By Julie Hirst

July 2026

For many people living with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), the condition can feel frustrating and mysterious. One day symptoms seem manageable, the next they flare up for no obvious reason. Medical tests often come back normal, yet the pain, bloating and changes in bowel habits are very real.

A fascinating scientific review published in 2023 offers a new way of thinking about why this might happen. While many of its ideas remain theoretical, they build on an increasingly well-established understanding of the gut-brain connection—and may help explain why gut-directed hypnotherapy works so well for many people with IBS.

Your Gut Has a Nervous System of Its Own

Most people are surprised to learn that your digestive system has its own extensive network of nerve cells, known as the enteric nervous system (ENS).

Sometimes called the “second brain,” the ENS contains hundreds of millions of neurons that control digestion, movement of food through the gut, immune responses and communication with the brain.

Rather than simply following orders from the brain, your gut and brain are constantly exchanging information. This two-way communication system is known as the gut-brain axis.

Can the Gut “Remember” Stress?

This is where the review becomes particularly intriguing.

The authors suggest that stressful experiences—especially during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood—might leave long-lasting biological “memories” within the enteric nervous system.

These are not memories in the way we normally think of remembering events. Instead, they may be unconscious biological changes that influence how the gut responds to stress throughout life.

The idea is that early stress could “program” the gut to become more sensitive, making it more likely to produce pain, bloating or altered bowel habits later in life.

Importantly, this is a hypothesis. It is an interesting scientific proposal, but it has not yet been proven.

Why Early Life Matters

Researchers have known for many years that early experiences can shape health throughout adulthood.

Studies have linked IBS with factors such as:

• difficult pregnancies or births
• early life trauma
• prolonged childhood stress
• anxiety and depression
• adverse childhood experiences
• changes in the gut microbiome

Not everyone with IBS has experienced these factors, but they appear to increase vulnerability in some people.

IBS Isn’t “All in Your Head”

One of the most important messages from modern research is that IBS is a genuine disorder involving complex interactions between the gut, nervous system, immune system and brain.

Psychological factors can influence symptoms—but that does not mean the symptoms are imaginary.

Stress changes how the nervous system functions.

It can alter gut movement, increase pain sensitivity, affect inflammation and change communication between the gut and brain.

This is why many people notice that stressful periods make their IBS worse.

So Where Does Hypnotherapy Fit In?

Gut-directed hypnotherapy has been studied for over 40 years and has become one of the most effective psychological treatments for IBS.

Multiple clinical trials have shown that it can:

• reduce abdominal pain
• decrease bloating
• improve bowel habits
• reduce anxiety and depression
• improve quality of life
• provide benefits that can last for years in many patients

Interestingly, these improvements often occur even when no physical abnormality can be found in the gut.

How Might Hypnotherapy Work?

The exact mechanism is still being investigated.

The authors of this review suggest that hypnosis may help calm unconscious stress responses within the gut-brain axis.

Rather than simply helping someone relax, gut-directed hypnotherapy may reduce the brain’s tendency to amplify gut sensations and help restore healthier communication between the brain and digestive system.

If the authors’ theory is correct, hypnosis might even reduce the impact of long-standing stress patterns that have become deeply embedded within the gut’s nervous system.

Again, this remains a proposed explanation rather than an established fact, but it offers an intriguing direction for future research.

The Bigger Picture

Whether or not this specific hypothesis proves correct, one thing is becoming increasingly clear.

IBS is not simply a disorder of the bowel.

It involves the whole gut-brain system, including the nervous system, immune system, hormones, gut microbes and emotional wellbeing.

Treatments that address both the body and the mind—such as gut-directed hypnotherapy—appear to offer the greatest benefit for many people.

What This Means for People with IBS

If you live with IBS, this research offers an encouraging message.

Your symptoms are real.

They are not “just stress.”

But stress and previous life experiences can influence how your nervous system and digestive system function today.

Gut-directed hypnotherapy does not claim to erase memories or cure IBS overnight. Instead, it aims to help calm an over-sensitive gut-brain communication system, allowing the body to respond in a healthier and less reactive way.

For many people, this can mean fewer symptoms, greater confidence around food and social situations, and a much better quality of life.

The Bottom Line

This review presents a fascinating new theory—that the gut may carry long-term biological traces of early stress that contribute to IBS.

The hypothesis still needs much more research before it can be confirmed.

However, the clinical evidence supporting gut-directed hypnotherapy itself is already strong. Numerous studies have shown that it can significantly improve symptoms for many people living with IBS.

As our understanding of the gut-brain connection continues to grow, therapies that work with both the mind and the body may become an increasingly important part of IBS care.

Science is helping us understand something many people with IBS have long recognised: the gut and brain are closely connected, and effective care may need to consider both.

About the author

Julie Hirst is a clinical hypnotherapist and retired public health specialist. She completed the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Hypnosis provided by the British Society of Clinical and Academic Hypnosis and is an accredited member of the Society.

At Clinical Hypnotherapy Chambers, our therapists are qualified health professionals whose practice is informed by research evidence, clinical expertise and each client’s individual circumstances.

Important information: This article is intended for general information and is not a substitute for medical assessment or advice. Anyone experiencing new, persistent or changing bowel symptoms should consult their GP or another appropriate healthcare professional. Hypnotherapy for IBS should be used alongside appropriate medical care.

References

Adler, E. C., Levine, E. H., Ibarra, A. N., Boparai, E. S., Hung, Y. Y., McCrary, Q. D., & Lee, J. K. (2025). Gut-directed hypnotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurogastroenterology & Motility, 37(7), e70037. https://doi.org/10.1111/nmo.70037

Császár-Nagy, N., & Bókkon, I. (2023). Hypnotherapy and IBS: Implicit, long-term stress memory in the ENS? Heliyon, 9(1), e12751. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12751

Vasant, D. H., Paine, P. A., Black, C. J., et al. (2021). British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines on the management of irritable bowel syndrome. Gut, 70(7), 1214–1240. https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2021-324598