Reaching a consensus on irritable bowel syndrome
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* Paul Lépine

I am surprised that a report from an expert consensus conference on irritable bowel syndrome1 failed to mention the use of peppermint oil. A MEDLINE search using the key words "peppermint oil and irritable bowel" retrieved 33 817 documents. One particularly interesting study was conducted by Pittler and Ernst in 1998.2 I agree that there is no level 1 evidence here, or anywhere else. However, as the authors of the consensus conference report mentioned almost everything else that can be used to treat irritable bowel syndrome, they should have included peppermint oil.

Competing interests: None declared.

## References

1.  1. Paterson WG, Thompson WG, Vanner SJ, Faloon TR, Rosser WW, Birtwhistle RW, et al. Recommendations for the management of irritable bowel syndrome in family practice. CMAJ 1999;161(2):154-60.
    
    [Abstract/FREE Full Text](http://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/ijlink/YTozOntzOjQ6InBhdGgiO3M6MTQ6Ii9sb29rdXAvaWpsaW5rIjtzOjU6InF1ZXJ5IjthOjQ6e3M6ODoibGlua1R5cGUiO3M6NDoiQUJTVCI7czoxMToiam91cm5hbENvZGUiO3M6NDoiY21haiI7czo1OiJyZXNpZCI7czo5OiIxNjEvMi8xNTQiO3M6NDoiYXRvbSI7czoyNDoiL2NtYWovMTYxLzEwLzEyMzcuMi5hdG9tIjt9czo4OiJmcmFnbWVudCI7czowOiIiO30=) 

2.  2. Pittler MH, Ernst E. Peppermint oil for irritable bowel syndrome: a critical review and meta-analysis. Am J Gastroenterol 1998;93:1131-5.
    
    [CrossRef](http://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1111/j.1572-0241.1998.00343.x&link_type=DOI) 
    
    [PubMed](http://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/external-ref?access_num=9672344&link_type=MED&atom=%2Fcmaj%2F161%2F10%2F1237.2.atom) 
    
    [Web of Science](http://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/external-ref?access_num=000074785600024&link_type=ISI)