Individuals who suffer from painful digestive troubles may not always need to take risky prescription drugs to find relief. Instead, they may turn to alternative health resources to treat their condition without the chance of experiencing harmful side effects.

Patients who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may want to try hypnotherapy as a cure, according to a new study discussed during a Frontline Gastroenterology podcast. Researchers have found that hypnotherapy can be effective in treating the discomfort and irritation that comes from IBS.

The scientists used hypnotherapy in 100 patients who were diagnosed with IBS, and found that nine out of 10 individuals claimed to feel improvements in their symptoms. Additionally, four out of 10 patients reported that their symptoms stopped altogether, indicating that this could be an effective treatment.

Researchers are quick to point out that while this may serve as an effective treatment for some, there is not enough scientific evidence to suggest that physicians should widely prescribe the process. However, those who are open-minded about alternative treatments may want to look into hypnotherapy as an option.