Gut-directed hypnotherapy shows promise in relieving symptoms of IBS

Photo Cred: Mark Williams/Unsplash

By Linda Childers, Linda Childers, Linda Childers

For the 25 to 45 million Americans who are affected by the gastrointestinal disorder, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), life can seem like a never-ending rollercoaster of running to the restroom and battling symptoms including abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation.

A new study, published in the journal, Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology, found that not only is gut-directed hypnotherapy effective in treating IBS, but that patients who were initially skeptical or apprehensive before treatment, reported enthusiastic and positive impressions after undergoing hypnotherapy. Eighty-five percent of patients in the study said hypnotherapy had been effective in treating their IBS symptoms, while also reporting an improvement in quality of life, depression, and anxiety.

Lisa Geiger, MN, ARNP, FNP-BC, BCH, a board-certified family nurse practitioner and clinical hypnotherapist, often treats those with IBS at her practice, Vital Capacity, in Edmunds, Wash.

“I work in a comprehensive manner, from a multidisciplinary framework, and to that end, I’ve seen clients formerly suffering with IBS, where nothing else has helped, overcome significant and unrelenting pain,” Geiger said. “Hypnotherapy for IBS isn’t magic, but it is magical.”

Geiger begins by getting a comprehensive history and individual health assessment from each client with IBS.

“The focus of hypnotherapy is directed toward alleviating and mitigating patterns contributing to physiological manifestations, such as what occurs with visceral hypersensitivity that may manifest as IBS symptoms,” she said. “About 70 percent of IBS is associated with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), therefore a thorough workup is warranted and essential to rule out systemic disease or gastro-intestinal problems due to a functional clinical origin.”

During the first hypnotherapy session, Geiger discusses the client’s diagnoses, complex challenges, and past efforts to address and ameliorate symptom-patterns along with any prior interventions.

“I review a thorough clinically oriented medical, psychiatric, familial, and social history with them,” Geiger said. “IBS hypnosis is generally a seven-session protocol. Most of my clients come from specialty and primary provider referrals. I value an integrative team approach and work with many medical specialists.”

When considering IBS, Geiger noted that it’s crucial to address the phenomenon of pain.

“When utilizing hypnotherapy as a method of management, we delve into the possible emotional, memory and physiological components of pain,” she said. “Hypnosis can ameliorate and attenuate all three components.”

According to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), IBS is an often misunderstood and underdiagnosed health condition. Treatments for IBS vary from one person to the next and can include changes to diet, increasing fiber and eliminating certain foods, exercise, and practicing relaxation techniques, and as a last resort, medications if diet and lifestyle changes aren’t effective. Current medications for IBS work to alleviate symptoms rather than address the root cause. There are no medications that cure IBS, although there are clinical trials in progress.

Jayne Goldman, MBA, CHt, of Best Life Hypnotherapy in Los Angeles, Calif., has treated many clients with IBS and other gastrointestinal disorders. She uses Time Line Therapy, developed by Tad James, that involves treatment at an unconscious level and allows a client to surrender negative emotions linked to past experiences and transform their internal programming.

By addressing underlying psychological issues, integrative health practitioners can help clients manage the severity and duration of IBS. A qualitative study published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine found that multiple predisposing personality traits and vulnerabilities associated with IBS include perfectionism, a tendency to catastrophize, anxiety, and poor stress management.

“I use guided relaxation that offers positive suggestions on how clients can improve the function of their digestive tract, develop daily practices to center themselves, and also train their brain not to worry about things beyond their control,” Goldman said. “My work encourages clients to release any negative emotions and limiting and disempowering beliefs from the past that may be continuing to impact their life.”

As a result, Goldman noted that her clients with IBS and other gastrointestinal conditions, such as Crohn’s disease, achieve relief from their symptoms.

“By mastering relaxation techniques, clients are able to overcome the vicious cycle of anxiety and stress that exacerbates IBS symptoms,” Goldman said.