60 million Americans suffer from this unpleasant feeling of heartburn at least once a month. Not only is it painful, it can be life-altering and can even lead to death if ignored. No wonder heartburn and other gastrointestinal medications are among the most popular drugs on the market. However, these “miracle drugs” are far from perfect. Some patients report mixed results and long-term side effects.
For patients whose symptoms do not improve with medication, gastroenterologists seek help from psychologists. Hypnotherapy is an effective treatment for heartburn and other stomach symptoms. It is a powerful alternative treatment backed by a wealth of scientific evidence and is increasingly being offered at major medical centers across the country.
“There is a tremendous amount of literature behind hypnotherapy, which began in the 1980s,” says Dr. Laurie Kiefer, director of psychosocial research at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “We decided to call it brain-gut therapy.”
Hypnosis, which taps into the connection between the mind and the digestive system, can also help with conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. Untreated gastroesophageal reflux disease is thought to be associated with esophageal cancer.
Amber Ponticelli, 35, started having digestive problems in 2007. Initially, he only felt dizzy and weak in the morning, but soon felt severe abdominal pain. She was unable to eat or drink for months, losing 20 pounds and eventually becoming bedridden. She saw multiple gastroenterologists at major medical institutions, and eventually she was diagnosed with a genetic disease that causes many gastrointestinal symptoms.
“I thought I was going to die. I had to quit my job and ended up moving to the city with my boyfriend to be closer to the doctors I see in town,” Ponticelli told NBC News. Ta.
After traditional treatments such as medication and lifestyle changes, the cautious Ponticelli was referred to Kiefer for hypnotherapy sessions.
Hypnosis uses gradual relaxation techniques by suggesting calming images and sensations. Patients can focus on improving symptoms ranging from abdominal pain and constipation to diarrhea and bloating. For treatment to be effective, it may take eight or more office visits and requires some homework on the part of the patient, such as listening to tapes at home. Treatment is covered by most insurance plans and costs range from $100 to $150 per visit.
Contrary to many depictions on television and in fiction, clinical hypnotherapists cannot mind control hypnotized patients. Patients are usually aware of what is happening and their surroundings during and after the hypnosis session. Sessions can be delivered in person or remotely through a service called telemedicine.
“Telemedicine is so important because not every place in the country has someone qualified or trained to provide this treatment, so we have more It gives us a broader reach,” Kiefer told NBC News.
Studies show that more than three-quarters of patients experience at least a 50 percent reduction in symptoms. Many people are able to stop taking medications, including common acid-reducing drugs.
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Hypnosis optimizes deep brain function, but it is not a solution for everyone.
According to Dr. Olaf Palsson, a psychologist and professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, about 15 to 20 percent of people cannot be hypnotized. Fortunately, patients do not need to be highly hypnotizable to benefit from gut-directed hypnotherapy, so many people may be able to find relief from their symptoms.
Dr. Rajeev Jain, a gastroenterologist with the American College of Gastroenterology, says gut-directed hypnotherapy can treat disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, such as irritable bowel syndrome, which often co-occurs with depression and anxiety disorders. He considers hypnotherapy to be a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Lifestyle habits such as diet are also important and must be considered.
Now living in the Chicago suburbs, Ponticelli is back to work as a Pilates instructor and eating her favorite foods, something she hasn’t enjoyed in years. She is also eating together. “It’s been 17 and a half weeks now and I’m feeling great,” Ponticelli said.
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She still takes some medications, but adding hypnotherapy to her regimen changed her life.
“I’m so grateful that I’m actually doing this work and I don’t think I could have done any of it without this treatment. That’s the real truth.”
Click here for a list of state-licensed medical professionals in the United States who are trained in hypnosis.
