Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Hypnotherapy has long-term benefits for 7 out of 10 IBS sufferers
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is characterised by several distressing symptoms including abdominal pain, irregular bowel movements, bloating/trapped wind, back pain and nausea.
If you suspect that you have IBS, then please contact your GP for a diagnosis. Before working with sufferers of IBS I always contact their GP; this is to ensure a safe and ethical treatment.
Causes of IBS
The cause of IBS is not known, although some sufferers note that symptoms are exacerbated by anxiety and stress. Some sufferers are able to identify particular foods that irritate their bowel and so can avoid these.
Treatment of IBS
Avoidance of specific foods
By careful observation some sufferers have identified particular foods that act as irritants, making a bout of IBS more likely. These foods vary from individual to individual.
Pharmacological intervention
Bulk-forming agents and anti-diarrhoeal medicines may be used. In severe cases, anti-spasmodic drugs may be used. Your GP must prescribe any medication.
Hypnotherapy
As with all applications of hypnotherapy, the therapist begins by taking a detailed personal history. The holistic approach to health, that is, treating the whole person and not simply the symptoms, is integral to the application of hypnotherapy. The influence that a person's mind can have on their physical well-being is recognised and is fully utilised while the person is in trance. The exact approach taken varies from person to person. The therapist uses the details of the personal case history to tailor the treatment to the individual.
How many sessions will be needed?
Usually 3 - 12 sessions will be sufficient.
Does hypnotherapy work?
A detailed scientific study of the effectiveness of hypnotherapy in treating IBS was conducted at the Withington Hospital in Manchester. Full details of the study are in 'Hypnotherapy in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Large Scale Audit of a Clinical Service with Examination of Factors Influencing Responsiveness.' by Consalkorale et al, Department of Medicine, University of Manchester.
The study involved over 200 sufferers of IBS; the findings were published in 'GUT', the journal of the British Society of Gastroenterology. Over 70% of the patients responded well to hypnotherapy and reported a reduction in the severity of IBS symptoms. The benefits remained during the 5 year follow-up period showing that hypnotherapy has long-term benefits for IBS sufferers. Of those patients where the benefits wore off over time, they reported that the reduction was slight.
Patients reported a reduction in symptoms, fewer visits to their GP and they also took less medication. They also reported a reduction in anxiety and depression. Researchers concluded that hypnotherapy is 'a viable therapeutic option for the treatment of IBS.'
If you wish to book a free 30 minute no obligation session to discuss your situation then please phone
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