Irritable Bowel Syndrome
What is IBS?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of the digestive tract, specifically the large intestine. IBS is so common, that it is estimated that 10-20% of American adults suffer from the disorder. Women tend to be diagnosed with IBS much more frequently than men. Symptoms may include one or more of the following: abdominal cramping, changes in bowel habits, and bloating. Some people with IBS have diarrhea. Some have constipation. And some go back and forth between diarrhea and constipation.
The exact cause of IBS is not yet known. There is no specific test for IBS. However, it your doctor (preferably a gastroenterologist) should be the one to make the correct diagnosis of IBS, ruling out other disorders or diseases.
Treatment of IBS
Many people with IBS can control their symptoms with a combination of dietary changes, medication, and stress management, including clinical hypnosis. One of the treatments of choice for IBS is clinical hypnosis.
A structured hypnosis treatment protocol has been designed by researcher Olafur Palsson, PsyD, who conducts his research on IBS at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. This hypnosis treatment protocol has been successful in treating patients with IBS in research and clinical settings. Dr. Becker has successfully treated many of her patients who have IBS using this protocol. The treatment involves 7 bimonthly sessions in addition to a 15-minute audio recording that the patient uses at home. Dr. Becker uses this protocol only with patients who have been formally diagnosed with IBS by their gastroenterologist. For more information on this treatment, Dr. Palsson's website can be found at www.ibshypnosis.com.
click here to read Dr. Becker's interview on Yahoo! Voices regarding the treatment of IBS