Using hypnotherapy to end irritable bowel syndrome

Hypnotherapy is one of the very best known and most extensively utilized treatments for IBS, and can use patients a drug-free service to their symptoms of diarrhea, constipation, stomach discomfort and bloating.

There are now lots of numerous hypnotherapists who provide what is called "gut-directed hypnotherapy" for IBS, which takes the general strategies of hypnotherapy and uses them straight to the abdominal pain and digestive signs which IBS victims battle with. This type of hypnotherapy has actually been clinically evaluated and discovered to be really practical to many IBS patients.

Among the first studies of hypnotherapy for IBS was conducted by Dr Peter Whorwell, a leading professional on IBS and hypnotherapy in the UK. A trial he performed in the 1980s found that a group of IBS victims who had failed to respond to other treatments showed remarkable enhancements when treated with gut-directed hypnotherapy. Since then, other therapists have revealed similar outcomes.

Hypnotherapy in a medical setting bears no relation to the kind of stage hypnosis where volunteers are made to do ludicrous things in the name of entertainment. Clients remain completely in control of their own actions, and are simply coaxed into a kind of deep relaxation state.
While the patients is in this state the therapist will speak to you and make positive suggestions-- one common technique for IBS is to ask you to position your hand over your abdomen and picture that a recovery heat is flowing from your hand to your stomach.

Some hypnotherapists will record each session for you so that you can listen to them once again between your consultations, and for that reason increase the effectiveness of the treatment.

If you do not have the time or the resources to check out a certified hypnotherapist, you might discover some relief in one of the self-hypnosis CDs available, which can be listened to in the convenience of your own house.
While you will not get an individual treatment program from a ready-made CD, you will be able to take advantage of the general hypnosis technique, and you can choose to listen to the CDs whenever you have the time.
The IBS Audio Program, developed by the UK hypnotherapist Michael Mahoney, is the most commonly used program for IBS sufferers, and is available on audio CD and cassette. The program is developed to be used over 100 days, and includes four CDs and a program booklet. The makers declare that around 80% of listeners experience a considerable reduction of discomfort and bowel dysfunction.

The program includes 3 therapeutic session CDs, with an intro and 5 different hypnotherapy sessions. It likewise includes a reward 4th CD (the IBS Companion), which explains IBS to non-sufferers.


One of the very first studies of hypnotherapy for IBS was carried out by Dr Peter Whorwell, a leading expert on IBS and hypnotherapy in the UK. A trial he performed in the 1980s discovered that a group of IBS victims who had actually stopped working to react to other treatments revealed dramatic improvements when treated with gut-directed hypnotherapy. The IBS Audio Program, established by the UK hypnotherapist Michael Mahoney, is the most widely used program for IBS victims, and is readily available on audio CD and cassette.