A therapeutic composition is provided that comprises a 1-R1-phenyl, 4-R2-phenyl substituted 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyrimidine-2-one sensory nerve receptor agonist in a therapeutically effective amount. The sensory nerve receptor agonist may be represented by the general formula 1-[R1-phenyl]-4-[R2-phenyl]-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyrimidine-2-one wherein: R1 may be -hydroxy, -chloro, -fluoro, -alkyl, -acetoxy, -trifluoromethyl ; and R2 is -nitro, -chloro, -fluoro, -alkyl, -trifluoromethyl. Therapeutic compositions of the invention reduce pain, a sense of abdominal distension, tenesmus, and abnormal bowel function when formulated for oral delivery to human gastrointestinal tract and are useful to alleviate gastrointestinal dysfunction.