Cognitive behavioral therapy provided modest IBS symptom improvement (similar to other forms of psychotherapy) in a small number of studies.[1] Hypnotherapy has also been found to help about 50% of the participants in the few studies that have been performed.[2] Psyllium husk is an over-the-counter fiber supplement that can normalize stool and reduce symptoms in IBS.[3] Acupuncture has also been studied, but it was no more effective than the sham (or placebo) treatment, so its benefits are very likely due to the placebo effect.[4]
References
- ^Black CJ, Thakur ER, Houghton LA, Quigley EMM, Moayyedi P, Ford ACEfficacy of psychological therapies for irritable bowel syndrome: systematic review and network meta-analysis.Gut.(2020-08)
- ^Schaefert R, Klose P, Moser G, Häuser WEfficacy, tolerability, and safety of hypnosis in adult irritable bowel syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis.Psychosom Med.(2014-Jun)
- ^Paul Moayyedi, Eamonn M M Quigley, Brian E Lacy, Anthony J Lembo, Yuri A Saito, Lawrence R Schiller, Edy E Soffer, Brennan M R Spiegel, Alexander C FordThe effect of fiber supplementation on irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysisAm J Gastroenterol.(2014 Sep)
- ^Zheng H, Chen R, Zhao X, Li G, Liang Y, Zhang H, Chi ZComparison between the Effects of Acupuncture Relative to Other Controls on Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis.Pain Res Manag.(2019)