Other Treatment

A wide range of other therapies has been used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Treatment methods that help you better cope with stress can help reduce symptoms.

Other Treatment Choices

Psychological treatment

A summary of studies compared psychological treatment to other treatments for people with IBS. It showed that psychological treatment relieves IBS symptoms better than no treatment at all. The studies show that all types of psychological treatment result in some improvement in symptoms and in general well-being. These treatments include behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, hypnosis, relaxation therapy, and biofeedback as well as various combinations of these therapies.⁶

The following treatment options may help relieve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). These treatment methods are usually more effective if they are used along with other treatment methods, such as diet changes, stress reduction, and sometimes medication.

• Therapy.Psychotherapy and behavioral therapy have been shown to help both with stress and with the digestive symptoms and pain caused by IBS. This treatment may also help some people live better with IBS.⁷
• Hypnosis.Hypnosis has been shown to help with pain and, in some cases, with the digestive symptoms caused by IBS. Some studies also show an improvement in the anxiety caused by having IBS.⁷
• Relaxation or meditation. Relaxation training and meditation involve concentrating on a word, image, or phrase for a given length of time to reach a state of deep relaxation. Studies have shown relaxation therapy can help with symptoms of IBS such as pain, tenderness, diarrhea, and constipation.⁷ Used regularly, these techniques can help you during stressful situations. With practice, you can learn to relax easily in almost any setting.
• Biofeedback.Biofeedback training, combined with some of the other psychological treatments listed above, has been studied as treatment for IBS. Improvement in symptoms, such as pain, was shown in some of the studies.⁷

Complementary treatment

Because IBS is so different for each person and because no medicines have been proven to work really well for IBS, many people try alternative or complementary treatments. Some of these treatments have been studied and some have not. The evidence to support their use varies as much as the evidence seen when medicines for IBS are studied.

• Herbal therapies, including Ayurvedic medicine and Chinese herbal medicine, may improve the symptoms of IBS. This has been shown in many studies of herbal therapy for IBS.⁸
• Acupuncture is used as a treatment for IBS. But the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating IBS is still unknown.⁹
• Peppermint oil has also been used to treat IBS. Studies have shown that peppermint oil works better than a placebo to improve symptoms by preventing cramps and spasms in the intestines.⁷
• Aloe is commonly used for IBS, especially IBS with constipation. There is currently no evidence for the use of aloe as an effective treatment for IBS.
• Ginger has been used to treat nausea and has been studied as a treatment for nausea caused by seasickness and surgery. It is not known how well ginger helps in IBS.

Antibiotics

Experts are studying whether antibiotics may relieve symptoms of IBS. One small study showed that the antibiotic rifaximin (Xifaxan) relieved the symptoms of stomach bloating and gas. More studies are needed to show if antibiotics relieve long-term symptoms.¹⁰

What To Think About

Some people have been successful at handling stressful situations and controlling their symptoms after trying psychological therapies. These techniques are not harmful and have no side effects. Some of them can be used before a stressful event to prevent or reduce symptoms.