Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a long-term disorder.

People with IBS have abdominal pain or discomfort associated with opening their bowels, or they experience a change in bowel habit (constipation, diarrhoea or both).

They also often experience bloating.

Sufferers are often embarrassed by their symptoms, and are unaware that up to 20% of the population also have IBS.

NICE recommends hypnotherapy for IBS.

The Hypnotherapy service sees patients with a medical diagnosis of IBS, who have been receiving other treatments (medication, dietetic and lifestyle advice) for about a year, but their IBS symptoms have improved little, or not at all.

Hypnosis is a natural state, rather like daydreaming.

We all go into trance several times a day when we lose track of time when chatting, reading or watching TV.

It is not 'sleep', and the patient remains in control of what they say and do.

Hypnotherapy uses hypnosis to help patients relax and create positive change.

The Hypnotherapy service empowers people to increase their well-being, control their symptoms and take back their life.

This service has recently been extended to cover the whole of Sandwell PCT: (Tipton and Rowley Regis, Smethwick and Oldbury, Wednesbury and West Bromwich).

Hypnotherapy for IBS is provided free to people with a GP in these areas.

For further information contact Helen Bremner, Community Clinical Nurse Hypnotherapist at the contact details below.