IBS – irritable bowel syndrome – is a nasty and mysterious gut disorder that affects as many as one in seven Australians. At best it's painful and restricts diet and lifestyle. At worst it's totally debilitating, leaving sufferers essentially crippled, disheartened and often unable to work.
What are IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) signs and symptoms?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is the name given to a variable list of symptoms for unexplained digestive system illnesses. These relate to an uncomfortable disturbance of the colon or large intestine. Some of the symptoms are:
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- Abdominal pain and discomfort
- Swelling
- Fluid retention
- Cramping and pressure
- Gas and bloating
- Change of bowel habits
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Urgency to go to the toilet
- Fear of soiling one’s pants
Causes of IBS symptoms
The underlying causes of IBS are often unknown, although some common factors have been found to trigger attacks in susceptible individuals. Environmental factors such as changes in routine, emotional stress, bacterial infections, viruses, and diet can trigger an attack.
About one in 10 people suffer symptoms severe enough to seek help from their GP.
Common causes of IBS symptoms are:
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Abdominal Infection
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Bacteria or virus
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Inflammation
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Dietary factors
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Food intolerance
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Stress and anxiety
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Medication side effects
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The cause of IBS is unknown and studies have revealed that IBS is more common in women than men. Treatment with drugs such as laxatives and antispasmodics don’t usually work too well. Symptoms can include constipation, bloating, diarrhoea but also nausea, lethargy and psychological issues such as anxiety and depression. It's a massive drain on the healthcare system and accounts for huge chunks of gastroenterologists’ and GPs’ time.
Yet hypnotherapy, directed specifically at the gut, has been discovered to be a major part of the solution. Hypnotherapy is used to help manage and alleviate symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It involves using guided relaxation, focused attention, and suggestion to induce a state of heightened concentration and suggestibility.
A major clinical study into the effects of gut-directed hypnotherapy on IBS has been completed by Monash University, with results so positive that even the researchers were surprised. Hypnotherapy, directed specifically at the gut, reduced gut symptoms, such as abdominal pain, bloating and nausea by up to 72%.
The hypnotherapy study – led by Dr Simone Peters – wanted to consolidate findings by UK researchers suggesting the therapy was effective. Dr Peters is part of Monash University and the Alfred Hospital’s Department of Gastroenterology. She also has one of Melbourne’s two hypnotherapy/IBS private clinics and is a psychophysiologist by training.
The participants (78 people) were divided into groups using hypnotherapy alone, diet alone and a combination. The results astounded her.
“It was hugely surprising, “she said. “We found hypnotherapy was incredibly beneficial.” The results showed hypnotherapy was as beneficial as the low FODMAP diet. Seventy per cent of those surveyed responded positively to the hypnotherapy, and there was a significant improvement in their overall and individual gut symptoms ( abdominal pain, bloating, wind, satisfaction with stool consistency, nausea) by the end of the six-week study. This improvement was also maintained six-months post-treatment, suggesting that the response was not purely a placebo.
People doing only the hypnotherapy part of the study hadn't excluded anything from their diets. “That surprised and interested us,” Dr Peters said. “We would have expected the results to have not been as nice as the dietary arm. We also found the people who did the combination therapy didn’t do any better than those who did either one therapy on their own.”
The study also found that hypnotherapy was effective psychologically, too – patients were less anxious and less depressed after using it. The participants, though, were not particularly anxious or depressed individuals. This suggests that hypnotherapy shouldn't be saved for people with psychological co-morbidities. The dietary study showed no change in psychological symptoms or distress.
“There is a brain-gut axis,” says Dr Iacovou. “There is strong communication between the two. The hypnotherapy is getting the mind in a relaxed state and getting you to think about how you're feeling and how your gut is feeling so that when you have an IBS episode you can use it as a tool.”
With IBS, the brain misfires, interpreting normal gut sensations as pain. But through the power of hypnotic suggestion and the brain-gut connection, gut-directed hypnotherapy acts on the central nervous system to reduce the sensitivity of nerves in the gut.
Studies show that gut-directed hypnotherapy works by regulating the signals that move along the largest cranial nerve in your body: the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve acts as a superhighway for information running along your gut-brain axis. It's because of this brain-gut connection that we can experience emotions in our gut (like feeling ‘butterflies' when we're excited) or sense what's happening in the gut in our brains (like knowing when we're full after eating).
