How the Mind-Gut Connection Can Solve Irritable Bowel Syndrome (Premium)
JEFFREY LAZARUS, MD
Dr.Lazurus is a board-certified pediatrician who received training at the Stanford University Medical Center,. He’s practiced general pediatrics for more than 25 years and medical hypnosis for 20 years. He specializes in treating medical conditions with medical hypnosis and is a recognized expert on the use of hypnosis for patients with gastrointestinal conditions.
If you’ve ever planned to go to a favorite restaurant, just thinking about your go-to meal can make you salivate. What’s more, that thought actually signals your stomach to release digestive juices before you’ve even taken a bite. The unique connection your brain has to your stomach creates this chain reaction.
On the flip side, if you have a big performance coming up or have to have a difficult conversation with someone, you might get “butterflies” in your stomach. More than just a cute description for that nervous energy you’re feeling, it describes the physiological reaction your brain just triggered in your gut.
And it goes both ways:
An upset stomach can trigger anxiety and depression — conditions typically associated with the brain — and persistent worrying thoughts can throw off your digestion. Specifically, scientists have discovered that psychological factors like depression can affect the actual movements and contractions within your gastrointestinal tract.
How can this understanding help you heal a hypersensitive gut?
