Irritable Bowel Syndrome :: Hypnosis can cure Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), can now heave a sigh of relief, as according to a research published in the latest issue of Journal of Clinical Nursing, hypnotherapy sessions reportedly reduces symptoms and improves the quality of life.

Dr Graeme D Smith from University of Edinburgh studied 75 patients with IBS, which affects up to one in seven adults before and after they took part in four to five treatment sessions over three months.

The 20 men and 55 women who took part in the study reported that hypnotherapy brought about significant improvements in the physical and emotional symptoms related to IBS.

These included a 30 percent improvement in their emotional quality of life and a 25 percent improvement in energy levels. Mental health improved by 21 percent, sleep by 18 percent, physical health by 16 percent and diet by 14 percent.

The participants also reported that their social role had improved by 20 percent and their physical role by 18 per cent. Average anxiety levels fell by 12 percent and depression fell by four per cent.

Men showed higher levels of both problems before the hypnotherapy sessions, but also reported greater improvements than women. The people taking part in the study also reported a five per cent reduction in abdominal pain and a four per cent reduction in abdominal bloating.

?Physical symptoms of IBS include altered bowel habits, abdominal pain and bloating, together with other non-intestinal problems such as lethargy, problems sleeping and indigestion. Anxiety and psychosocial problems are also common and these can have a detrimental impact on quality of life,? Dr Smith, from the University’s School of Health (Nursing Studies) said.

The 75 study participants underwent hypnotherapy sessions that focussed on creating images of their gut symptoms using visualisation techniques in conjunction with relaxation methods.

?The patients involved in this study were typical of people seen routinely in gastroenterology clinics, where up to 50 per cent of the referrals are for IBS? said Dr Smith.

?There’s no universal agreement about what causes IBS and traditional treatment is often disappointing. This study shows that hypnotherapy can effectively reduce symptoms and improve quality of life and underlines the valuable role that complementary therapies can play in modern healthcare,? he added.

Researchers are quite hopeful that they will discover more contemporary methods to find out a potential cure for a lot of other illnesses too.


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