St. Johns wart (SJW) is a herbal preparation extracted from the plant Hypericum perforatum. Some believe it is a “natural” alternative to antidepressants used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigators assessed SJW’s effectiveness in treating IBS for 12 weeks. It turns out that those treated with the placebo reported significantly (p=0.03) greater improvements in controlling bowl symptoms than those treated with SJW.
PositiveTip: If you suffer from IBS, talk to your physician openly about the simple, lifestyle things you can do to control the problem.