Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) a common disorder that affects the large intestine and, according to the NHS, commonly causes cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhoea and constipation.
IBS is a chronic condition that needs to be managed long term. The National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH) says it affects up to 1 in 5 people in the UK over the course of their lifetime. 
People who have been diagnosed with IBS, may have been given certain dietary advice, perhaps been put on certain medication or maybe been told that ‘talking therapies’ can help with the symptoms. IBS can be debilitating and might even cause serious discomfort on a regular basis.
However, hypnotherapy can help break the cycle of pain and anxiety related to IBS, and has done so for thousands of people.
Hypnotherapy is now acknowledged within the wider medical profession as an evidenced-based therapy that can help reduce the symptoms of IBS, and sometimes alleviate those symptoms entirely.
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) also lists hypnotherapy as one of the treatments to help with IBS.
It is known that IBS is made worse through anxiety or stress, and that the subsequent worry about the IBS can perpetuate the effects. Hypnotherapy can get to the root of the problem, allowing the sufferer to have the tools to manage any stress that may be making the IBS worse.
By using positive suggestion, the hypnotherapist will increase the client’s confidence in their well-being to reduce sensitivity in the gut.
This is borne out by the fact that psychological factors, such as stress and anxiety, can cause chemical changes in the body that can affect processes like those that occur in the digestive system. The discomfort, inconvenience and pain from IBS can also affect a person’s mental health, with around three out of four people with IBS experiencing depression at some stage, according to Boots.
With hypnotherapy, however, just six hours of treatment over six one-hour or 12 half-hour sessions will work in alleviating the IBS problem, with the opportunity to top these up in the longer term.
Sometimes, hypnotherapy can work in a few sessions, or just one. The hypnotherapist will monitor progress on a session-by-session basis and make recommendations from there.
Hypnotherapy for IBS is available on the NHS and through some surgeries, so, if you suffer from IBS and seek relief, it is worth telling your doctor that you are interested in pursuing this line of non-invasive treatment.
You can find a NCH-registered hypnotherapist near you by clicking here. Look for a therapist who lists IBS as one of their treatments, or alternatively, telephone a few hypnotherapists and ask them questions about it.
