Natural Relief for Stomach Pain

Stomachaches—ugh! Whether you have chronic abdominal pain due to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or another health problem, such as Crohn’s disease or functional abdominal pain (FAP), ongoing belly discomfort can rob the joy from your life.

Popping certain pills can sometimes provide temporary relief, but since all drugs carry side effects, is there a natural way to feel better?

The use of clinical hypnotherapy has been proven to reduce pain symptoms and it has become a doctor-recommended treatment at oversea.

I use the neuro-hypnotherapy technique, whereby I can observe the brainwave going into different state such as delta, theta, alpha and beta brainwave while the suggestion is being given by the hypnotherapist during the therapy session. When your brainwaves are in  alpha state, you may notice that your breathing begins to slow down, as will your heart rate and blood pressure. This stage of hypnosis trance stage can be used to control pain. Personalized self-hypnosis method will be developed based on the brainwave observation.

Research studies:

http://sciencenordic.com/treating-stomach-pains-hypnosis

Proven to be effective

In previous studies hypnotherapy has been shown to improve not only IBS symptoms, but also symptoms outside the intestinal system, as well as quality of life and ‘psychological co-morbidity’ – the knock-on effect from IBS on other psychological conditions.

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cont...24/5/e890.short

CONCLUSION: Guided imagery treatment plus medical care was superior to standard medical care only for the treatment of abdominal pain, and treatment effects were sustained over a long period.

http://journals.lww.com/jpgn/Abstract/2009...nctional.3.aspx

Psychological and behavioral interventions were classified into the following 5 primary treatment modalities: psychoeducation, behavior therapy/contingency management, relaxation-based therapies (including biofeedback and hypnotherapy), and cognitive-behavioral therapy (including cognitive-behavioral family therapy). There was a wide variation in the quality and quantity of studies within each treatment category. Effective interventions generally involved multiple therapeutic components and included elements of both individual and family treatment. Psychological interventions that combine psychoeducation, relaxation-based therapies, and cognitive-behavioral therapy appear superior to standard care (reassurance or dietary manipulation) in the elimination of pain and reduction in functional disability.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19196096

Although effective in the management of acute pain and distress in pediatric cancer patients, the use of hypnotherapy in children with FCRAP is not a common practice. The current study highly supports the use of hypnosis as a part of the biobehavioral approach for this dilemma.

http://bottomlinehealth.com/natural-relief-for-stomach-pain/

The study, done by researchers from the Netherlands, tracked the impact of “gut-directed” hypnotherapy in girls and boys between the ages of 12 and 17 and young adults up to age 23 who had chronic abdominal pain. For this new study, the patients kept a pain diary. The results indicated that hypnosis may bring lasting relief for chronic tummy pain. About 68% of the participants who had been taught hypnosis were free or mostly free of abdominal pain five years later, compared with only 20% of those who had received standard therapy alone. Scores for headache, chronic fatigue and joint pain were markedly lower among the hypnosis group as well.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/23/us-hypnosis-idUSTRE81M22C20120223

(Reuters Health) - Hypnosis may bring lasting relief to some kids with irritable bowel syndrome or chronic stomach pain, a small study suggests.

Researchers found that of 52 children with the tummy troubles, those who had six hypnosis sessions -- plus at-home "self-hypnosis" -- were still doing well five years later. More than two-thirds were free or mostly free of abdominal pain. That compared with just 20 percent of kids who were given standard therapy alone. Researchers led by Dr. Arine M. Vlieger, of St. Antonius Hospital in the Netherlands, reported the results in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Source:

http://bottomlinehealth.com/natural-relief-for-stomach-pain/

EEG Biofeedback for PAIN AND HEADACHE

EEG Biofeedback for PAIN AND HEADACHE meets all of the criteria for Level 4: Efficacious 

EFFICACY LEVELS

Explanation of Efficacy Levels

Biofeedback and neurofeedback therapies have continued to develop over the last 40 years. Today there are myriad disorders for which is used. Large research grants have funded studies on neurofeedback therapy for a variety of disorders. These studies consistently report positive results.

In 2001, a Task Force of the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback and the Society for Neuronal Regulation developed guidelines for the evaluation of the clinical efficacy of psychophysiological interventions. The board of directors of both organizations subsequently approved these guidelines.

A low efficacy rating does not mindicate that neurofeedback is not effective for the disorder, only that an insufficient number of studies have been completed for conclusive results. 

Level 1: Not Empirically Supported

Supported only by anecdotal reports and/or case studies in nonpeer-reviewed venues. Not empirically supported.

Level 2: Possibly Efficacious

At least one study of sufficient statistical power with well-identified outcome measures but lacking randomized assignment to a control condition internal to the study.

Level 3: Probably Efficacious

 Multiple observational studies, clinical studies, wait-list controlled studies, and within-subject and intrasubject replication studies that demonstrate efficacy.

