IBS? success with peppermint oil capsules

[Sminty1]

Hi ,

I have been occasionally having problems for a couple of years now with an ache in my lower left side and pain and discomfort in my hip when getting up etc. Went to the doctor early this year as it was getting worse and I was having a problem with urgency and was starting to have quite a few accidents, so I was getting t,o the point of not wanting to go out. I had a colonoscopy which was clear. While on holiday I looked up IBS (amongst other things!) and found that I had many IBS symptoms, although I do not suffer with bad stomach cramps, just lower left side ache, which is relieved on going to the toilet. I read about peppermint oil capsules and decided to give them a try, albeit with little hope. I used Colpermin and after a couple of days felt a bit better with urgency and ache improving. As I felt better stopped taking them and went back to square one. As soon as I restarted there was improvement again. After a week tried to cut one out at lunchtime, but again started to feel rough again. I am now sticking to 3 a day and feel so much better. No diarrhoea, or urgency or accidents, and generally feeling so much better. I realise now how bad I was feeling before. I checked with my GP and he said it was fine to keep taking them. Even offered to give me them on prescription. I am now using Pepperminn which is much cheaper than Colpermin, and is also enteric coated which I think you need. I know these will not work for everybody, but I would say they are worth giving a try.

[jimh111]

The gut consists of smooth muscle and peppermint is a smooth muscle relaxant so it will ease you gut. You could try magnesium citrate also maybe just one tablet a day as you have diarrhoea.

[Sminty1 in reply to jimh111]

Thank you Jimh111, will give it a go.

[auntyjean]

I use peppermint oil capsules if I get bloating although this is not very often. They help a bit but don't help at all with most pain I get. Glad they help you.