Subscribe now

Health

Hypnotherapy app eases irritable bowel syndrome symptoms in six weeks

Users of the Nerva app saw their IBS symptoms decrease in severity, however, the trial didn't compare the app's efficacy against standard treatments

By Alice Klein

23 October 2022

The app Nerva may ease irritable bowel syndrome symptoms

A smartphone app may help to ease symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome

Shutterstock/SFIO CRACHO

Using a hypnotherapy-based app may ease irritable bowel syndrome. Nerva, which is available to download, guides users through a 10-minute, gut-related hypnotherapy session every day for six weeks.

“We were really impressed by the degree of improvement,” says Simone Peters at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, who led Nerva’s development. “[The app] works better than any drug we have for these patients and there are no side effects.”

In the UK alone, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects around…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox! We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, subscribe today with our introductory offers

View introductory offers

No commitment, cancel anytime*

Offer ends 2nd of July 2024.

*Cancel anytime within 14 days of payment to receive a refund on unserved issues.

Inclusive of applicable taxes (VAT)

or

Existing subscribers

Sign in to your account