Level 4: Efficacious

a. In a comparison with a no-treatment control group, alternative treatment group, or sham (placebo) control utilizing randomized assignment, the investigational treatment is shown to be statistically significantly superior to the control condition, or the investigational treatment is equivalent to a treatment of established efficacy in a study with sufficient power to detect moderate differences, and

b. The studies have been conducted with a population treated for a specific problem, for whom inclusion criteria are delineated in a reliable, operationally defined manner, and

c. The study used valid and clearly specified outcome measures related to the problem being treated, and

d. The data are subjected to appropriate data analysis, and

e. The diagnostic and treatment variables and procedures are clearly defined in a manner that

permits replication of the study by independent researchers, and

f. The superiority or equivalence of the investigational treatment has been shown in at least two independent research settings.

Level 5: Efficacious and Specific

Evidence for Level 5 efficacy meets all of the criteria for Level 4. In addition, the investigational treatment has been shown to be statistically superior to credible sham therapy, pill, or alternative bonafide treatment in at least two independent research settings.

Disclaimer: All the articles, documents or publications mentioned by or linked on this site have been provided as a public service. There is absolutely no endorsement of any statement made in any of these documents, articles, or publications.

Research studies:

Bazanova, O.M., Aftanas, L.I. (2010).Individual EEG alpha activity analysis for enhancement neurofeedback efficiency: Two case studies.  Journal of Neurotherapy14(3), 244 – 253.

Coger, R., & Werbach, M. (1975). Attention, anxiety, and the effects of learned enhancement of EEG alpha in chronic pain: A pilot study in biofeedback. Chapter in B. L. Drue, Jr. (Ed.), Pain Research and Treatment. New York: Academic Press.

Gannon, L., & Sternbach, R. A. (1971). Alpha enhancement as a treatment for pain: A case study. Behavior Therapy & Experimental Psychiatry, 2, 209-213.

Ham, L. P., & Packard, R. C. (1996). A retrospective, follow-up study of biofeedback-assisted relaxation therapy in patients with posttraumatic headache. Biofeedback & Self-Regulation, 21(2), 93-104.

Jensen, M.P., Sherlin, L.H., Hakimian, S., Fregni, F. (2009). Neuromodulatory approaches for chronic pain management: Research findings and clinical implications.Journal of Neurotherapy 13(4), 196 – 213.

Jensen, M. P., Grierson, C., Tracy-Smith, V., Bacigalupi, S. C., Othmer, S. (2007).  Neurofeedback treatment for pain associated with complex regional pain syndrome. Journal of Neurotherapy, 11(1), 45-53. 

Lehmann, D., Lang, W., & Debruyne, P. (1976). Controlled EEG alpha feedback training in normals and headache patients. Archives of Psychiatry, 221, 331-343.

Matthew, A., Mishm, H., & Kumamiah, V. (1987). Alpha feedback in the treatment of tension headache. Journal of Personality & Clinical Studies, 3(1), 17-22.

McKenzie, R., Ehrisman, W., Montgomery, P. S., & Barnes, R. H. (1974). The treatment of headache by means of electroencephalographic biofeedback. Headache, 13, 164-172.

Pelletier, K. R., & Pepper, E. (1977). Developing a biofeedback model: Alpha EEG feedback as a means for pain control. International Journal of Clinical & Experimental Hypnosis, 25, 361-371.

Rosenfeld, J. P., Dowman, R., Heinricher, N., & Silvia, R. (1984). Operantly controlled somatosensory evoked potentials: Specific effects on pain processes. Chapter in B. Rockstroh, T. Elbert, W. Lutzenberger, & N. Birbaumer (Eds.), Self-Regulation of the Brain and Behavior. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, pp. 164-179.

Rosenfeld, J. P., Silvia, R.,Weitkunat, R., & Dowman, R. (1985). Operant control of human somatosensory evoked potentials alters experimental pain perception. Chapter in H. L. Fields, R. Dubner, & F. Cervero (Eds.), Advances in Pain Research and Therapy, Volume 9: Proceedings of the Fourth World Congress on Pain. New York: Raven Press, 343-349.

Sime, A. (2004). Case study of trigeminal neuralgia using neurofeedback and peripheral biofeedback. Journal of Neurotherapy, 8(1), 59-71.

Siniatchkin, M., Hierundar, A., Kropp, P., Kuhnert, R., Gerber, W-D., & Stephani, U. (2000). Self-regulation of slow cortical potentials in children with migraine: An exploratory study. Applied Psychophysiology & Biofeedback, 25(1), 13-32.

Tansey, M. A. (1991). A neurobiological treatment for migraine: The response of four cases of migraine to EEG biofeedback training. Headache Quarterly: Current Treatment & Research, 90-96.

Source: http://www.brainworksneurotherapy.com/efficacy-levels