Hypnosis Relieves Symptoms of IBSWritten by Paul Gustafson, RN, BSN, CH
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a chronic gastro-intestinal (GI) condition with no known cause or cure. It causes GI tract to move too quickly (hypermotility) or too slowly (hypomotility) and resulting symptoms include any one or a combination of following: diarrhea, constipation, cramping, gas, pain or bloating. Symptoms usually run in cycles lasting for days, months or years. IBS can be disabling making sufferers feel like prisoners in their own home. IBS affects 35 million Americans, 4 of 5 are women, and it is more prevalent than asthma, diabetes, acid reflux and depression combined. There are likely millions who never pursue treatment due to embarrassment. 10% of all primary care physician visits are IBS related. It is 2nd leading cause for employee absenteeism and costs US 8 billion dollars/year. Diagnosing IBS is a process of exclusion which means a physician needs to rule out conditions such as lactose intolerance, Chron’s disease, bacterial infections, parasites, dumping syndrome, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac and gallbladder disease before a diagnosis of IBS can be determined. The onset of symptoms ranges between ages of 20-29 in adults and 9-11 in children. Onset of symptoms can sometimes be traced back to a traumatic event, illness, injury or accident. Some clients just begin having symptoms early in life for no apparent reason at all. IBS is also known to be familial. Many IBS sufferers go through life with no idea of what normal gastro-intestinal function is like. IBS symptoms can be aggravated by stress, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, foods high in animal or vegetable fat, beverages containing dyes, artificial sweeteners, food or medication sensitivities or hormone fluctuation but none are cause. Some research indicates that IBS sufferers may have an abundance of specialized cells in intestinal tract making them more reactive and sensitive. Irregular GI motility is responsible for discomfort and inconsistent bowel movements. If GI tract moves too quickly body doesn’t get enough time to absorb what it needs resulting in diarrhea. If it moves too slowly body absorbs too much resulting in constipation. This erratic pattern can dramatically affects how nutrients are absorbed and how effective colon absorbs waste out of blood stream. (1) Traditional medical intervention includes high fiber diets, antispasmodics to relieve cramping and spasms; antidepressants to relieve emotional burden and antidiarrhea medication. Research indicates that this approach offers symptom relief to only 25%. Because IBS is not life threatening, is not a precursor to acute illness and is undetectable with diagnostic equipment, sufferers are usually told they have to live with it. Hypnosis is process of accessing subconscious thought which is control center. The reason hypnosis is so effective for weight loss and smoking cessation is because subconscious is where all of our habits, patterns, values and beliefs reside. Clients can be empowered to reframe their view of nutrition, exercise and to release unhealthy patterns in favor more positive ones. The subconscious mind also regulates our body’s inner network of complicated mechanisms. It regulates our heart and respiratory rate, co-ordinates every step we take and controls thousands of metabolic functions everyday of our lives. With unique access to this immensely powerful place hypnosis can positively redirect specific areas of GI function.
| | Clinical HypnosisWritten by Paul Gustafson RN, BSN, CH
Clinical HypnosisDid you know that Americans spend as much out-of-pocket for holistic solutions such as hypnosis as they do for inpatient hospitalizations? The Eisenberg studies of 1991 and again in 1997 shocked mainstream medical community with these findings. The authoritarian approach to western medicine assumes that health and wellness comes from others. This minimizes importance of our own natural ability to not only enhance healing process but to avoid illness to begin with. If rapid assembly line of traditional healthcare has clinicians overwhelmed, what about emotional state of those being cared for? How are patients coping with their situation? What expectations do they have for recovery? Do they see themselves as temporarily side tracked or powerless? Do they believe there is a role for them to play in their own recovery or do they feel totally dependant? This article describes how hypnosis works and reviews some of clinical applications. What is Hypnosis? The word “hypnosis” is a Greek derivative for “sleep” coined by scientist James Braid in 1843. It was an unfortunate choice of words because hypnosis is not sleep at all. Nearly all hypnosis clients hear and remember everything during a session. Hypnosis is better described as a combination of deep physical relaxation and heightened awareness. It is process of bypassing conscious thought and stepping into subconscious, which is our body’s control center and also where all of our habits, values and beliefs reside. The subconscious mind is like hard drive of a computer, it is where all programming is stored. Hypnosis not only helps you step inside of this powerful place, but it also empowers client to initiate positive changes supporting improved health and thoughts of future success. A hypnotist/hypnotherapist uses soothing music and paints peaceful verbal images enabling clients to shift from conscious to subconscious thought. Once this is accomplished they are directed with carefully phrased suggestions, affirmations and imagery supporting desired goals. The client subconsciously integrates information and puts it into action. Clinical Hypnosis Clinical hypnosis applies to medical concerns. There are dozens of applications of this holistic technique in acute care setting and scientific research is building an impressive case supporting its effectiveness and cost saving merits. Here are some examples:
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