IBS Hypnotherapy NZ

Gut Directed Hypnotherapy

Gut Directed Hypnotherapy is not new

It was developed by gastroenterologists in the mid-1980s. Since then there have been many studies (see below) confirming its effectiveness as a treatment for IBS.

It is now recommended by NICE – the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in the UK as a treatment for IBS.

In America, a large review published in 2014 by the American Psychosomatic Society, found GDH brought a 54% improvement in patients with IBS who had not responded to conventional therapy.

One particular advantage of gut directed hypnotherapy is that, rather than just relieving a single symptom, it has been shown that it improves many of the features of the condition, including quality of life and psychological status.

How Does Gut Directed Hypnotherapy Create Such Amazing, Positive Results?

IBS is classified as a disorder of the gut-brain interaction. Every day, the brain and the gut communicate 24/7, along what’s known as the ‘gut-brain axis’ in ways that influence digestive function.

In those experiencing IBS, there appears to be a dysregulation of the gut-brain axis, which affects the way the brain responds to signals from the intestinal tract, and the way the intestine responds to signals from the brain. There is no structural damage to the body.

Gut Directed Hypnotherapy uses hypnosis suggestions to specifically target the gut-brain connection. When you accept the suggestions, and action them, you are essentially using your mind to help control and normalise the functioning of your gut.

The suggestions given during a GDH session help to reset the way in which the gut and brain communicate. They also help to calm the nervous system thus enabling you to increase your control over your autonomic body processes, such as how you process pain and modulate gut activity.

GDH is effective at simultaneously reducing all IBS symptoms, including pain, bloating, constipation (IBS-C), diarrhea (IBS-D), cramping, fatigue, back pain, anxiety and low mood.

The Effectiveness Of Hypnotherapy As A Treatment For IBS Has Been Rigorously Tested

The two key contributors to the this field of knowledge are Prof Peter Whorwell, Dr Perjohan Lindfors and Dr Olafur S. Palsson.

Dr Peter Whorwell, a gastroenterologist at the University of Manchester, UK, and recognised leading expert in IBS treatment, developed the use of hypnotherapy for the treatment of IBS.

His approach is known as the ‘Manchester Model'. Dr Whorwell has been treating people with IBS for more than 35 years and he sees about 2,000 IBS sufferers a year.

In his most recent study (2015) Dr Whorwell studied 1,000 patients with hard-to-treat IBS, and determined that hypnosis had helped 76% of them reduce their symptom severity by at least half. Altogether, Dr Whorwell has more than two dozen papers supporting the fact that hypnotherapy can help people’s symptoms of IBS.

His studies show that the benefits of IBS hypnotherapy are long-lasting, with patients reporting continued relief from symptoms for at least five years.

Professor Whorwell says,“IBS is ideal for treatment with hypnosis, as there is no structural damage to the body. During the hypnotherapy, sufferers learn how to influence and gain control of their gut function, and then seem to be able to change the way the brain modulates their gut activity. We’ve found it to help all the symptoms, whereas some of the drugs available reduce only a few. As IBS can be a life-long condition it could clearly be a very valuable option for patients.”

“Psychological treatment has shown a high success rate in improving IBS. Using the brain to help the gut is a different mechanism than using medications that treat the gut directly. Fundamentally, if the usual medical approaches don't seem to be working well and you have persistent symptoms, this could be a good option.”