The Role Hypnotherapy Plays in Irritable Bowel Syndrome
(IBS)
What
is irritable bowel syndrome?
Irritable
bowel syndrome (IBS), or spastic colon is not a disease, it is a functional
bowel disorder, which means that the bowel doesn’t work as it should.
It affects gut motility, the rate at which the contents of the bowel
are pushed along to the rectum and is characterized by abdominal pain
or discomfort, constipation, diarrhoea or alternate bouts of constipation
and diarrhoea. With IBS the nerves and muscles in the bowel are extra
sensitive – the muscles may contract too much when you eat. These contractions
can cause cramping and diarrhoea during or shortly after a meal, or
the nerves can be very sensitive and cramping and pain can result.
What
are the symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome?
-
Abdominal pain
- Excessive
wind
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Mucus
in stool
- Small
ribbon or pebble like bowel movements
- Rectal
discomfort
- Tightness
around the waist
- Headache
or backache
- Anxiety
What causes Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Because
doctors have been unable to find an organic cause IBS often has been
thought to be caused by emotional conflict or stress. While stress may
worsen IBS symptoms, research suggests that other factors also are important.
Researchers have found that the colon muscle of a person with IBS begins
to spasm after only mild stimulation.
Stress
reduction (relaxation) training and hypnotherapy can help Irritable
bowel syndrome by relaxing the muscles of the gut and relieving the
symptoms. If you already have IBS, stress can trigger symptoms. In fact
the bowel can over-react to all sorts of things, including, food, exercise
and hormones.
How is Irritable Bowel Syndrome diagnosed?
IBS usually is diagnosed after doctors exclude more serious organic
diseases. The doctor will take a complete medical history that includes
a careful description of the symptoms, and a physical examination and
laboratory tests will be done.
What has hypnotherapy to do with IBS?
There is a wealth of evidence that stress exacerbates gut problems and
you may have become trapped in a vicious circle of physical symptoms,
anxiety, and so on. Hypnosis can help break this cycle and increase
psychological well being. However hypnosis specifically targeted towards
the gut has proved effective in removing the actual symptoms of IBS
in a number of clinical trials carried out by the medical profession.
This is supported by many years of clinical experience both in the NHS
and complementary fields.
Gut
directed hypnosis was first developed by Dr. P. J. Whorwell at the University
Hospital of South Manchester in 1984 for the treatment of irritable
bowel. His department has both clinical evidence and many years of practical
experience to show that the symptoms can be eliminated, or substantially
reduced by the use of hypnotherapy. Eight out of ten patients readily
admit to feeling eighty per cent better following a course of treatment,
which is usually between six and eight sessions.
What is the treatment?
IBS has no cure, but you can do things to relieve the symptoms.
-
Diet changes
- Medication
- Hypnotherapy
- Stress
Relief
- Meditation
- Counselling
and support
- Regular
exercise such as walking
- Yoga
- Changes
to stressful situations in your life
- Adequate
sleep
- Acupuncture.
Gut
directed hypnotherapy or self-hypnosis is one of the most promising
areas of IBS treatment. Current research shows that symptom reduction
from IBS using hypnotherapy can last at least five years. There is a
strong brain-gut component to IBS and cognitive therapy may improve
symptoms in a proportion of patients in conjunction with anti-depressants.
On-going investigational research also involves relationship to food
allergies, poor bacterial balance, parasites, scar tissue that affects
bowel motility, and bacterial overgrowth as a cause of symptoms.
IBS
is not fatal, nor is it linked to the development of other serious bowel
diseases. However, due to pain, discomfort and other symptoms, time
off from work and other negative quality of life effects can be quite
common in more serious cases. People who find good self-help options
should be able to develop a successful treatment programme for their
symptoms and lead normal lives.
What can you do about getting rid of your symptoms?
For
more information and help:
Call
Lyta Humphris on Plymouth 01752 788321 or
e-mail lhumphris@aol.com
for
an appointment or a Personal IBS CD now.
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