Irritable Bowl Syndrome IBS

Gut Directed Hypnotherapy on the Isle of Wight

IBS is commonly referred to as a disorder of digestion and the gut. Sufferers may experience discomfort, pain, constipation, diarrhoea and excessive flatulence with dramatic negative impacts on their quality of life. In the UK alone there are estimated to be between 200,000-1,400,000 sufferers. Current National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines include hypnotherapy as a recommended treatment.

Gut directed hypnotherapy takes between 6 to 12 sessions of 1 hour.

It involves gaining a clear understanding of how your gut works and what causes your symptoms. You will learn how to influence and gain control of your gut function. You will be given an audio file to practise at home.

Gut directed hypnotherapy was developed by Peter Whorwell, professor of medicine and gastroenterology at Manchester University, he comments that "We do not think IBS is a psychological disorder, nor do we think this is a psychological treatment, IBS is made worse by stress but it is not caused by stress. We don't know exactly know how gut-directed hypnotherapy works, but it may change the way the brain modulates gut activity". Laboratory tests have shown that under hypnosis, gut sensitivity is reduced.
Prof Whorwell has treated patients using hypnotherapy for 20 years with a success rate of about 70 per cent. "It helps all the symptoms, whereas some of the drugs available reduce only a few of the symptoms".

(Peter Whorewell quotes from Telegraph June 05 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/3319989/Does-it-work-Hypnotherapy-for-IBS.html)