Hypnotherapy's Role in Treating IBS

Irritable bowel syndrome—otherwise known as IBS—is one of the most common physical disorders affecting individuals on a global basis, and it is the most common condition seen by gastroenterologists throughout the world. Sadly, there is no known cure.

Given the fact that it is a functional disorder with symptoms that might result from a wide variety of sources, in many cases IBS is condition that all too often an individual is told that he or she must simply learn to live with. Some of the most common symptoms include abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating, and alteration of bowel habits without any discernible reason, such as severe bouts of diarrhea or constipation. As a general rule bowel movements tend to temporarily alleviate the symptoms.

IBS does not generally lead to life-threatening conditions in patients suffering from the disorder. It is not a disease. Unfortunately, IBS can be extremely difficult to live with and may cause not only chronic pain, but also fatigue, limited food choices, restrictions on activities, and even depression. It can be embarrassing, potentially expensive, and in certain cases may debilitate an individual to the point where they cannot work or even function in a social setting. Some researchers suggest that the high numbers of IBS cases, in addition to the associated costs as a result of treating the disorder, combined with the high societal cost should mandate this condition being elevated to ‘disease’ status. Indeed, many consider IBS to be a chronic illness.

The primary method for treating IBS is through modification of the individual’s diet. Paradoxically, diet is also the primary cause of IBS, although it is not the sole cause. Many individuals have found that controlling the amount of fiber in their diet is an effective means of managing the disorder. Still others rely upon common medications such as stool softeners, laxatives, or anti-diarrheals, depending upon the nature of the symptoms. There are also a variety of prescription drugs that are recommended, however, one of the more non-traditional methods for treating IBS that has been gaining some attention among research communities in recent years is psychotherapy.

There are two common types of psychotherapy used to help with IBS symptoms: cognitive behavioral therapy and hypnosis. The former has been shown to be effective, albeit the approach is long-term in nature. Alternatively, hypnosis has been shown to rapidly improve the mental well-being of an individual, which tends to relax the patient and stimulate various processes within the body that lead to a natural healing process. While no conclusive studies have been conducted to date, ample anecdotal evidence has been documented. Hence, hypnosis as a means of treating IBS is gaining popularity among the alternative medicine community. However, since IBS is a disorder, and there are also a wide variety of other ways to potentially treat it, and different methods work differently on different individuals, the current consensus is that it could possibly be another way to treat the disorder but its effectiveness may vary between individuals exhibiting the exact symptoms. In any event, this is welcome news to those individuals suffering from IBS because it means that there is one more method that can potentially be used to find relief from this debilitating disorder.