Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome a problem for you?
Do you find yourself in embarrassing positions having to find an emergency loo?
Perhaps you are constipated for weeks at time?
Are you now on the medication merry-go-round and seeking hypnotherapy and naturopathic relief?
For many years hypnotherapy has been used clinically to help people suffering with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). It is a very established and recognised form of treatment to settle down the irritable and disturbed bowel.
IBS is what we medically call a form of gut dysbiosis where the bacterial balance of the gut has too little good bacteria and too much aggressive bad bacteria in the gut.
This causes a range of symptoms including chronic constipation, loose stools or and an alternating pattern of both, often unpredictable. Added to this can be pain and bloating in the gut that for some people can last for decades.
People can go from doctor to doctor and feel dismissed because the doctor often tells them they are neurotic. You can become afraid to eat and are frequently malnourished not getting the right nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
Doctors also often say there is no cure but in reality, my clinical experience is that the condition can be managed to such an extent very quickly that symptoms disappear.
Are you aware that IBS is the result of psychological problems as well as physical gut dysbiosis?
The acid/alkaline balance of the gut is out of sync and there can be the presence of leaky gut syndrome where the walls of the gastrointestinal tract have become too porous and it leaks fats, toxins and allergens directly into the blood. This causes a range of reactions including allergies, fatigue, anxiety and poisoning.
I am also going to include Crohn’s Disease, which mostly affects the colon (large intestine) and lower small intestine. Both IBS and Crohn’s are a form of inflammatory bowel disorders.
So, what causes these disorders?
In reality, there are a number of possible causes, including post or chronic bacterial, viral, protozoal or fungal infections and for everyone this can be different.
This can then cause a series of chain reactions including gut dysbiosis, immune damage, low production of serotonin, low or high stomach acid, and failure to produce digestive enzymes.
The body gets into a cycle of disturbances from which you do not know how to recover and you can be prescribed medications that make the situation worse, or undergo surgery to remove parts of the bowel.
There is also a large psychological component for sufferers of gut disorders including depression, anxiety and at times the onset of mental disorders due to the debilitating experience.
You may find it difficult to work, socialise or be in a relationship as you may frequently have to visit the bathroom.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have all your issues treated in one place at the same time with a holistic approach and hypnotherapy?
For me as naturopath, medical nutritionist and clinical hypnotherapist, I treat both the physical and psychological aspect of these disorders.
I believe it is important that we treat the whole person to restore good gut function and health. Each client receives a very clear treatment plan that needs to be adhered to, to produce good results. We work progressively and scientifically to adjust the way you are living your life.
Hypnotherapy is a large part of this treatment because hypnosis has the ability to settle your mind, soothe the body, allow healing and strengthen the immune system so the body can once again begin to heal itself.
We teach your body to take back control of your gastrointestinal system, which of course for naturopaths, is the very foundation of good health.
Hypnotherapy also helps relieve depression and anxiety so you can not only get better physically but also feel much happier and in control of your life.
If you need help overcoming IBS with hypnotherapy, pick up the phone and call me now on 02 8021 6429 (Direct Patient Line Only)
Dr Tracie O’Keefe DCH, BHSc, ND, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Psychotherapist. Counsellor, PACFA registered Mental Health Professional and Naturopath In Sydney. You can get help by booking an appointment with her at Australian Health & Education Centre.
