Dr Roland Valori, editor of Frontline Gastroenterology, said of the first 100 of his patients treated with hypnosis, symptoms improved significantly for nine in 10. Symptoms stopped completely in four in ten cases with typical IBS. He says in a further five in 10 cases patients reported feeling more in control of their symptoms and were therefore much less troubled by them.

"It is pretty clear to me that it has an amazing effect," he said. Read more here!

The leaders in `gut-directed hypnotherapy` are based in South Manchester University Hospital. Professor Peter Whorwell leads a team there, and his successful techniques have now been shared so that more people can benefit. His system is the one I use.
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For many sufferers, IBS symptoms are worse after dinner. This is due to an exaggerated movement and sensation response by the gut nerves. The gut has a huge nervous system, and is often referred to as the "second brain" because it is so large and developed.

So after a meal, these nerves trigger responses blown out of proportion - bigger movement of the gut, maybe including spasms, and heightened sensitivity, including pain.

Magnus Simren and colleagues at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, researched whether hypnosiss, which works so well for IBS generally, would help with these particular after-meal symptoms.

Half of the patients were given supportive therapy. Half were given hypnotherapy. Both groups were seen for one hour a week for 12 weeks.

The results showed that hypnotherapy reduces significantly these after dinner symptoms, the pain in particular.

Many people find it extraordinary that hypnosis can deal so effectively with these gut symptoms. We don't really know how hypnosis works, but there is plenty of evidence to show how it does. The gut-brain link is very well-developed, due to the huge quantity of neurons in the gut linking up with the brain. So that is probably a key to the success of gut-directed hypnotherapy.
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The brain areas of interest in IBS also light up for stress.

Researchers have discovered that with IBS, the Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) responds to distension of the rectum (this is the bit they were researching, but it is suggestive that it might also apply to other parts of the gut). The ACC  is also the area which responds to anxiety, stressful life events and failures to cope properly. These research findings support observations that there are connections between psychological distress and IBS, along with a greater sensitivity to pain.

This is one of the reasons perhaps that hypnosis works so well. Hypnosis is a powerful treatment for all forms of anxiety. I shall write more shortly about work done on the brain-gut link.
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Hypnosis works by guiding you in a structured way to imagine your gut well and healthy. How does that work then? In hypnosis, one of the key techniques used is the ideomotor response. Brain imaging shows that when we think about doing something,  the brain lights up in the same way as when we actually move that part of the body. If you now imagine saying to yourself “Red lorry yellow lorry” you will notice that your tongue is working ever so slightly, not saying the words out loud, but the muscles working nonetheless. That is the ideomotor response. Thinking is doing.

So in hypnosis, you focus your thoughts on your gut. Now, that requires a bit more practice than using your tongue. You don’t have quite as clear a link between your gut and your brain as with your tongue and brain. But with practice, with a skilled hypnotist, this link is made. Then you think about your gut being well, and in 70% of cases (according to Dr Peter Whorwell of Manchester University) your gut gets better. It takes about 12 sessions, and thereafter, you have made the brain-gut link and can keep yourself well.
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Gut directed therapy has been developed by Peter Whorwell at Manchester University.

In hypnosis, you are very sensitive to subtle suggestion. Try this: say red lorry, yellow lorry to yourself  a couple of times, silently. What was going on in your mouth? Just thinking something causes a tendency to action. So when you think about your poor painful gut as being cool and smooth and comfortable while in hypnosis, you are learning to make the mind-gut link and with a bit of practice, you will find that you can calm your gut.

It may surprise you to know that there is lots of academic research showing that hypnotherapy is very successful with IBS, and as a result, NICE, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence recommends it.
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Hypnosis is successful in the treatment of refractory IBS - that is, where the symptoms have not been resolved with other treatments. Hypnosis is an attractive option for many IBS sufferers with chronic and severe symptoms for a number of reasons.

First, it has a track record of success. Published scientific studies show success rates of over 80%.

Second, it is non-invasive. No surgery, no physical poking about. No drugs.

Third, it uses the power of your own mind, and after the treatment, you retain the skills you learned.

A fourth and very interesting result is that other problems, like migraine, end up treated - a beneficial side effect. improvement in IBS symptoms.

And fifth, the improvements last. According to research, individuals who improve from hypnosis treatment for IBS can generally look forward to years of reduced bowel symptoms.
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Current national guidelines about IBS include the following points about diet which may help to minimise symptoms:

  • Have regular meals and take time to eat at a leisurely pace.
  • Avoid missing meals or leaving long gaps between eating.
  • Drink at least eight cups of fluid per day, especially water or other non-caffeinated drinks such as herbal teas. This helps to keep the faeces (stools) soft and easy to pass along the gut.
  • Restrict tea and coffee to three cups per day (as caffeine may be a factor in some people).
  • Restrict the amount of fizzy drinks to a minimum (in my view this is 0).
  • Don’t drink too much alcohol. (Some people report an improvement in symptoms when they cut down from drinking a lot of alcohol, or stop smoking if they smoke.)
  • Consider limiting intake of high-fibre food  but psyllium husk is a good fibre to use – you can buy this from health food shops
  • Limit fresh fruit to three portions (of 80 g each) per day.
  • If you have diarrhoea, avoid sorbitol, an artificial sweetener found in sugar-free sweets (including chewing gum) and drinks, and in some diabetic and slimming products.
  • If you have a lot of wind and bloating consider increasing intake of oats (for example, oat-based breakfast cereal or porridge) and linseeds (up to one tablespoon per day). You can buy linseeds from healthfood shops or Asian supermarkets).
  • Try hypnosis to get control of your gut. Your mind can control your voluntary muscles as you know. But it can also control your involuntary muscles too. Professor Peter Whorwell of Manchester University is the world expert of gut-focused hypnotherapy, and I follow his treatment protocol. Surgeons who use hypnosis find that their patients can limit the amount of blood flowing through the veins and capillaries and thus reduce the level of post-operative bleeding. Your mind is a wonderful tool!
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