Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional bowel disorder that accounts for a significant proportion of patients seen in gastroenterology offices and is characterized by chronic or recurrent abdominal pain and disturbed defecation.

Studies in the United States and Australia suggest that between 10% and 20% of the population have this disorder. No single available treatment is reliably effective for this condition, and patients use a variety of approaches for symptom management, including drugs, dietary modifications, and counseling.

• Content—Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional bowel disorder for which there is no reliable medical treatment.
  Objective—To determine whether Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is of any benefit in the treatment of IBS.
• Patients—A total of 116 patients who fulfilled the Rome criteria, an established standard for diagnosis of IBS.
• Main Outcome Measures—Change in total bowel symptom scale scores and global improvement assessed by patients and gastroenterologists and change in the degree of interference in life caused by IBS symptoms assessed by patients.
• Results—Compared with patients in the placebo group, patients in the active treatment groups (standard and individualized CHM) had significant improvement in bowel symptom scores as rated by patients. Patients reported that treatment significantly reduced the degree of interference with life caused by IBS symptoms.

(Source: JAMA, November 11, 1998)