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Mint for crampy gut (IBS) 薄荷理气
Digestion 消化肠胃 proven evidenceWhat the evidence says:
Enteric-coated peppermint-oil capsules are among the best-evidenced IBS treatments (multiple meta-analyses; NNT ≈ 3 for global symptom relief). Mint tea is the gentle traditional cousin.
Enteric-coated peppermint-oil capsules are among the best-evidenced IBS treatments (multiple meta-analyses; NNT ≈ 3 for global symptom relief). Mint tea is the gentle traditional cousin.
How to make it
Tea: fresh or dried mint steeped 5 min after meals. For diagnosed IBS, the studied form is enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules — ask a pharmacist.
Why it works
Note stress-gut link (the 肝木克脾土 idea) — mint + slow meals beats mint alone.
Classical source
Mint moves constrained Liver qi in formulas like 逍遥散 (Song dynasty) — the classical frame for stress-knotted digestion.
Cautions: Can worsen reflux (relaxes the lower oesophageal sphincter). May reduce milk supply when breastfeeding.