Hypnosis As A Cure for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of the colon and the entire digestive system, which leads to discomfort, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and diarrhoea. The exact causes are unidentified but most experts agree it's linked to an increased sensitivity of the gut. The symptoms of IBS tend to come and go in bouts, often after eating certain types of food or during times of stress. Since 1980 a number of studies have shown that hypnosis has helped IBS patients for whom standard treatment has failed. Indeed, it seems IBS patients can obtain genuine relief through hypnosis.

Standard treatments for IBS are targeted at preventing constipation or diarrhoea. They include changes in diet, fibre supplements and drugs. For many, this approach proves effective. However, some patients do not respond well to conventional treatment. For them, psychological therapies may be appropriate, namely hypnosis and cognitive-behavioural therapy.

As a treatment for the symptoms of IBS, hypnosis does not have to take place in specialized medical centres. The latest study on the subject shows that hypnosis can be effective even when done by therapists in the normal conditions of a consulting room. And tests have shown that patients undergoing hypnotic therapy had a marked drop in the symptoms of pain and bloating.

This study tracked two different procedures for treating the symptoms of IBS. The first procedure was hypnosis in a private clinic. The second procedure required the patients to meet with psychologists in a hospital gastroenterology department. It turned out that the first procedure was as equally effective as the second. An added advantage was the better availability of private therapists, compared with the limited number of hospital specialists. This made the first procedure a genuine "real world" solution. These tests also support the fact that self-hypnosis techniques, applied at home can also provide an effective solution to dealing with IBS.

Cognitive behavioural therapy aims to change a patient's patterns of thinking and behaviour that contribute to health problems. The idea of using hypnosis to treat the symptoms of IBS is to give individuals a sense of control over their digestive tract. Luckily, modern technological advancements offer cost-effective solutions for self-hypnosis at home, and the internet provides a vast resource for further exploring the subject as well as learning about other people's experiences with hypnosis. With modern technology, we can feel lucky that a great number of alternative treatments are being made available that don't cause the side effects of medication. Do take some time to learn more about them!