Even though there is no abnormality of the gut in Irritable Bowel Syndrome, it is very distressing to the individual who has it. This syndrome is very common and it is estimated that as much as 20% of the global population has or had IBS. It is not just a heavy burden on the sufferer but to Health Professionals, the Health Providers and Industry. It is the most common condition seen by Gastroentologist.

There are numerous treatments ranging from drugs provided by the family doctor to over the counter treatment to psychological treatment. It is also clear that no one treatment works for everyone. Hypnotherapy, however, is the only treatment currently available that provides significant long term benefits.

If you understand how hypnotherapy works, it will become clear why it is such an effective treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. During hypnosis, the hypnotherapist puts the subject in a trance. If this trance is very deep, then the subject will drop down to Theta brainwave level. When fully awake, you are in Beta brainwave state.

At Theta brainwave your brain is at the state of hyper-suggestibility. In this state, whatever the hypnotherapist suggests will reach the Subconscious Mind because the resistant filters are relaxed. These suggestions given when you are fully awake will be rejected by the Subconscious Mind.

REM sleep occurs in Theta brainwave state. When you dream during sleep, it is as a result of dropping into Theta state. The hypnotherapist has access to the REM state. In the REM state is the Reality Generator. In this state, the hypnotherapist can now produce powerful visualisation and it will be as real as in a dream. The brain in this state cannot tell the difference between what is real or unreal.

Visualisation and post hypnotic suggestions in Theta State in very effective. In Theta state, the hypnotherapist can gradually replace all the layers of negative information and replace them with positive ones. The benefits only result after there is change in belief, perception and expectation of your IBS.

IBS patient, after excellent results from hypnotherapy, will relapse if doubts creep into the mind. If the patients believe that symptoms will develop, it is like giving it the all clear to return. As long as the IBS patient remain confident that symptoms will not return, he or she will remain symptom free and in control of IBS.

I believe that all IBS patients should have hypnotherapy and the earlier the better. Well established sufferers have several layers of negative information in their mind and it will take longer to replace with positive info while newly diagnosed IBS patients will respond to only a few sessions because the hypnotherapist has less work to do.

In cases of severe or refractory Irritable Bowel Syndrome, it will take twelve weeks or more of treatment by the hypnotherapist with special gut directed skills and home use of self hypnosis tapes. Hypnotherapy works in IBS and although there are several explanation, the simplest one is that the hypnotherapist is replacing negative information about Irritable Bowel Syndrome in the Subconscious Mind and replacing them with positive ones. It, therefore, makes sense that this treatment should be offered as early as possible to IBS sufferers and by doing so reduce the years of heavy burden

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