By Trish Pellen (CHA Director) & Justine Lette (HNZ Director)

Research into hypnosis and gut health continues to grow, and one recent large-scale clinical study offers strong evidence for the effectiveness of online gut-directed hypnosis in treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

This study set out to explore whether hypnosis delivered digitally could be just as effective as in-person therapy, and how it compared to a commonly used relaxation-based approach.

To do this, researchers worked with nearly 400 participants diagnosed with IBS across 26 medical centres in the United States. Participants were randomly assigned to use either a muscle relaxation app or an app delivering gut-directed hypnosis. Both programs were self-guided and used over a period of approximately 13 to 16 weeks.

The goal was simple: understand whether targeted hypnosis could improve IBS symptoms, and whether digital delivery could still produce meaningful results.

Significant Improvements in Abdominal Pain

One of the most important outcomes measured in the study was abdominal pain, a symptom that affects quality of life for many people living with IBS.

Participants who used the gut-directed hypnosis program experienced a significant reduction in abdominal pain. Even more encouraging, these improvements continued for weeks after the treatment period ended, showing that the benefits were not just short-term.

For those who live with chronic gut discomfort, this kind of sustained relief is incredibly meaningful.

Positive Changes in Bowel Function

The study also examined stool consistency and overall bowel function in people with both constipation-dominant IBS (IBS-C) and diarrhoea-dominant IBS (IBS-D).

Over the course of the program:

• People with IBS-D experienced more formed and manageable stools
• People with IBS-C found bowel movements became easier and more regular

These improvements demonstrated that gut-directed hypnosis was helping regulate digestive function in a balanced way, rather than simply calming symptoms temporarily.

Hypnosis Compared to Relaxation

An important aspect of this study was that hypnosis was not compared to “doing nothing.” Instead, it was measured against muscle relaxation, a method already known to support stress reduction and symptom relief.

Both approaches showed benefits. However, gut-directed hypnosis consistently produced stronger results.

This highlights an important point: while relaxation helps calm the body, hypnosis goes further by directly working with the brain-gut connection. It retrains how the nervous system communicates with the digestive system, influences pain perception, and supports healthier digestive patterns.

Proven Effectiveness in a Digital Format

One of the most exciting findings from this research is that hypnosis delivered through an app was highly effective.

Participants did not receive in-person sessions. They simply listened to the guided hypnosis recordings in their own time, often as they went to sleep.

Despite this, the outcomes were strong and long lasting.

This supports what many practitioners are already seeing in practice, that online hypnosis can be just as powerful as face-to-face sessions, and in some cases even more effective due to the comfort and safety people feel in their own homes.

Long-Term Benefits Beyond the Program

Follow-up data from the study showed that improvements continued beyond the initial treatment period.

This suggests that gut-directed hypnosis doesn’t just manage symptoms temporarily, but helps create lasting changes in how the brain and digestive system work together.

Rather than masking discomfort, it supports long-term regulation and resilience within the body.

Why This Study Matters

IBS is incredibly common and can have a major impact on daily life. Many people are told to manage symptoms through diet changes, stress management, or medication, yet still struggle with ongoing discomfort.

This study adds to the growing body of evidence showing that hypnosis is a safe, effective and evidence-based approach for digestive health, with no serious side effects and strong long-term outcomes.

It also confirms that digital hypnosis programs can provide real therapeutic benefit, opening access to support for people who may not have local specialists or prefer online care.

A Growing Body of Research

This study is just one example of the extensive research now supporting hypnosis across a range of health concerns. Here is a link to the study - https://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(23)01235-0/fulltext

As more clinical trials continue to emerge, hypnosis is increasingly being recognised as a valuable complementary approach within healthcare, particularly for conditions involving the nervous system, stress responses and chronic symptoms.

The study aimed to find out whether gut-directed hypnosis delivered digitally could effectively reduce IBS symptoms, and how it compared to a muscle relaxation program. Researchers wanted to see if online, self-guided hypnosis could provide real, lasting symptom relief for people with IBS.
Yes. Participants who used the gut-directed hypnosis app experienced significant improvements, particularly in abdominal pain and bowel function. Many also continued to feel better weeks after the program ended, showing that the benefits were not just temporary.
Both relaxation and hypnosis helped reduce symptoms, but gut-directed hypnosis consistently produced stronger results. While relaxation calms the body, hypnosis directly targets the brain-gut connection, helping retrain pain responses and digestive patterns more effectively.
The entire program was delivered digitally through an app. Participants listened to guided sessions in their own time, often at home. Despite being self-guided and online, the hypnosis still produced strong and lasting improvements.
This research shows that gut-directed hypnosis is a safe, effective and evidence-based option for managing IBS symptoms. It also confirms that online hypnosis can be a powerful and accessible form of support, especially for those who may not have local specialists or prefer treatment from home.

Find a Gut Directed Hypnosis Professional here - https://www.pellenandpalmer.com/gut-directed-hypnotherapy Scroll to the bottom of the page.

Online Gut-Directed Hypnosis for IBS: What This Major Study Reveals