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Rooted

Digestive

IBS

6 plants

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Rome criteria and red-flag exclusion belong to you, not the catalog. Enteric-coated peppermint oil is the preparation with adult trial data for IBS-type spasm — leaf tea is not that product. Soluble fiber (psyllium) is first-line diet therapy, especially IBS-C. Plants do not treat IBD, celiac, or microscopic colitis.

  • IBS-D

    Enteric peppermint oil is the usual plant pick. Avoid stimulant laxatives. Check bile-acid diarrhea and microscopic colitis when the story is wrong.

  • IBS-C

    Psyllium first. Senna is short-course only — not an IBS maintenance plant. Hydration and dose titration prevent paradoxic bloating.

  • IBS-M

    Psyllium plus a spasmolytic (enteric peppermint) is the usual pairing. Chase the dominant symptom that week, not both at once.

Primary plants

  1. Peppermint (Mentha × piperita)
    1
    PeppermintHuman data

    Mentha × piperita

    Enteric-coated oil is the best-studied plant for IBS spasm. Menthol is a smooth-muscle relaxant — tea is not the trial product.

    Typical. Adults: 0.2–0.4 mL enteric-coated oil bid–tid (EMA HMPC-type range).

    Safety. Worsens GERD if coat fails. Never in infants (laryngeal spasm). Not spearmint or pennyroyal.

  2. Psyllium (Plantago ovata)
    2
    PsylliumHuman data

    Plantago ovata

    Viscous soluble fiber with IBS and constipation trial data. Titrate slowly.

    Typical. Start ~5 g/day, titrate toward 10 g with water. Separate from meds 2 h.

    Safety. Obstruction risk if dry. Binds levothyroxine and some other orals.

  3. German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
    3
    German chamomileStrong traditional

    Matricaria chamomilla

    Traditional GI nervine/carminative for the anxious belly. Evidence is traditional plus small combination-product data.

    Typical. Flower tea 1–2 g tid, or as part of a carminative blend.

    Safety. Asteraceae allergy.

  4. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
    4
    FennelStrong traditional

    Foeniculum vulgare

    Carminative for bloating and crampy gas; some dysmenorrhea overlap.

    Typical. Crushed seed tea 1–2 g. Essential oil internally is a different, more concentrated object.

    Safety. Apiaceae allergy. High-dose oil: estragole theoretical. Culinary seed is the usual form.

Supportive plants2
  • Caraway (Carum carvi)
    CarawayHuman data
    Carum carvi

    Carminative; often paired with peppermint in European dyspepsia/IBS-type products.

    Typical. As in combination enteric products, or seed tea 1–2 g.

    Safety. Similar mint/LES caution when oil is not enteric. Apiaceae allergy.

  • Artichoke (Cynara scolymus)
    ArtichokeHuman data
    Cynara scolymus

    Bitter/choleretic used in functional dyspepsia with bloating; not an IBS-D antidiarrheal.

    Typical. Leaf extract per product; typical trial range ~640 mg/day divided.

    Safety. Bile-duct obstruction is a stop. Not a fat-blocker.

Clinical notes

  • Enteric coat integrity matters — crushed capsules dump menthol in the stomach.
  • Antacids can dissolve the coat early.
  • FODMAP work and CBT-gut still have a better outcome file than most herbs.

When this is not enough

  • Rectal bleeding, nocturnal diarrhea, fever, iron-deficiency anemia
  • Onset after age 50, family history of IBD/CRC — do not herb this
  • Unintentional weight loss, persistent vomiting

Rooted is a private clinical reference for licensed practitioners. It is educational, not a treatment protocol, and not a substitute for the chart, the exam, or pharmacy review. Plant medicines interact with drugs and can harm liver, kidney, heart, pregnancy, and children.

All digestive diagnoses