Scientists for the first time could explain how mint helps to relieve irritable bowel syndrome. This illness, according to Science Daily, affects up to 20% of the population.

In an article published in the journal Bol, researchers at the University of Adelaide explain that mint activates the "anti-pain" channel in the colon, soothing inflammatory pain in the gastrointestinal tract.

Dr. Stuart Birrley notes that mint has long been widely used in naturopathy, but so far there have been no clinical data to understand why it is so effective in relieving pain.

"Our study shows," he says, "that mint acts through a specific channel called TRPM8, reducing pain in sensitive fibers, especially those activated with mustard and pepper. Potentially this is the first step in determining a new type of general clinical treatment for irritable bowel syndrome ".

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal disorder that causes abdominal pain, swelling, diarrhea, or constipation. This disease affects about 15-20% of the adult population of the Earth (about 22 million), two-thirds of patients - women. For today, there is no specific medicine for IBS. The syndrome can appear and disappear throughout the life of a person.

In some people, IBS symptoms appear after eating fatty and spicy foods, coffee and alcohol, but, according to doctors, the causes of the disease can be more difficult. There is an opinion that IBS is associated with a history of gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and intestines). In some cases, the syndrome can be caused by food poisoning, stress, a response to antibiotics, and in some cases due to heredity.

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