The benefits of a short course of hypnotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) seem to last at least 5 years, according to a U.K. study.
Researchers audited 204 patients and found 71 percent reported symptoms that were very much or moderately better at the end of their 3-month course of hypnotherapy.
Of these, 81 percent maintained benefits or further improved in subsequent years. Patients, including non-responders, also reported improvement in quality of life, depression and anxiety, fewer consultations and less medication.
Although IBS is probably not caused by stress directly, studies have shown that psychological stress increases the symptoms of many people who have the disorder. Hypnosis has been postulated to have a calming influence on the mind, which positively affects IBS symptoms. Research has demonstrated that hypnosis can affect gastrointestinal functioning, including slowing down the propulsive movement of food through the gut and reducing acid secretion in the stomach.
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