Peppermint oil may help children suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) researchers report this week. In a study of youngsters aged 8 to 17, peppermint oil capsules helped relieve IBS, acollection of gastrointestinal symptoms including bloating, severe abdominal pain, andcycles of constipation and diarrhea that do not fit into known disease categories. "Peppermint oil should be considered for the treatment of moderate levels of pain inchildren with IBS," said study leader Dr. Robert M. Kline, at the University of Missouri-Columbia. In the 2-week study, funded by Swiss company Tillotts Pharma AG, 42 children with IBS were treated with peppermint oil or an inactiveplacebo pill. Results suggested that while peppermint oil reduced the severity ofabdominal pain, it did not reduce other symptoms. The report claims that more studies are required to investigate the impact of peppermint oil on IBS in children. Full findings are published in the Journal of Pediatrics 2001;138:125-128. Source: Reuters Health
