Re: Can too much peppermint cause constipation?
08/23/05 12:31 PM
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Sand
Reged: 12/13/04
Posts: 4490
Loc: West Orange, NJ (IBS-D)
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I think so, although frankly I'm just feeling pretty confused by the whole IBS-C/spasm connection right now. Anyhow, here's my thinking on your question:
I used to think that Heather was saying that IBS-D and IBS-C were both caused by an overactive gastrocolic reflex, but after going back through "The First Year", I'm not so sure about this anymore. If you look at Footnote 2 on this page from "The First Year", it sounds like the last thing someone with constipation would want is a more relaxed colon. Given that, it makes sense that peppermint would be helping with your pain and spams, since it's an anti-spasmodic, but could also be relaxing your digestive tract more than you want.
On the other hand, "Eating For IBS" says "Constipation may follow an attack as the colon 'shuts down' in response to the earlier spasms, and can then become an ongoing problem in its own right." (The quote in the book differs from the quote on this Website.) This makes it sound like constipation IS the result of colon spasms. This is also in keeping with the description of IBS in The New York Times article jaime_g posted. In this scenario, it sounds like reducing spasms should reduce constipation, since it's the severe spasming that leads to the constipation.
Hence my confusion.
BTW, how did your Sitz marker test for STC go?
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