More than 1 million people in the United States suffer from IBD, a painful and debilitating chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. The two most common forms of IBD are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. There is no cure. Studies have found higher than normal levels of "bad" bacteria in the intestinal tracts of people with IBD and there is growing evidence that the balance of the intestinal microflora may play an important role in the development of IBD. Probiotics help restore the balance of bacteria in the intestinal tract to one that favors beneficial bacteria over potentially harmful bacteria. Research about the role that probiotics may play in this area is in the early stages.