(NaturalNews) Hypnotherapy has long been used to help people cope with stress. No matter what the source of stress is, hypnosis is a relaxation technique that calms the mind and body into a deeper state of relaxation. Research has shown that when stress is a contributing factor in a physical or physiological situation, hypnotherapy helps reduce symptoms associated with that ailment. Studies show that hypnotherapy is very beneficial in treating people with Crohn's disease.
Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease. It affects about 2 to 7 in 100,000 people. The disease can be quite debilitating and sometimes life threatening when symptoms are not controlled. It causes the digestive tract to inflame and can cause severe abdominal pain, malnutrition, and diarrhea. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for Crohn's disease. Instead, symptoms must be treated, for example with hypnotherapy, and people with the disease can live a long life with their symptoms under control. According to the Mayo Clinic, stress does not cause Crohn's disease, but it can cause symptoms to worsen or cause a flare up.
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, there is no way to prevent Crohn's disease, but managing the symptoms is possible through diet, lifestyle changes, and alternative therapies. The main goal is to prevent flare-ups and to remain in remission as long as possible. People with Crohn's disease have reported that stress makes their symptoms worsen. Relaxation techniques are very helpful in reducing the symptoms of Crohn's disease. The University of Maryland Medical Center also promotes the use of hypnotherapy because studies have been shown that it improves immune function, decreases stress, increases relaxation, and eases feelings of anxiety.
A study conducted in Europe included 266 participants with Crohn's disease. The researchers found that hypnotherapy and psychotherapy improve the treatment of the disease. The study found that emotional conflicts such as stress, depression, and anorexia effect the transgression of the disease. Relaxation techniques used in hypnotherapy and psychotherapy were found to give patients greater control over their symptoms.
More research is finding that there are links between stress and physiological diseases. There is a direct link between emotional stress and Crohn's disease flare-ups. Alternative therapy such as hypnotherapy, psychotherapy, yoga, and meditation has been shown to improve the overall well-being of Crohn's disease sufferers. Since there is no known cure for Crohn's disease, alternative therapies are highly suggested to help people control their flare-ups and remain in remission. Hypnotherapy promotes relaxation and puts the Crohn's disease sufferer in control of their symptoms in a safe and natural way.
Sources
Crohn's disease. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved August 21, 2009 from
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/crohns-disease/DS00104Crohn's disease. (2008). University of Maryland Medical Center. Retrieved August 21, 2009 from
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/crohns-disease-000043.htmFeiereis, H. (1984). Hypnotherapy/Psychotherapy and Crohn's disease. Langenbecks Arch Chir, 364, 407-411.
About the author
Steve G. Jones, Ed.S. has been practicing hypnotherapy since the 1980s. He is the author of 22 books on Hypnotherapy. Steve is a member of the National Guild of Hypnotists, American Board of Hypnotherapy, president of the American Alliance of Hypnotists, on the board of directors of the Los Angeles chapter of the American Lung Association, and director of the Steve G. Jones School of Clinical Hypnotherapy.
Steve G. Jones, Ed.S. is a board certified Clinical Hypnotherapist. He has a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Florida (1994), a master's degree in education from Armstrong Atlantic State University (2007), and is currently working on a doctorate in education, Ed.D., at Georgia Southern University. Learn more at:
http://www.betterlivingwithhypnosis.com/
Have comments on this article? Post them here:
people have commented on this article.
Email this article to a friend
Share this article on: 
Now Available from 
