Gut Directed Hypnotherapy: Improving Mental Health for Gut Health
There have been times and each of our lives when we were told to trust our gut. What if our
gut is out of whack? What if the pain is overwhelming? Is it all in our mind? We will explore
how gut-directed hypnotherapy case studies have proven to improve one's well-being.
Certainly, there have been instances where you have that discomfort in your stomach. It may
feel like the end of the world at the time, but it is not ongoing. Those with gut-related
issues experience this disabling feeling on an ongoing basis.
In addition to cramping in the abdomen section, extra symptoms would include constipation,
gas, and the urgent feeling of constantly going to the bathroom. A doctor's visit is often
recommended if these symptoms occur over a three month period. In extreme cases, the
symptoms happen once every seven days as well.
Since there are many causes of irritable bowel syndrome, experts need to test many factors of
why different people experience this discomfort. Is there actually a connection between the
brain and the gut? The first order of seeking to treat this issue is to eliminate foods that
are high in gluten and often cause gas.
Afterward, many physicians would recommend the intake of fiber, supplements or probiotics to
regulate the gastrointestinal tract. What if these primary issues did not address the root
cause of the irritable bowels?
Alleviate the Pain and Symptoms of Gut Syndrome
At the University of Vienna, researchers studied over a hundred sixty adults between the ages
of eighteen and seventy. This randomized controlled trial consisted of two groups where the
first group received gut-directed hypnotherapy while the other group received medical
treatments with a combination of supportive conversations.
Those that receive the gut-directed hypnotherapy had 45-minute hypnotherapy sessions covering
three months while those in a control group covered the same time frame. In addition to the
hypnosis sessions, those in the experimental group received audio files to take home and
practice on their own daily.
After the 3-month evaluation period, over 60% of the participants in the hypnotherapy group
had a greater Improvement for dealing with their irritable bowels. There was a follow-up
session conducted at the one-year mark.
At this point, over 50% of the original group maintain high levels of improvement with
regards to their gut related help. It is important to note that while there was improvement
in the control group, it was not to the level of significance with those in the experimental
group. The experimental group also mentioned that they did not experience any adverse effects
related to this study.
Envisioning Eating a Delicious Meal!
At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, volunteers took part in a study in which
they were hypnotized to lessen the severity of their gastrointestinal functioning. While they
were hypnotized, they were instructed to formulate a picture in their mind of being in a
relaxing environment. They were also measured to see how long it would take to digest what they had eaten.
While they were under hypnosis, then the time that it takes for food to be processed in the
colon had increased from a mere ninety minutes to over one hundred-thirty minutes. This was
due to the fact that the hypnotic state had actually decreased the intensity of muscle
movements that occurred and the stomach.
While in this relaxed state, researchers concluded that since the students were in a state of
bliss, they were able to suppress the muscle activity. Conversely, heightened stressful
situations had proven the opposite. Researchers also concluded that hypnosis could be seen as
beneficial for gut-directed hypnotherapy to control vomiting and nausea as well.
A Guide to a Healthy Gut with Hypnotherapy
Researchers at Monash University and Alfred Hospital Department of Gastroenterology in
Australia also had noted success using hypnotherapy to address pain and the gastrointestinal
areas. Over 70 patients and this study or seeking treatment to improve their bowel movements.
Researchers noted that some of the patients did not respond as favorably to a diet consisting
of significantly reducing carbohydrate intake.
They were split into three groups. The first group received hypnosis sessions only. Those in
the second group reduced their daily intake of carbohydrates only. The third group took a
combination of both approaches.
The two groups that received hypnotherapy or instructed to create a mental picture where they
were to swallow their medicine. The medicine was smooth going down the esophagus and through
the stomach with ease. The stomach was very happy and thus improved their bowel movements
visually.
At the 6-week mark, all participants had shown a great improvement from the various approaches
to gut health. They were then instructed can you stop all levels of treatment for a period
of six months. After this time, all groups maintain that the positive improvements were
long-lasting.
Researchers concluded that hypnotherapy can be quite helpful for patients dealing with
psychological issues to reduce levels of stress and anxiety which can trigger poor gut health.
