Hypnosis effective in the treatment of irritable bowels

A new study has revealed that Hypnosis can be used as a highly effective tool for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diagnosed by abdominal pain, abdominal distension and bloating.

The study was made on 346 patients by The Sahlgrenska Academy, Sweden, and found that hypnotherapy pacified the symptoms of IBS in 40 percent of the patients and the improvements were long term in nature.

Two studies were conducted by researcher Magnus Simren and colleagues at The Sahlgrenska Academy to identify a treatment method that can be used in ordinary healthcare, according to a Sahlgrenska statement.

In one of the studies, published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, 138 patients with IBS were given hypnotherapy treatment for one hour a week over 12 weeks and it was observed that 40 percent of the patients shown a satisfactory lowering of symptoms as compared to the 12 percent of the untreated control group.

"The treatment involves the patient learning to control their symptoms through deep relaxation and individually adapted hypnotic suggestions. The idea is for the patient to then use this technique in their everyday life," says Simren.

This positive result was continued for the whole year during the study and a constant improvement in the quality of life was experienced by the treatment group.

In the other study that was presented in the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 208 patients were examined who were given with the hypnotherapy earlier.

When the result was examined, it was observed that 85 percent the patients who were benefited by hypnosis were still benefited by the treatment up to seven years later and majority of them is still using the therapy as a part of their routine life.

"In this group, use of the healthcare system as a result of stomach and bowel symptoms had also reduced by 70 percent," says Simren.

-With inputs from IANS.