The gut and brain are intimately connected, with more nerve cells in the intestines than in the central nervous system. The gut has been called the body’s second brain, containing 95 percent of the body’s neurotransmitter serotonin and direct nerve connections to the brain.

There are more nerve cells in the intestines than in the central nervous system. So it is no surprise that a disorder of intestinal function has a strong mind-body connection. This does not mean I.B.S. is a psychosomatic condition caused by emotions, but rather that emotional upsets can aggravate symptoms in someone with a hyper-reactive bowel.

It also means that learning to minimize stress and emotional disturbances can reduce the symptoms of I.B.S., perhaps more effectively than medications, recent research has indicated. In other words a mind-body approach is more effective than either alone.

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