieved the flatulence and fullness associated with IBS. This was demonstrated by the clinical global impression result of 95% for the test group in the study.

To see if you are an irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) candidate you can take the IBS Self-Evaluation Questionnaire.   

An enteric-coated peppermint- oil formulation called Colpermin was used in a randomized double-blind, placebo- controlled clinical study in outpatients with irritable bowel syndrome. It included 110 patients, 66 men and 44 women between the ages of 18 and 70 with symptoms of IBS. Each took one capsule of Colpermin or placebo, three or four times daily, 15 to 30 minutes before meals for one month. Fifty-two patients were given the Colpermin and forty-nine were given placebo. The results: twenty-nine patients(55%) on Colpermin became pain-free; forty-one patients(79%) experienced an alleviation of the severity of abdominal pain; forty-three patients(83%) had less abdominal distension; forty-three patients(83%) had reduced stool frequency; and forty-one(79%) had less flatulence. Corresponding data for the placebo group: four patients(8%) were pain-free, twenty-one patients(43%) had reduced pain, fourteen patients(29%) had reduced distension, sixteen patients(32%) had reduced stool frequency and eleven patients(22%)experience less flatulence.There were no significant side effects with Colpermin and it was well-tolerated.   

Liu JH, Chen GH, Yeh HZ, et al.J Gastroenterol 1997 Dec 32: 6 765-8.

1.www.geocities.com/chadrx/pepper.html

2.www.mycustompak.com/healthNotes/Concern/irritable_bowel.html

3.http://www.edensbest.ca/

 4.www.lifeextension.com/Magazine/2002/11/report_ibs/page-01

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