A study published in July 2020 in the Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology compared patients with IBS who received either standard care or a multidisciplinary approach that included gut-directed hypnotherapy.
Researchers found that 83 percent of the patients in the multidisciplinary group had symptom relief, compared with 63 percent of the standard care group. Patients in the multidisciplinary group were also far more likely to have a significant improvement in symptoms and quality of life than the group that received standard care from a gastroenterologist only.
The growing body of evidence showing just how effective gut-directed hypnotherapy is in relieving IBS symptoms and improving gut function spurred the American College of Gastroenterologists to recommend its practice in its 2021 clinical guidelines. And a review published in January 2022 in Gastroenterology noted that hypnotherapy is not only effective in helping IBS, but it's flexible — it can be done individually or in a group setting, and it can be done in person, virtually, or via a recording.
References:
https://www.monashfodmap.com/blog/how-effective-is-gut-directed/
https://www.everydayhealth.com/ibs/can-hypnotherapy-help-cure-irritable-bowel-syndrome/
https://www.mindsethealth.com/matter/hypnotherapy-for-ibs-how-to-get-started
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1773844/
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langas/article/PIIS2468-1253(20)30215-6/abstract
How does an IBS Hypnotherapy Session Work?
In an IBS hypnotherapy session, you will be taken through relaxation exercises and brought into a focused state of attention. This simply means that you can focus on therapeutic suggestions that are being given to you while ignoring outside concerns. In this focused and relaxed state of attention, your brain becomes open to suggestions on how to better communicate with your gut, improve your gut motility and reduce uncomfortable sensations.
Since hypnotherapy is a relaxing exercise that stimulates your parasympathetic nervous system (responsible for rest and relaxation), it can effectively interrupt the cycle of stress-related IBS symptoms.
Here's how hypnotherapy can be applied to treat IBS:
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Relaxation and Stress Reduction: Hypnotherapy aims to induce a state of deep relaxation, which can help reduce stress and anxiety. Stress is known to be a trigger for IBS symptoms, so by promoting relaxation, hypnotherapy may contribute to symptom relief.
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Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy: In the context of IBS, hypnotherapy often involves gut-directed techniques. I may guide you to focus your attention on the sensations in your digestive system. This process aims to influence and normalise the gut's functioning, addressing issues such as hypersensitivity and abnormal contractions. You might be asked to imagine your gut as a beautiful, perfectly slimy set of passages, where all the digesting food slips through as if smoothly lubricated. Or you might be asked to think of your gut system as a free-flowing river, no obstacles, no blockages, everything working as it should. It might include metaphors like swallowing down medicine and imagining that this medicine provides healing and protection to the gastrointestinal tract. It differs from other psychological therapies given they’re aimed at the conscious mind.
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Addressing Psychological Factors: IBS is often associated with psychological factors such as anxiety and emotional distress. Hypnotherapy can help individuals explore and manage these psychological aspects, potentially leading to a reduction in IBS symptoms.
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Reframing Perceptions: Hypnotherapy can help you reframe your perceptions and responses to gut sensations. By changing the way the brain processes and interprets signals from your digestive system, you may experience a reduction in the severity and frequency of IBS symptoms.
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Creating Coping Strategies: Hypnotherapy can assist in developing coping strategies for dealing with IBS symptoms. This may include techniques for managing stress, modifying dietary habits, and adopting a more positive mindset.
How does hypnotherapy compare to other IBS management tools?
When it comes to managing symptoms of IBS, gut-directed hypnotherapy stands out as an effective alternative. Unlike medication-based approaches, gut-directed hypnotherapy offers a non-invasive and drug-free approach. It focuses on harnessing the power of the mind to reduce IBS symptoms.
Studies have shown that hypnotherapy can provide long-lasting results by addressing the underlying psychological factors contributing to IBS. By reducing stress and anxiety, and enhancing gut-brain communication, this approach helps restore balance in the digestive system.
Furthermore, gut-directed hypnotherapy offers a holistic approach, tackling both the physical and psychological aspects of IBS. With its proven efficacy and minimal risks, hypnotherapy emerges as a compelling option for those seeking a comprehensive and sustainable way to manage their IBS symptoms.
It's important to note that while hypnotherapy can be beneficial for most individuals with IBS, it may not work for everyone. Additionally, it is not a substitute for medical treatment. Before starting any alternative therapy, you should consult with your healthcare provider to ensure that it is safe and appropriate for your specific situation.
Luke O'Dwyer
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