I found the book very helpful. I don't think there are easy answers to digestive problems because there are so many factors affecting each person at once. The author shows you how to keep a food journal (which my doctor has been telling me to do for years) which not only has columns for what you ate or drank, but also what else you were doing, who was with you, where you were and how you were feeling, because your digestive problems can be a combination of what you eat, how stressed out you are, how rushed you are, etc. I found a lot of useful information in the book, but it still comes down to the fact that you have to make the effort to find your personal digestive problems and solutions.

It is great to find a book by a practicing gastroenterologist who promotes a medicine-free healing plan! Gitnick's book reminds us all of the importance of a complete healing program, including exercise, stress reduction, positive attitude, eating those foods which don't bother us, and seeking support from others. The author discusses scenarios when it may be necessary to combine medicine with these success factors and how they can work together to promote healing. This book contains many case studies and patient anecdotes, and is written in a positive, uplifting way. The book may draw criticism in that is does not dictate specific solutions or provide explicit answers; instead, it gives the reader information and tools (like a suggested food journal) which the reader can use to answer their own questions.

Well intentioned but regrettably lacking in any real practical advise for those of us who suffer from this very dibilatating syndrome, "Freedom from Digestive Distress : Medicine-Free Relief from Heartburn, Gas, Bloating, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome" was a disappointing read. There is virtually no information on dealing with the embarrassing and often painful situations that are a part of our daily lives. I was looking for answers and got very few: What is the best approach for avoiding problems in a crowded movie theatre after a Mexican dinner? How does one excuse oneself from a staff meeting without arousing suspicions? What is the best way to avoid blame for unpleasant odors in an elevator or a car? How do I explain to my children that "Mommy's gas is involuntary"? How will they learn that passing wind at the dinner table is NOT a joke? These questions are left unanswered, and the reader is left feeling bloated.