Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, constipation, cramping, wind, an urgent need to go to the toilet - an estimated 10% to 15% of the population experience these debilitating IBS symptoms. The cause of IBS remains unknown, although it's thought to be triggered by a combination of factors, including stress, anxiety, abnormal movements of the intestines and an over-sensitive gut. Hypnotherapy is increasingly becoming the treatment of choice for IBS as many studies have shown that it's effective at relieving stress and reducing gut sensitivity. However, it's important that you're diagnosed with IBS by your GP before having hypnotherapy as these symptoms may indicate other, more serious, digestive disorders.

THE EVIDENCE?
In a study published in the journal Gut, conducted at the Withington Hospital in Manchester, it was found that hypnotherapy reduced the severity of symptoms in 71% of patients, and the effects lasted for up to five years. Patients were asked to assess their symptoms, quality of life and levels of anxiety and depression before and after treatment - and for up to six years after completing the course. The majority found hypnotherapy reduced the severity of their IBS symptoms, and continued to do so for years. Even those who said the effect began to wear off with time found the treatment was still working fairly well after five years.

The British Medical Journal says that 'randomised trials have shown hypnosis to be of value in... irritable bowel syndrome.'

The British Journal Of Hospital Medicine states that 'recent controlled studies in the field of gastroenterology have shown that hypnotherapy is unequivocally beneficial in conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome.'

In an article entitled Hypnosis 'Can Ease Bowel Illness' published by BBC News Online in May 2007, it was reported that '[h]ypnotherapy could help people with severe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).' The article went on to quote Dr Ian Forgacs, a consultant gastroenterologist from King's College London, who urged doctors to consider other forms of psychological therapy, including hypnotherapy, as an alternative in some cases. 'Patients with IBS should be made aware of the existence of these treatments so that they can make informed choices,' he said. 'Specifically, they should be made aware that using a psychological treatment does not mean that the disease is ''all in the mind''.' The article also mentioned that 'severe cases of IBS could be improved by using hypnotherapy to target the links between the brain and the gut.' It said the hypnosis sessions concentrated on encouraging relaxation, after which patients were asked to visualise their gut 'as a fast flowing river which is then imagined to be flowing more slowly and smoothly.'

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