Recent research proved the efficacy of old remedies like peppermint oil and soluble fibre in treatments of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). According to statistics, 5% and 20% of the UK population suffer from IBS which is characterized by abdominal pain and an irregular bowel habit.

Researchers analyzed the data collected from randomized trails comparing fibre, antispasmodics and peppermint oil with placebo or no treatment. More than 2500 adult patients with IBS were studied during trails.

Data analysis established fibre, antispasmodics and peppermint oil as effective treatments for IBS without any side effects.

Data analysis of 12 studies involving 591 patients and compared fibre with placebo, or no treatment showed that only isphaghula husk (soluble fibre) was beneficial whereas insoluble fibre such as bran were not effective.

Analysis of data collected from 22 studies comparing various antispasmodics with placebo in 1778 patients showed that hyoscine, extracted from the cork wood tree, was the most successful at preventing symptoms of IBS.

Four trials involving 392 patients showed that peppermint oil is the most effective treatment of the three.

Lead resaecher, Dr Alex Jones, a gastroenterologist who has recently moved from Canada - where he did the research to St James University Hospital in Leeds - said the treatments were cheap, safe and had been in use for 15 to 20 years. He added that they fell out of favor with the development of new drugs.