As many as 20 percent of the adult population, or one in five Americans, has symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), making it one of the most common disorders diagnosed by doctors. In an effort to bring attention to the symptoms and difficulties associated with the disorder, April has been designated as IBS Awareness Month.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine conducts and supports research on many types of diseases and disorders, including IBS. Researchers are studying the effects of acupuncture and the placebo effect on pain caused by IBS. The results have not been published yet.