Abstract: Disclosed are methods for the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders. The invention involves using proteins that bind to sweet taste receptors in the gastrointestinal tract to modulate noxious symptoms that occur in patients. The methods involve the use of dried whole miracle berry, dried miracle berry juice, miracle berry extract and/or naturally derived or synthetic miraculin protein that is administered in a delayed release capsule or tablet. Use of a delayed release drug delivery system allows miraculin protein, the active ingredient of miracle berry, to bypass destruction in the acid environment of the stomach. This method also allows for the release of larger concentrations of the active ingredient(s) to be applied directly to portions of the gastrointestinal tract that contain specific sweet taste receptors. The method also suggests that other proteins that bind to sweet taste receptors may be used treat these functional gastrointestinal disorders.