If you have been reading a lot of straight down the line medical type books on irritable bowel syndrome then this title will be a breath of fresh air.

Without omitting important medical information on IBS it avoids boring or confusing the reader with too much technical medical information and instead focuses on what it is like to have the condition and the simple natural approaches that can be taken to deal with it.

The author focuses on dietary advice, including many delicious recipes, and stress reduction techniques such as meditation, yoga, and various relaxation techniques. Their is a compassionate tone throughout the book which is exactly what those suffering from this frustrating condition need.

Obviously this book is one sided in its approach to IBS being purely from a natural medicine perspective, but if you suffer from IBS and have had no help from the standard drug/psychotherapy approach, or you simply prefer not to pursue those options, it could be just what you are looking for.

This book is written by a gastroenterologist, a nutritionist, and a psychologist. As such it is marketed as a guide to coping with irritable bowel syndrome by 3 experts in fields associated with the condition.

I think the most accurate description of this book is that it is a comprehensive, well written, and readable guide on the orthodox views of IBS. It covers diagnosis, research findings, and how diet and stress trigger symptoms and affect their severity. As far as it goes, the advice will likely be useful to a lot of IBS sufferers.

The obvious downside to this book is that it looks at the condition purely from an orthodox medical perspective and seems comfortable with the limitations that this narrow view brings. There are many effective solutions for IBS in the field of alternative/complementary medicine from the use of probiotics to the use of IgG food sensitivity testing and appropriate elimination diet. These approaches are also backed by research it should be noted and by a considerable number of patient reports. On a personal note, I have found these methods much more effective than the limited advice I received from a gastroenterologist and a dietician after being diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome myself.

The suggestion by the nutritionist in this book that IBS sufferers should load up with insoluble fibre from wheat is sure to confuse many patients and health professionals alike. It is widely known that celiac disease (gluten/wheat allergy) is underdiagnosed and many patients diagnosed with IBS may in fact have this condition. Suggesting patients consume large amounts of gluten containing wheat and other grains is risky at best in this situation in my opinion. Gluten and wheat are known to be irritating to the gut lining even if celiac disease is not present.

In summary I would find it hard to recommend this as the only book an IBS patient should read on the subject. As part of a larger library of IBS titles it may be worth having however as it does present orthodox medical views well. Personally I would suggest readers try a more rounded book first or perhaps buy a book about the alternative/complementary medicine approach to IBS along with this title.

This book was recommended to me by many peopl, including an IBS specialist who provided an article for the site.

Dr. Gershon has conducted extensive research into the nervous system of the gut or 'second brain'. Most people don't realize how strong the link between the brain and the gut actually is, what goes on in one intimately affects the other. The gut contains nervous tissues and neurotransmitters otherwise only found in the brain. In fact the majority of the serotonin in the body, the chemical associated with mood and depression, is actually found in the gut.

The first part of this book discusses the latest findings in this very new area of study. You should be warned that it is not an easy read so pick a time when you're feeling clear headed. The second part of the book offers practical advice based on these findings for sufferers of IBS and other functional bowel disorders.

Another area that should be of great interest to anyone visiting this website is the that Gershon recognizes that the link isn't a one way thing and that anything affecting the gut (potentially candida, bacteria, food sensitivities etc) will have an impact on thinking and mood. As I write this the amount of 'second brain' research being carried out is rapidly increasing so hopefully it will yield many more answers.

A challenging book at times but one that is ultimately rewarding for those affected by functional bowel disorders such as IBS.

Having suffered from irritable bowel syndrome from childhood the author of this book is well qualified to offer advice to those just recently diagnosed.

A diagnosis of IBS can be frustrating as the conventional therapies offered by your doctor are likely to be very limited in both number and effectiveness. If every patient were to be given this book they would probably fair a lot better.

Heather Van Vorous starts of by teaching the reader how the digestive system should work and what goes wrong in IBS. She goes on to discuss a range of dietary modifications and other techniques that can offer relief from symptoms. These other techniques include stress management, the use of nutritional and herbal supplements, gentle exercises, and acupuncture.

As well as educating the reader about their condition and what can be done to help, Van Vorous also offers a wealth of practical tips for making the most of doctors visits, enjoying holidays/vacations to the full, and eating at restaurants or at friends/relatives houses.

Some commentators have argued over specific dietary recommendations that the author makes but by and large the advice is very accurate and reasonable an perhaps some people forget that this is advice for "the first year", not forever.

A recently diagnosed IBS patient cannot go far wrong picking up a copy of this book.