A Gut–Brain Approach to Managing Digestive Symptoms
Many people continue to experience digestive symptoms despite following a careful diet or receiving appropriate medical treatment. This affects around 20–30% of people with coeliac disease or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Often, these ongoing symptoms are diagnosed as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), which is now recognised as a disorder of gut–brain interaction (DGBI).
A DGBI can develop after events such as stress, a stomach bug, or a course of antibiotics. These can alter the gut–brain–microbiota axis—the communication system between your gut, its microbiome, and your brain. As a result, the brain may become more focused on signals coming from the gut (hypervigilance), while the gut itself becomes more sensitive (hypersensitivity). This means that normal digestive processes, which most people wouldn’t notice, can become uncomfortable or even painful.
I take a holistic approach that addresses the gut, the microbiome and the brain, focusing on three key areas:
- Personalised nutrition: Practical, sustainable dietary changes tailored to your symptoms and lifestyle.
- Microbiome support: Exploring the use of probiotics and prebiotics to help promote a healthier, more balanced gut environment.
- Gut–brain therapies: Using gut-directed hypnotherapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) techniques to reduce gut sensitivity, ease anxiety around symptoms and food, and help retrain the brain’s response to digestive sensations.
Together, these approaches can help to:
- Reduce sensitivity and discomfort
- Improve gut function
- Restore confidence around food
- Feel better without creating food fear
- Get back to eating, travelling, and socialising with confidence
Individual hypnotherapy sessions can be arranged to run alongside dietary support, or you can join an online hypnotherapy course (individual or group) through The Contented Gut