IBgardGut Health Supplement, Peppermint Oil Capsules for Abdominal Comfort, 96 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 have colitis and IBgard has been my companion for 6 years. It is very helpful for the symptoms of this condition, and is safe to use. Peppermint oil is the ingredient, which other, less expensive brands do offer, but IBgard is doctor recommended for quality and consistently controlled ingredients.

Why did you pick this product vs others?:A friend of mine talked to me about it, thinking it will help with my Ulcerative Colitis condition. I been using it since then for urgency. It works great ! Thanks

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.

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!

Recommended by my doctor. He specifically said no generics! Works well. Very pleased. The mint is detectable after swallowing unless a little food is eaten afterwards. The mint is not unpleasant though.

Somehow I missed the "Important Information" section here in the IBGuard product information. Assuming I was "in flare," I started right off taking two capsules 30 minutes before my three meals a day for the first four days. Almost immediately, I got painful and persistent heartburn in my upper right chest area. I have rarely had heartburn in my entire life. As a result, I will cut back to one pill a day. If the heartburn persists, these wildly overpriced pills will go in the garbage. I gave three stars because they do help some with my bloating. I am copying and pasting some of the "Important Information" here."IBgard should be taken as directed by a physician. Usual adult dosage: For daily and proactive gut-health support: Two capsules once a day. Take 30 to 90 minutes before a meal, with water. When in flare: Two capsules, three times a day, for four weeks. Take 30 to 90 minutes before meals, with water. Do not exceed eight capsules per day. Swallow capsules whole or mix microspheres with applesauce. Do not chew.Legal Disclaimer :Possible effects include: Nausea, heartburn and vomiting. May cause digestive upset. Discontinue use of this product immediately."I find it confusing that the usage information is not the same between the "Important Information" section online, and the "Suggested Usage" on the product box. For example, the box says nothing about a 4-month time limit, or just two capsules a day for daily use.P.S. In fairness to IBGuard, I should state that I take a PPI (either omeprazole or pantoprazole) every day at approximately 5:00 a.m. I haven't been taking the first IBGuard pills until about 9:00 a.m. I thought this would be okay considering the time interval, but the PPI's are time release tablets so perhaps the fact that they lower my stomach acid may mean that the enteric coated IBGuard pills are dissolving in my stomach, giving me heartburn, rather than passing through my stomach and dissolving in my small intestine where they are supposed to dissolve. So, in essence, my particular medication may be interacting with the IBGuard and causing the heartburn.

Natural product, effective.