Hypnosis Melbourne

Hypnosis & Colitis

A little over ten years ago an interesting research study relating to the application of hypnotherapy in the treatment of colitis was published which did not receive much publicity.

It was a controlled study involving 266 patients which found that hypnotherapy and psychotherapy techniques can significantly improve the results obtained through conventional treatment of colitis (i.e.. drugs, diet and surgery.) the researchers found that many chronic diarrhoeal disorders such as colitis and crohn’s disease are very much influenced by stress and emotional conflicts (e.g.. depression, mental lability and anorexia), and they found that dealing with those stresses and anxieties through hypnotherapy and psychotherapy resulted in significant improvements in the conditions of the patients.

Whilst the researchers did not suggest that these mind therapies should substitute other forms of treatment, they did demonstrate that psychotherapy and hypnotherapy could augment the effects of other therapies and should be considered for patients suffering from colitis and associated diseases who do not respond well to conventional treat.

(1) Psychotherapy of Crohn disease Zur Psychotherapie des M. Crohn. Feiereis H Langenbecks Arch Chir 1984, 364 p407-11