IBS hypnotherapy - it works

Hypnotherapy is effective in treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and other gastrointestinal (GI) disorders.

Hypnotherapy for gastrointestinal health - or gut-directed hypnotherapy - addresses the 'miscommunication' between the brain and gut.

IBS and other GI problems are complex disorders with symptoms unique to each patient. Hypnosis is a brilliant way to tailor the treatment intervention according to the individual’s needs - and can also work to alleviate other occurring symptoms such as nausea and fatigue.

Systematic reviews and reports on hypnosis by the British Psychological Society, British Medical Journal, (UK) National Institute of Clinical Excellence, (US) National Institutes of Health support the effectiveness of hypnotherapy for IBS.

The British Psychological Society report findings: There is encouraging evidence demonstrating the beneficial effects of hypnotherapeutic procedures in alleviating the symptoms of a range of complaints that fall under the heading 'psychosomatic illness.' These include - Gastro-intestinal complaints such as irritable bowel syndrome.

Anyone suffering from irritable bowel syndrome can benefit to a greater or lesser degree from gut-directed hypnotherapy. It could be you.

Gut Directed Hypnotherapy being used in American hospitals

I was delighted to discover that gut directed hypnotherapy is part of the gastrointestinal treatment programs at the following American hospitals - Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York, the Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago and at the University of Michigan. This reflects the fact that the field of gastroenterology is learning more and more about the powerful connection between the brain and the gut.

At the Northwestern Memorial Hospital (https://bit.ly/3pUDYzw) all of the GI therapists are trained in hypnosis and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Hypnosis and (CBT) have proven efficacy in a number of well-controlled clinical trials and are widely accepted as the most effective psychological interventions for GI conditions.

Megan Riehl, PsyD, a gastrointestinal health psychologist says, “Gastrointestinal disorders are complex, and the causes are different for every patient. But we do know that visceral hypersensitivity, sensitive nerve endings, in the gut cause patients with GI conditions to experience more pain and motility problems. Gut-directed hypnosis addresses this “miscommunication” between the brain and gut. There is significant research that shows gut-directed hypnotherapy is effective and results are long lasting.”

Northwestern Memorial Hospital describes gut-directed hypnotherapy is a time-limited treatment, and most people can expect to see significant symptom improvement by the end of the course of treatment, which is typically four to seven sessions, with one session every other week.

Last week I was interviewed by The SpinOff about my HYPN4IBS Program

Last week I was interviewed by The SpinOff Journalist Sherry Zhong for an article she was writing on IBS. Sherry suffers with IBS and has tried a number of solutions without success some of which she describes in the article she published following our interview- https://bit.ly/3odAu9L.

Sherry hadn’t experienced hypnosis before, so I gave her my evidence-based definition of what hypnosis is and that for the best results a person needs to adopt a ‘hypnotic mindset, one in which they want to experience hypnosis and are committed to fully engage their attention and imagination. I guided Sherry into a short session of hypnosis in which she experienced a number of hypnotic phenomena demonstrating that the mind and body are one system. This means we can use our thoughts and imagination to change our body’s behavior (which is why IBS hypnotherapy is so effective). In her article Sherry notes that according to Monash University research, gut-directed hypnotherapy can improve IBS symptoms by 70-80%.

In the short time available during the interview, it wasn’t possible to address Sherry’s IBS symptoms, so I focused on giving her some suggestions and metaphors to help her feel more relaxed and to relieve stress. Sherry writes that “It was nice to let go …. ” Reducing stress is important when solving IBS because chronic stress exacerbates IBS symptoms and those symptoms then cause more stress. This creates a vicious cycle.so, the more a person with IBS can lower their stress level the better.

Sherry described the short session of hypnosis she experienced as “…..not dissimilar to practices I’d do in physical theatre, such as imagining balls of light flowing through my body and letting my imagination play.”

If you are experiencing IBS, my Hypno4IBs program could be the solution you have been looking for.

Hypnosis has been used to treat IBS for almost 40 years!

Hypnosis was first used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in patients with severe refractory symptoms as part of a controlled clinical trial within the Department of Medicine at the University Hospital of South Manchester, in the early 1980s, using a symptom-orientated or “gut directed” approach (Whorwell, Prior, & Faragher, 1984).

The trial showed that all symptoms of pain, abdominal bloating, and bowel-habit disturbance as well as general well-being improved in patients who underwent treatment with hypnosis but not in those who received placebo medication and support.

Based on the success of this trial, hypnosis was gradually adopted as an additional treatment modality for patients, particularly those whose symptoms failed to respond to the usual medical interventions of reassurance and various medications. A unit devoted to the provision of hypnotherapy for treating IBS patients was established at the University Hospital in Manchester 1995 and has since treated a large number of IBS patients with hypnosis.