RESEARCH shows that a vibrating pill could offer relief from chronic constipation.
A U.S. study of 250 severely affected patients who took the Vibrant battery-powered capsule, found that 20 per cent had more spontaneous bowel movements than those given a placebo, reports the journal Neuro- gastroenterology & Motility.
The 2cm-long, single-use capsule is programmed to activate after a set number of hours. It begins to vibrate as it moves through the digestive system.
The device is thought to work by shaking the tissue of the bowel wall, which results in the release of any blockages.
The researchers suggested it might be more effective if used to coincide with the body clock’s timing for bowel movements.
