People are treating their gut issues with hypnotherapy now

And are you a candidate?

Gut health expert and nutritionist Dr Brad Leech, sits down with the host of Healthy-ish podcast, Felicity Harley to discuss gut hypnotherapy. Image: iStock.

What the hell is gut hypnotherapy? Thankfully, gut health expert and nutritionist Dr Brad Leech, sits down with the host of Healthy-ish podcast, Felicity Harley to discuss what this new trend is all about.

When you think of hypnotherapy, usually it's considered a practice for the mind, rather than the body. 

But as Dr Brad Leech tells Felicity Harley on Body+Soul's Healthy-ish podcast, "It's becoming quite trendy these days with more and more practitioners actually referring onto gut hypnotherapist." 

Leech has already seen incredible success in his own patients who have turned to hypnotherapy to address their gastrointestinal symptoms, as opposed to the traditional diet-only approach. 

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What does the science say about gut hypnotherapy?

There is actually science-backed evidence supporting the notion of gut hypnotherapy Dr Leech explained, who just designed a short course on advanced gut health for Endeavour College.

"There's this concept of a low-FODMAP diet, which is a very restrictive diet where you take out a lot of dietary fibres that can be fermented, causing gut-related problems," he noted.

"Now, they've done a number of different studies that show gut hypnotherapy is just as effective as a low-FODMAP diet in the treatment of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).

"From a practitioner's perspective, this is fantastic, because putting patients on a low-FODMAP diet, not only is it not so great for the microbiome in the gut, it's actually quite restrictive and a lot of patients can struggle when it comes to following the diet."

Patients are turning to gut hypnotherapy to address their gastrointestinal symptoms, as opposed to the traditional diet-only approach. Image: Pexels

How does gut hypnotherapy work?

Dr Leech described it as a concept of neuroplasticity, which is the brain's ability to rewire itself in response to stimulation. 

"We basically have the ability to change the nervous system's response to different stimuli," he told Harley.

"It's the concept of gut-brain access, and this is a bidirectional link between your brain and your gut, and how one another can impact and communicate with each other. So, working on the mind can go on to improve gut-related symptoms."

Sounds pretty simple, but how does it work?

Here's how you go about having gut hypnotherapy

First, you would need to see a gut expert, who, after an extensive examination, would refer you onto a hypnotherapist.

Incredibly, you might not even have to see a hypnotherapist in person to experience results. You can subscribe to apps that will deliver you a gut hypnotherapy session anywhere, any time.

An in-person appointment would involve seeing a gut hypnotherapist for one hour each week, for six to 10 weeks, Dr Leech explained, while for the app, you'd tune in each night for 20 minutes, over a period of six to eight weeks.

Incredibly, you might not even have to see a hypnotherapist in person to experience results. You can subscribe to apps that will deliver you a gut hypnotherapy session anywhere, any time. Image: iStock.

Both the in-person and app sessions might vary, but all should use techniques like visualisation, mindfulness practices, and suggestion therapy. For the expert and patient, it's all about tapping into the subconscious to allow the patient to be more open to suggestions to improve gut function.

If you're sceptical, think of it like this. Dr Leech wants you to ask yourself if you've ever done a nervous poo. C'mon, we know you have. That's an example of how the mind and the gut are connected neurologically. 

 Dr Leech says gut hypnotherapy is best suited to people with diagnosed IBS, as are those with chronic constipation, bloating, indigestion, and even anxiety. But he does recommend you see your GP first, if you're experiencing any of the above symptoms. 

Originally published as People are treating their gut issues with hypnotherapy now