Hypnotherapy is generally associated with helping with
issues of the mind, such as phobias, depression and habits.
However, hypnotherapy is
also fantastic for helping with many physical issues, particularly Irritable
Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The evidence to support the beneficial effects of
hypnotherapy for IBS has been proven. It is one of the most successful ways of
treating chronic IBS.
IBS is very common, affecting 10-15% of the U.S
population.[1] IBS is characterised by bouts of diarrhoea,
constipation, abdominal cramps and swelling. It can be very painful. As well as
the unpleasant physical sensations, people with IBS often worry about being
close to a toilet. This can lead to increased anxiety and also limit where you
can go and what you feel comfortable doing. Many people often feel down due to
the effects of IBS.
It is unknown what causes IBS. There seems to be a
combination of genetic and environmental factors. IBS tends to start in adult
life and can, in some cases, start after a gut infection. IBS can run in
families, with relatives of an individual with IBS being 2-3 times more likely
to have IBS than the general population.[2]
Unfortunately there is no cure for IBS and it is
typically managed using a combination of diet and medication.
Hypnotherapy, as a
treatment for IBS has been shown to be effective for about 70% of sufferers.[3]
Hypnotherapy produces
dramatic improvement of all the features associated with IBS (abdominal pain,
abdominal distension, general wellbeing and bowel habits). In addition to
producing dramatic effects, patients who receive hypnotherapy treatment for IBS
do not relapse in the first 3 months.[4]
The evidence for the
effectiveness of hypnotherapy for treating IBS is so strong that the National Health
Service, in the U.K. prescribes hypnotherapy as a treatment for IBS in
certain areas of the country.
Hypnotherapy can also be used in conjunction with
traditional treatments such as medication. The advantages of hypnotherapy as a
treatment are:
·
Hypnosis is pleasant
·
Many people prefer not to take medication and
hypnotherapy provides a viable alternative
·
Hypnotherapy helps with the psychological
aspects of IBS, such as anxiety about going out
·
The effects of hypnotherapy last well after treatment
is complete.
·
There are no side effects
Hypnotherapy is wonderful for treating IBS, both the
physical symptoms and the emotional effects. If you would like to try this
wonderful treatment, get in touch on cs@cs-hypnotherapy.co.uk
and I will send you a free MP3, usually only available for my one to one clients.
Here are a couple of additional techniques you can use at home to
alleviate the symptoms of IBS.
The warm hand technique
This technique is designed to alleviate the pain and
discomfort of IBS. You may be familiar with using a hot water bottle to relieve
pain. This technique works on the same principle.
1. Enter
a state of hypnosis using the Enter Hypnosis MP3 available here.
2. Imagine
that you are in the most comfortable room with a fireplace, lying on a
luxurious couch or bed.
3. Imagine
a fire burning in the fireplace, reasonably close you to.
4. Imagine
putting your hand near to the fire, so that your hand gradually warms up. Take
some time to really feel your hand getting warmer and warmer.
5. When
your hand feels really warm, move your hand to rest of your abdomen. Really do
this, don’t just imagine it.
6. Allow
that warmth to spread from your hand deep into your abdomen.
7. As
the warmth spreads, any pain just melts away.
The River Technique
IBS is characterised by a bad flow through the digestive
system. Either, the flow is too slow, causing constipation or it is too fast,
leading to diarrhoea. Our minds have a lot more control over our bodies than we
may realize. Even parts of our body that seem to work without any conscious
thought, such as our blood flow, heart rate and digestive system are all
affected by our minds. When we remember an embarrassing event we can blush
again. This is an example of a single though affecting the dilation of the
capillaries in our face. When people are anxious about something they often
experience this anxiety in their stomachs.
The following exercise uses the mind body connection to
help you with your IBS.
1. Enter
a state of hypnosis using the Enter Hypnosis MP3 available here.
2. Imagine,
sense or feel your gut, your entire digestive tract.
3. Using
your wonderful imagination, imagine your digestive system is a river.
4. Imagine
the beginning of your digestive system, where your food enters your stomach.
See the river as flowing easily and smoothly. Take the time to really visualise
this as clearly as possible.
5. Now
leave that part of the river and become aware of another part of the river,
further down, which is not flowing well. Perhaps it is blocked, or the river is
very choppy.
6. Imagine
you can modify the banks of the river. You can change the shape of the river to
widen the river and let it flow more easily. You could add some meanders so the
river flows more slowly. You can widen the river so it flows more slowly. Take
your time to modify as much as is right for you.
I hope you find this information useful if you do suffer
with IBS. If you would like a free hypnosis MP3, specifically for alleviating the
symptoms of IBS then please get in touch on cs@cs-hypnotherapy.co.uk.
If you would like more information about hypnotherapy, well-being and personal development, please subscribe to my newsletter in the top right.
[1] http://www.aboutibs.org/site/what-is-ibs/facts/
[2] (The Role of Genetics in IBS Yuri A. Saito, Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2011 March; 40(1):
45–67. )
[3] (Hypnotherapy
for irritable bowel syndrome: The response of colonic and noncolonic symptoms,
Peter J. Whorwell,
Journal of Psychosomatic Research 64 (2008) 621–623).
[4] (Whorwell
PJ, Prior A, Faragher EB. Controlled trial of
hypnotherapy in the treatment of severe refractory irritable-bowel syndrome.
Lancet 1984;2:1232–4.)
very nice and interesting information.
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