Integrative Approaches to Managing Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

The purpose of this project is to examine whether a low cost, group-oriented integrative medicine approach to irritable bowel syndrome improves participant outcomes. The intervention will combine nutrition counseling on the low FODMAP diet (decreased grains and other disaccharides) and mind-body training with follow-up health coaching. These participants will be randomized to either a 4-week group-oriented treatment intervention incorporating a low FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols) diet and mind-body therapies followed by an 8-week health coaching follow-up period or a waitlist control group. At the end of the 12-week study period, waitlist subjects will be offered the four-week nutrition and mind-body intervention. Over the 12-week study period, we will examine and report on the impact of this treatment intervention on IBS symptoms and quality of life in this population. The investigators will collect data on IBS outcomes as well as on depression and stress.