IBgard Gut Health Supplement, Peppermint Oil Capsules for Abdominal Comfort, 48 Capsules

Physician with IBS-D here. My experience with this product has been very good. The next day after taking it for the first time I had my first normal BM in many, many months. I've found Heather's Tummy Tamers to work well also but these seem to have a better enteric coating on them. If taken on an empty stomach and with not too much water, I get no minty reflux at all. The price is more than Heather's, but I'll pay more to avoid the reflux. For those wondering about it, the reflux is because peppermint oil is a smooth muscle relaxant. That's how it works in the gut -- the gut wall is smooth muscle, and in IBS it is contracting too much or too forcefully or not in a patterned way. However, the gastroesophageal sphincter is also smooth muscle, and that is what prevents reflux. Relax it with peppermint and you get reflux. Enteric coatings work by not dissolving in an acidic environment -- like your stomach. However, if you dilute your stomach acid with food or beverage while the peppermint capsule is in there, then the coating will dissolve and you will get the reflux. Hence, take your enteric coated peppermint, whether this product or heather's, 30 minutes to an hour before eating, using enough water be sure you got it down and no more.The "number needed to treat" for peppermint oil for IBS is very low -- around 2.5. That means for every 5 people treated with peppermint oil, 2 will experience benefit. That may sound like a not-so-good number, but actually in pharmacology that is a very good NNT. For comparison, the NNT for prescription antispasmodics like Bentyl and Levsin is in the 3-7 range, which is also quite good, but compare those numbers to something like Xifaxan which has an NNT of 11 and costs $900-1,800 per month and you begin to appreciate that peppermint oil is winner. And with a low cost and low side effect profile, it's almost impossible to beat from a cost/side effect/NNT combined perspective.Give peppermint oil a try. Try Heather's first if you don't have any problems with reflux as Heather's is much cheaper. IBS is multifactorial. If peppermint oil doesn't help you, then gut hypermotility or dismotility is not your problem and you will need to try something else -- FODMAP diet, prebiotics, probiotics, and EXERCISE (that one is for everyone no matter what, of course). If it helps a little, you will need something else in addition to it. And for some lucky folks, this is all you will need.

I read about this supplement from Healthline—a newsletter on IBS-D. I’ve been using it for about 3 months and I truly believe it helps. I also use Florastor probiotics which was also suggested by Healthline. I am very happy with both products.

I think it works great! You can feel it go into affect very soon after taking one of the capsules, for instance I burp peppermint. But I feel it has really help my bloating! Very easy package to carry with you and the capsules smell very pepperminty!

This brand is very useful and reliable for natural treatment of IBS. But the price, although I understand the price should be competitive, this product is a bit too pricey. But if you don't mind paying a little more for a dependable product, then okay.

This really helps with bloating and pain! I couldn't believe it! I take it with meals that I think may bloat me and it helps!! It does have a minty after taste but I didn't mind it. I wish they were cheaper, but I love having a natural product that my GI doc recommended

Good product for IBS sufferers. Doctor recommended. Able to eat most meals. Peppermint oil is the only ingredient. Smooths the intestinal walls and relaxes the muscles.

I tried this product at a doctor's recommendation to help manage gas and bloating from IBS but sadly, it made my symptoms worse. I tried it twice. The first time I took 2 capsules 3 times a day for two weeks. By the end of the second week I had intense abdominal pain that kept me up for two nights. I was also nauseous and constipated. I waited a couple of months and tried it again using a much small amount (2 capsules 3 days a week). By the end of the third week I had the same symptoms I'd had before. The pills are hard to swallow but I followed the instructions carefully and did not experience any reflux. I never tasted peppermint at all. I know peppermint oil helps some people but it did not help me and I won't use it again.

My doctor recommended using this whenever I have any IBS like symptoms or stomach issues. I think it makes a difference and always keep it on hand now. No side effects just stomach relief.