An American gastroenterologist introduced treatments recommended by official academic societies, stating that most irritable bowel syndrome therapies circulating online lack scientific evidence. Provided by Getty Images Bank.
TikTok and YouTube are flooded with videos claiming that chamomile tea, abdominal massage, and probiotics are effective for irritable bowel syndrome. While patients easily find and follow these methods, experts say they are not medically proven. A gastroenterologist from Harvard Medical School has pointed out the problems with groundless folk remedies and introduced treatments that have actually been verified.
On the 27th (local time), The Washington Post published an article by Dr. Trisha Pasricha, a gastroenterologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, that addresses the myths and truths of irritable bowel syndrome treatment.
Most information about irritable bowel syndrome circulating online has a weak scientific basis. In 2025, a research team from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center analyzed over 130 popular medical videos on TikTok and found that only about 20% of the content was created by medical professionals. The study also found that videos about chamomile tea and abdominal massage, which had high view counts, mostly lacked scientific evidence. The findings were published in the ‘American Journal of Gastroenterology (AJG)’.
“Many of the treatments currently spreading online are nowhere to be found in the clinical guidelines of gastroenterology societies,” Dr. Pasricha pointed out.
Although irritable bowel syndrome is widely perceived as a disease with an unknown cause, experts say this is not true. Many of the molecular and cellular changes that occur in the gut have already been identified. By analyzing the approximately 500 million nerve cells in the gut, experts have specified what abnormalities appear in patients.
However, standard tests like colonoscopies and blood tests often show normal results in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. This is because most of the gut’s nervous system is located deep within the muscle layers of the intestinal wall, making it difficult to detect with an endoscope. A normal colonoscopy or blood test result does not mean there is no problem with the gut. If the gut nerves are hypersensitive, stimuli like gas or food can be perceived as pain. Micro-inflammation and abnormal gut motility can also trigger symptoms.
The cause of irritable bowel syndrome should not be solely attributed to stress or psychological factors. While it is true that stress exacerbates symptoms, the reverse can also be true: gut problems can first arise and then cause stress, anxiety, and depression.
Treatment for irritable bowel syndrome focuses on controlling pain signals and regulating gut motility. The first-line treatment recommended is the intake of soluble dietary fiber, such as psyllium husk. Both a large-scale meta-analysis published in the AJG in 2014 and the 2021 clinical practice guidelines from the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) have confirmed its effectiveness in alleviating symptoms. When taking it, it’s important to drink more water than usual. Caution is needed as insoluble dietary fiber can actually worsen symptoms.
A diet that restricts certain fermentable carbohydrates can also be helpful for some patients. It is advisable to identify and reduce only the foods that trigger symptoms, rather than eliminating all such foods for a long period.
The American College of Gastroenterology recommends peppermint for mild symptoms. Randomized controlled trials have confirmed its effectiveness in relieving gut spasms. Regular exercise and reducing ultra-processed foods can also help improve gut function.
Although probiotics are commonly known to be good for gut health, there is no evidence to support their use as a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome. The American College of Gastroenterology does not recommend probiotics, and the American Gastroenterological Association explicitly opposed their use in its 2021 clinical practice guidelines.
Abdominal massage also has limited effectiveness. According to a 2024 meta-analysis by a research team from Taiwan’s National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, published in the ‘International Journal of Nursing Studies’, it has a slight relieving effect on chronic constipation in adults but not to the extent that it can reduce medication intake. Dr. Pasricha drew a line, stating, “It’s not harmful, but there isn’t enough data to support its therapeutic effect yet.”
The same applies to at-home gut microbiome test kits. Although they are gaining popularity in the United States, they are not clinically validated and should be avoided.
If first-line treatments are not effective, medication can be considered. “You shouldn’t endure the pain alone; you should see a gastroenterologist,” Dr. Pasricha emphasized. “Irritable bowel syndrome is a real and treatable disease. You should receive evidence-based treatment rather than relying on unverified information.”
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