TUFTS UNIVERSITY HEALTH

Title: Hypnosis For the Gut.
Source: Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter; Aug 2003,
Vol. 21 Issue 6, p1, 1/3p
Document Type: Article
Subject(s): GASTROINTESTINAL system -- Diseases

ANXIETY

PLACEBO (Medicine)

RANITIDINE

INDIGESTION

HYPNOTISM -- Therapeutic use
Abstract: Presents a study which investigated the therapeutic
effect of hypnotherapy on relieving chronic indigestion. Information on
the use of ranitidine and placebo pill; Analysis of findings on
hypnotherapy; Physiological effect of anxiety on gastrointestinal
problems.
Full Text Word Count: 232
ISSN: 1526-0143


Hypnosis For the Gut



A RECENT STUDY suggests that hypnotherapy may provide relief to people suffering from what health professionals call recurrent upper-abdominal discomfort--but what you know as chronic indigestion. The findings are especially promising because ongoing indigestion is relatively common but has proven difficult to treat.

Researchers in England assigned 126 patients to one of three treatments for 4 months. One group took ranitidine (Zantac), a drug that reduces the amount of acid produced by the stomach. Another group received
emotional support. They also took a placebo pill that they were told could reduce stomach acid. The third group underwent hypnotherapy, which used relaxation, suggestion, and visualization to help people imagine
their symptoms improving.

The people who received hypnotherapy reported the greatest improvement in symptoms. In addition, nearly three-quarters of the hypnosis group continued to feel better 10 months later, as opposed to just 43 percent in the drug group and 34 percent of those who received supportive therapy. Moreover, no one who received hypnotherapy sought out medication during the 10-month follow-up period, while the majority of people in the other treatment groups did.

The exact mechanism by which hypnotherapy works isn't known, but anxiety can contribute to gastrointestinal problems, so the relaxation associated with hypnotherapy may be beneficial. There's even some evidence that hypnotherapy can "relax" the physiologic function of the GI tract.


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of Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter.
Source: Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, Aug2003, Vol. 21
Issue 6, p1, 1p
Item: 10671630