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Prospective Observational Study of Naturopathic Approaches to IBS

Who can join

Ages 18 and older · All sexes

Inclusion Criteria:

* Adults (≥18 years of age) who present with a pre-existing IBS diagnosis or IBS- like gastrointestinal symptoms.
* Pre-existing IBS diagnosis or IBS-like gastrointestinal symptoms must be the primary cause of the visit.
* An IBS diagnosis must be listed within the top 3 diagnoses for the visit and addressed in the individualized treatment plan.

Exclusion Criteria:

\*Inability to read and write in English.

About the study

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition affecting about 4% of people worldwide and can significantly impact quality of life and healthcare costs. While there are medications available, few are consistently effective, leading many people with IBS to explore alternative treatments, including naturopathy. However, research on naturopathic approaches to IBS is limited.

This study aims to describe how naturopathy is used to treat IBS and to collect preliminary data on changes in IBS symptoms before and after treatment. It will use a prospective, observational design without a control group, focusing on outcomes from individualized naturopathic care provided by licensed practitioners.

Adult patients with diagnosed IBS or IBS-like symptoms will be recruited from naturopathic doctors affiliated with the Gastroenterology Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Participants' IBS symptoms will be assessed using validated tools (IBS-SSS and IBS-AR), and quality of life will be measured using the PROMIS-29 survey. Treatment details and any adverse effects will also be recorded. The main outcome will be the difference in symptoms and quality of life after 12 weeks of treatment. Results will be analyzed with statistical tests (p-value \< 0.05) and summarized.

The findings from this pilot study will help fill knowledge gaps and provide a foundation for designing a more rigorous randomized controlled trial in the future.

What is being tested

• Naturopathic medicine (other)

Sponsor: National University of Natural Medicine · Participants: 50 · Started: Nov 1, 2024

Contact the study team

• Joshua Goldenberg, ND · Phone: 2068830119

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06721624

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Oct 2, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.