title: Complementary and alternative medicine and mind-body therapies for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome in women.
abstract: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder, characterized by chronic or recurrent abdominal pain with constipation, diarrhea and/or an alternation of the two, and often bloating. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) consists of a group of medical treatments that are not commonly considered to be a part of traditional medicine. CAM is commonly used for difficult-to-treat chronic medical conditions. Many patients choose CAM because there are only a limited number of treatments available for IBS or because they would like to have a 'natural therapy'. Mind-body therapies for IBS have proven efficacy, but have not been well accepted by patients or practitioners for treatment. This article reviews the use of CAM and mind-body therapies in IBS, with a focus on probiotics, acupuncture, herbal medicines and psychological therapies.
authors.affiliation: Norwalk Hospital, 30 Stevens Street, Suite D, Norwalk, CT 06850, USA.
authors.forename: Suma S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Magge
authors.forename: Jacqueline L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D026441:Mind-Body Therapies / Q000379:methods*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012064:Relaxation Therapy / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D028321:Plant Preparations