A minty way to relieve IBS discomfort

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a functional bowel disorder characterized by abdominal pain, discomfort or bloating, affects as many as 1 in 5 adults in the U.S.

That's certainly the bad news. But if a report in the current issue of Men's Health magazine is correct, things should be looking a whole lot better for people with IBS in the very near future. That's because a recent study review, published in American Family Physician, reveals that peppermint oil can help alleviate symptoms of IBS. According to the article, among the IBS sufferers who took a dose of peppermint oil three times a day, 79 percent experienced a marked decrease in abdominal discomfort.

Men's Health suggests trying Pepogest soft gels ($9 at mothernature.com), for each capsule contains the same dose of the oil used in the study.