October 31, 2003 – Hypnotherapy is believed to provide effective, long-lasting relief from symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
During a study1 carried out by British researchers, 200 patients suffering from IBS and having received hypnotherapy treatments were asked about their quality of life. Seventy-one percent said they saw a marked reduction in the intensity of their symptoms, and for 80% of them, this reduction was sustained for a period of at least five years.
As for those in whom the improvement was not maintained in the long term, the intensity of the symptoms was still less than before the treatments.
Between 10% and 20% of the population suffers from IBS, a problem whose exact cause remains uncertain. Many patients are not relieved by the usual treatments, which makes this finding even more interesting.
IBS is characterized by abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and constipation.
Jean-Benoit Legault – PasseportSanté.net
According to Healthy News, Reuters and WebMD; October 21 and 22, 2003.
1. Gonsalkorale WM, Miller V, Afzal A, Whorwell PJ. Long term benefits of hypnotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome.Gut 2003 Nov; 52 (11): 1623-9.
