Neither Lactobacillus plantarum 299v nor Saccharomyces boulardii will cure everyone of IBS - that isn't how probiotics work, but both of these two have helped many people.

As the reasons why you get Irritable Bowel Syndrome vary, so do the things that minimize the symptoms of bloating, gas and diarrhea. No one thing seems to work for everyone.

Lactobacillus plantarum 299v is found in many supplements such as Tu-Zen, IBS Support and Proviva. It is the "299v" part of the probiotic bacterium name that is important.

The Lactobacillus plantarum family of lactic acid producing bacteria have been an important part of our diet for most of human evolution and it is only in the last few decades that suddenly, many of us are not getting enough of these important bacteria. For centuries the Lactobacillus plantarum family were used to preserve food. Now, with the advent of freezers and canned goods the old methods of preservation are out of favor.

Many experts believe that this sudden decrease in the beneficial bacterial component of our diet coincides with the increase in gastrointestinal problems that are now so common.

L plantarum 299v has been proven to decrease the amount of flatulence and gas in healthy volunteers and this same decrease, as well as less abdominal bloating and pain, also occurred in patients with IBS.

In test tube studies it has shown antimicrobial activity against nasties such as Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes.

Our other contender, Saccharomyces boulardii, is a yeast that is also proving itself as an IBS natural remedy and it can be found in supplements such as Florastor. It was discovered in the "bloom" on lychee fruit and was already a popular local cure for diarrhea with the Indo-Chinese before the manufacturers found it.

Both of these probiotic supplements have been in numerous studies and whilst they haven't cured everyone, every time - they have certainly helped many.