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.