Can Hypnosis Be Used To Treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?

IBS is a common digestive disorder that affects millions of people all over the world. IBS can cause stomach pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and changes in the way you go to the bathroom. Even though there are several traditional ways to treat IBS, some people may be interested in trying out alternative therapies like hypnosis. In this article, we’ll talk about how hypnotherapy could be used to treat IBS.

How does hypnotherapy work?

Hypnotherapy is an alternative therapy that uses hypnosis to help people relax, relieve symptoms, and make positive changes in their thinking and behavior. During hypnotherapy, the person is guided into a relaxed state of mind where they are more open to suggestions and can reach their subconscious mind.

Hypnotherapy has been used to treat a wide range of problems, such as anxiety, depression, chronic pain, phobias, and addiction. In the past few years, hypnotherapy has also become more popular as a possible way to treat digestive problems like IBS.

How can IBS be helped by hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy can be used to deal with both the physical and mental causes of IBS symptoms. Researchers have found that people with IBS often have higher levels of stress and anxiety, which can cause symptoms or make them worse. Hypnotherapy can help people deal with stress and anxiety by making them feel more relaxed and reducing how often and how bad their symptoms are.

Hypnotherapy can also help with some digestive problems. During hypnotherapy, the hypnotherapist may use techniques to help the person imagine that their digestive system is working well. This can help relieve symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, and not being able to go to the bathroom.

IBS and hypnotherapy research

Several studies have looked into how well hypnotherapy works for IBS. A 2015 meta-analysis of 15 randomized controlled trials found that hypnotherapy was an effective treatment for IBS. Overall, 54% of people who got hypnotherapy said their symptoms got better, while only 23% of people who got traditional treatments said the same.

In 2018, the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis published a study that found hypnotherapy helped people with IBS reduce their symptoms and improve their quality of life. In the study, six weekly hypnotherapy sessions were given to 48 people with IBS. At the end of the study, most people said that their symptoms and quality of life had improved significantly.

Another study published in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis found that hypnotherapy helped people with IBS who didn’t respond to traditional treatments get rid of their symptoms. Ninety people with IBS who hadn’t gotten better with traditional treatments took part in the study. At the end of the study, 75% of the people who took part in the study said that their symptoms had improved significantly.

What to Expect in an IBS-Related Hypnotherapy Session

During an IBS hypnotherapy session, the hypnotherapist will work with the person to figure out what symptoms they are having and create a personalized treatment plan. The hypnotherapist will help the person get into a calm state of mind and use suggestions and visualization to help them relax, deal with stress and anxiety, and feel better.

The person may also be taught techniques for self-hypnosis that they can use at home to keep making progress in between sessions. It is important to keep in mind that hypnotherapy should be used in addition to traditional medical treatments for IBS, and that people should always talk to their healthcare provider about their treatment plan.

Hypnosis can also help people get back control of their bodies. IBS can make a person feel like their body is working against them, making them feel helpless and out of control. Hypnosis can help people feel like they are in charge again by teaching them how to deal with their symptoms and stress in a healthy way. This feeling of being in charge can boost confidence and self-esteem, which can be good for your overall health.

It’s important to remember that hypnosis is not a cure for IBS, even though it can help treat it. Patients may still have symptoms from time to time, and hypnosis should be used along with other treatments that a doctor recommends. Also, it’s important to work with a qualified hypnotherapist who has experience treating IBS and can make a personalized treatment plan based on the patient’s needs.

In the end, hypnosis can help people with IBS deal with their symptoms. It can help relieve physical symptoms, lower stress and anxiety, make people feel better emotionally, and give them a sense of control over their bodies again. As with any treatment, it’s important to work with a qualified healthcare professional to figure out if hypnosis is a good choice for you and to make a personalized treatment plan.