How To Deal With Sleep Problems and Menopause
Gut-Directed Self Hypnotherapy for IBS: Enhancing Mind-Gut Health Explained
Table of Contents
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic digestive disorder that affects up to 10% of the world’s population. Symptoms vary in intensity and frequency, and there is no cure. Although stress does not cause IBS, it may make it worse. Treatments focus on relieving symptoms and eliminating triggers, and they vary from lifestyle changes and medication to alternative treatments like hypnotherapy and meditation. Our IBS guide includes tips for navigating the journey.
An IBS Guide To Healthy Living
What Causes IBS?
The cause of IBS is unknown, but researchers think it may come from a unique combination of factors in each individual. They know the gut and the brain work together, but studies show the gut has a nervous system that acts as a second brain. People who have IBS are also more likely to have other conditions that may play a role in causing IBS:
- Childhood trauma
- Bacterial infections in the digestive tract
- Sensitivity to certain foods
- Overgrowth of small bacteria in the small intestine or changes in gut microbes
- Mental conditions, such as somatic symptom disorder, depression, and anxiety
IBS is two to three times more common when there is a family history of the disorder.
What Are the Symptoms of IBS?
IBS symptoms often include stomach pain or cramps, especially after bowel movements. Some people report excess gas and bowel incontinence, inability to empty the bladder, mucus in the stool, fatigue, backache, or changes in bowel movements. Symptoms may occur sporadically or be triggered by specific foods or events.
How Is IBS Treated?
IBS treatments include hypnotherapy, medication for gas or pain, dietary changes, cognitive-behavioral or alternative therapies, supplements, and methods to relieve stress. Hypnotherapy is an effective mind-body technique that can still be effective years after the treatment. When it comes to IBS, most people benefit from a combination of techniques. Researchers are currently studying the use of fecal transplants to balance intestinal bacteria, but the procedure is still being investigated.
Hypnosis for a Healthy Body
Hypnosis is a state of heightened awareness that allows the nervous system to absorb suggestions of relaxation and well-being. Usually done by a trained hypnotherapist, it involves the use of repeated phrases and calming images. When used in therapy, it is called hypnotherapy. Suggestions given by a hypnotherapist during a session may be retrieved and activated later, or self-hypnosis can be induced with visualizations or audio recordings to maintain a healthy body.
Hypnosis has proven effective for sleep disturbances, chronic pain, smoking cessation, and anxiety. In a 2015 study, 76% of patients with hard-to-treat IBS reported a reduction in the severity of their symptoms after three months of hypnotherapy. Additional research in England and the United States also found hypnosis effective for treating IBS.
Self-Hypnosis for IBS
Renowned hospitals and institutions recognize hypnosis as a tool for improving health. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs in Virginia provides a self-hypnosis script for IBS on its website. Several prominent hospitals in the United States recommend or offer “gut-related” hypnosis for IBS patients. Dutch researchers who worked with children found that two-thirds of the children who received hypnosis for IBS and stomach pain were in remission almost five years later. Some programs teach self-hypnosis techniques for later use, but hypnotherapy can also be done with an IBS hypnotherapy app or downloaded hypnosis audios.
According to a 2019 study at the University of Manchester in England, participants who received Skype hypnotherapy experienced significant improvement in bloating, bowel function, and abdominal pain. Improvements were also seen in symptoms that accompany IBS, including fatigue, chest pain, anxiety, depression, lower backache, heartburn, nausea, and headaches. Feelings of depression and anxiety were lower, and the quality of life improved. In at least one study, beneficial results lasted five years or longer.
Self-Hypnosis Audios For IBS
No IBS guide is complete without recommending hypnosis audios for IBS. UpNow is a digital hypnotherapy app that offers audio downloads on everything from creativity and financial success to depression and IBS. Download the UpNow app to get selected free downloads, or get full access with a monthly or an annual membership.
UpNow Health only uses high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed articles, to support the facts within our articles. All our articles are reviewed by experts to ensure that our content is accurate, helpful, and trustworthy.
1. Saito Y. A. (2011). The role of genetics in IBS. Gastroenterology clinics of North America, 40(1), 45–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gtc.2010.12.011 . Accessed 14 July 2022.
2. Miller, V., Carruthers, H. R., Morris, J., Hasan, S. S., Archbold, S., & Whorwell, P. J. (2015). Hypnotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome: an audit of one thousand adult patients. Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics, 41(9), 844–855. https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.13145 . Accessed 14 July 2022.
3. Vlieger, A. M., Rutten, J. M., Govers, A. M., Frankenhuis, C., & Benninga, M. A. (2012). Long-term follow-up of gut-directed hypnotherapy vs. standard care in children with functional abdominal pain or irritable bowel syndrome. The American journal of gastroenterology, 107(4), 627–631. https://doi.org/10.1038/ajg.2011.487 . Accessed 14 July 2022.
4. Hasan, S. S., Pearson, J. S., Morris, J., & Whorwell, P. J. (2019). SKYPE HYPNOTHERAPY FOR IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME: Effectiveness and Comparison with Face-to-Face Treatment. The International journal of clinical and experimental hypnosis, 67(1), 69–80. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207144.2019.1553766 . Accessed 14 July 2022.
5. Gonsalkorale WM, Miller V, Afzal A, et al. Long term benefits of hypnotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome. Gut 2003;52:1623-1629. Accessed 14 July 2022.
