title: Complementary and alternative medicine for the irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common chronic gastrointestinal disorder, characterized by chronic or recurrent abdominal pain and bloating. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a diverse group of medical treatments that are not commonly considered to be a part of conventional medicine yet frequently used together with conventional medicine. CAM is widely used, particularly for chronic medical conditions that are difficult to treat. Because only a limited number of treatments are available for IBS, many patients choose CAM. This article reviews current evidence supporting the use of CAM in IBS, with a focus on prebiotics, acupuncture, and herbal medicines.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Rabb/Rose 1, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Suma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Magge
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lembo
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D056692:Prebiotics
chemical_list: D028321:Plant Preparations; D056692:Prebiotics