Cologne – a bloated feeling, flatulence, diarrhoea, constipation, pain and a burning feeling in the stomach are all common symptoms of an irritated bowel. Symptoms can last for weeks or months at a time. there are a number of ways to ease these complaints ranging from household remedies to drug therapy.”Most cases of irritable bowel syndrome affect people between 25 and 50 years of age,” says Professor Wolfgang Kruis from the Evangelishes Krankenhaus hospital in Cologne. “But recently we have also discovered that certain physical preconditions, such as a bacterial infection or psychological stress, can lead to the symptoms appearing.”Women, as well as people with mental health problems such as depression or panic attacks, are more likely to suffer from irritable bowel complaints than men.Kruis says that in many cases a doctor can diagnose the syndrome to a high degree of certainty based on knowledge of the patient’s health history. “We now know that symptoms are related to causes of stress in a patient’s life. The symptoms often disappear when the patient goes on holiday, for example.”Nevertheless, physicians still recommend getting a blood test to check for infections. It is also a good idea to have an ultrasound examination of the stomach and a colonoscopy.”In young patients, an internal examination can help diagnose a chronic inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease,” says Professor Irmtraut Koop, chairperson of the North German Society of Gastroenterologists in Hanover.In older patients with recurring incidents of constipation, cancer of the colon may be diagnosed. This is one of the most common cancers today.according to Kruis, conventional medical examinations of patients with symptoms of an irritable bowel often do not reveal anything unusual. But the latest medical research indicates that nerve cells in the intestine are not working properly and that the body’s immune system is malfunctioning.Peppermint oil capsules, artichoke extract, bran, and Psyllium seed husks can be used to ease the symptoms of an irritated bowel. Germany’s Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care has examined a range of studies concerned with treating irritable bowel complaints, including the effects of a roughage diet.Bran is an insoluble form of roughage while Psyllium seed husks are a soluble form that can bind fluid together. according to the institute, Psyllium husks are better for treating an irritable bowel than bran.if constipation continues for a prolonged period of time, Koop recommends using laxatives available from the pharmacy. “You could also try tried and trusted methods like drinking buttermilk or eating prunes.”Koop recommends using peppermint oil capsules to deal with flatulence as studies have shown they can help in many cases. other forms of peppermint such as oil drops or a solution have not been studied in depth.Cramp can be treated by drug therapy such as using a substance that contains the active ingredient Butylscopolamine.