Have you tried Hypnotherapy for IBS? Research shows how effective it can be, especially if your IBS is linked to anxiety.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) creates irritation within the large intestine.

It is regarded as one of the most embarrassing conditions to have. Yet it is more common than you might think. It affects at least 1 in 3 people.

Some of the most typical symptoms people experience are;

• Cramping (often painful)
• Bloatedness
• Irregular intestinal movements (commonly a variety of both diarrhoea and constipation).

Identifying a definite cause can be difficult. It is known that diet and stress are major factors. Both play a big part in the severe nature of IBS.

A diet lacking fruit, greens, and water causes an imbalance in our abdominal bacteria. Poor choices in what consume will exacerbate the problem. Most harmful are processed convenience foods and alcohol.

Nevertheless, it is worth considering how the mind affects things. It can play a role in the healthy performance of our gut. The connection between the body and the brain has been well documented. Balancing the two is beneficial for healthy living.

For example:

When we are in a state of distress, our brain sends a message to the body. This is to prepare it to get ready to face (or move away from) danger.

Living in a sustained state of fear means our body does not get a chance to relax. It will begin to operate as if it is constantly under threat.

This means we produce higher amounts of the stress hormone cortisol. Adrenaline is also released to prepare us for battle. (This is to increase blood circulation to the rest of the body. This is most common in intensified states of panic!).

However, there is a downside. Too many of these chemicals in our blood can weaken our immune system. They will also undermine our digestive system.

This overload of stress chemicals in our bodies has to be processed. But our digestive system is designed to deal with only small amounts. (Enough to help us flee to safety from real or imagined threats).

Overexposure to these hormonal chemicals can, over time;

• Damage your arteries
• Increase blood pressure
• Raise the risk of heart attacks (or cerebrovascular accidents, commonly referred to as stroke).

If these chemicals linger in our bodies, they will cause other issues. These include anxiety, weight gain, headaches, and insomnia.

Professor Peter Whorwell is the author of a very famous book on IBS. It is called Take Control of Your IBS: The Complete Guideline to Managing Your Own Symptoms.

He enthusiastically promotes the use of hypnosis in dealing with IBS. Professor Whorwell states that hypnosis successfully treats IBS because:

“Hypnosis can help regulate the amounts of acid the stomach produces.”

He says hypnosis can control the muscular contractions within the bowel. This reduces much of the discomfort in clients.

He writes that hypnosis can reduce stress and anxiety. These are not always the causes, “but can certainly make it worse.”

He states hypnosis relieves IBS in 70% of affected people. Many of them showed little improvement with other approaches.

Developing his thesis, he says,

“a person can {…} control bodily functions which we are not usually able to control.”

This is because “people can learn to control blood pressure or pain” using their minds.

On the further benefits of hypnosis, he writes,

“The benefits of hypnotherapy are long-lasting”, and,

“Furthermore, hypnotherapy has absolutely no side effects.”

Right now there is no magical cure for irritable bowel syndrome. Most sufferers must learn how to manage symptoms. You must learn to live a functional, balanced lifestyle. This will factor in both mental and physical well-being.

Is stress impacting your IBS? If so, maybe hypnosis may give you natural relief.

Hypnosis helps lower blood pressure, and stress and relaxes an exhausted body.

Everything considered, hypnosis may be one remedy that is not too difficult to stomach.

If you have any questions about hypnotherapy, please get in touch.

Call me on 0208 789 0992, or via my contact form to arrange a free chat over the phone.