Rethinking How We Treat IBS

For millions of people, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is more than just a “digestive problem.” It’s a condition that can affect your whole life, from your daily routines and work, to your overall feeling of wellbeing.

Yet despite its huge impact, many sufferers still feel they aren’t offered meaningful solutions.

This isn’t a criticism of GPs and gastroenterologists – they do a hugely important job when it comes to diagnosing gut conditions, and ruling out anything more serious.

But too often, someone will receive an IBS diagnosis, and leave the doctor’s office with nothing more than a list of foods to avoid. Because for decades now, that has been the standard approach – elimination diets, food diaries, supplements and prescriptions.

And while diet is important, food isn’t the only trigger. IBS isn’t just “in the gut”. It is now recognised as a disorder of the gut-brain interaction.

Your gut and nervous system are deeply interconnected. When stress levels rise, the gut reacts. When digestion is painful or unpredictable, the brain becomes more anxious. This feedback loop can make symptoms worse as well as difficult to manage.

Gut Directed Hypnotherapy (GDH) is an evidence-based treatment that calms the gut-brain axis, reduces sensitivity, and retrains how the brain interprets signals from the gut. Research shows that it helps reduce abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhoea, and constipation, while also lowering stress and anxiety.

Most importantly, the benefits can last long after treatment ends. NICE guidelines in the UK already recommend hypnotherapy as an option for people whose IBS symptoms don’t improve with diet or medication alone.

If you’re living with IBS and feel like you’ve “tried everything,” know that relief isn’t just about what’s on your plate. It’s about finding ways to reset your gut–brain connection so you can live with less stress, fewer symptoms, and more freedom.

References

Ford AC, et al. Efficacy of gut-directed hypnotherapy in IBS: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 2019;4(2):129-142. Is hypnotherapy helpful for irritable bowel syndrome in primary and secondary care? - The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12003432/ Gibson PR, Shepherd SJ. Evidence-based dietary management of functional gastrointestinal symptoms: The FODMAP approach. J Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2019;34(1): 63–72.