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News and Features Related to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

WebMD 5: Gastrointestinal Disorders

Do you have bloating? Heartburn? Stomach pain? Jonathan Schreiber, MD, gastroenterologist at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore and clinical assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, sheds light on gastrointestinal disorders. There are definitely some differences, and part
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Very Restricted Diet May Reduce Symptoms of IBS

Nov. 3, 2011 (Washington, D.C.) -- A very restricted diet that that is low in certain natural sugars may help relieve bloating, gas, abdominal pain, and other symptoms in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Australian researchers report. Known as a low-FODMAP diet, it doesn't work for everyo
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Finding the Right Diet for IBS

It's not easy to find the right diet when you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Eating certain foods can cause major discomfort for people with IBS, but figuring out which foods cause the symptoms is a highly individual process. WebMD consulted gastrointestinal nutrition expert Patsy Catsos, MS,
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Experimental Drug May Treat Chronic Constipation

Aug. 10, 2011 -- Two studies show that a new kind of experimental medication relieves the pain and bloating of persistent constipation better than a placebo. The studies, which are published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that linoclotide relieved chronic constipation in up to 21% of
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Mindfulness Meditation May Cut IBS Symptoms

May 10, 2011 -- People who practice the meditative technique called mindfulness meditation may be able to reduce the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a new study shows. The study found that the physical and psychological symptoms of IBS were more effectively managed by people practicing m
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2 Weeks of Antibiotic Therapy Relieves IBS

Jan. 5, 2011 -- A two-week course of the antibiotic rifaximin (Xifaxan) helps to relieve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and the relief lasts up to 10 weeks after stopping the medication, according to new research. ''The major finding was that all IBS symptoms improved," says Mark Pi
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Secrecy May Be Unnecessary for Placebo Effect

Dec. 22, 2010 -- Patients with irritable bowel syndrome felt better after knowingly taking a placebo, suggesting that the secrecy of giving patients “dummy pills” may not be necessary, Harvard researchers report. In a trial involving 80 patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), investigators fro
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Probiotic Helps Children's Stomach Pain

Nov. 16, 2010 -- A common probiotic may help ease tummy troubles for children with chronic stomach pain caused by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A new study shows the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG, commonly known as lactobacillus GG or LGG, significantly reduced the severity and frequ
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome in the Brain

July 23, 2010 -- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may be in the brain, not in the mind. IBS patients tend to suffer anxiety and depression, but they tire of being told their symptoms of diarrhea, constipation, and/or pain are all in their minds. Now there's evidence that their underlying problem may b
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St. John's Wort May Not Help IBS

Jan. 7, 2010 -- The herbal supplement St. John's wort is unlikely to ease symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), according to a new study. The study, published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, is the first to scientifically evaluate St. John's wort as a treatment for IBS. The herb i
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