It is estimated that between five and eight million people in the UK suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Can Hypnotherapy help IBS?
Laboratory tests have shown that under hypnosis, gut sensitivity is reduced and this may alleviate IBS symptoms.
Prof. Peter Whorwell, who runs one of the few NHS clinics offering hypnotherapy to IBS sufferers, says “IBS is made worse by stress but it is not caused by stress. We don’t know exactly how gut-directed hypnotherapy works, but it may change the way the brain modulates gut activity.”
How is Hypnotherapy used to treat IBS?
Relaxation and visualisation techniques are used to target digestive health problems, and self-hypnosis is taught to enhance and maintain the effectiveness of the treatment.