A new therapy for IBS which targets the Brain-Gut connection

[Jeffrey Roberts]

The note below is written by Danny Bernstein the Founder of metaMe Health. I felt Danny had an important message to share with the community about a new FDA-cleared treatment option for IBS called Regulora (US-audience) and I wanted to share it with you.

I have suffered from IBS since I was a child. I tried so many approaches for my IBS over the years, from diet changes to prescription drugs, but there was one proven approach that I had read about that I could never easily access. I have been aware that IBS is known as a disorder of the gut-brain interaction and that there were therapies available that might help. Brain-Gut therapy aims to normalize the communication between our central nervous system (our brain) and the nervous system that controls our gut (the enteric nervous system). The value of this approach has been known for decades but has been hard for patients like me to try due to a lack of therapists trained in gut health. For the past 5 years, I have been working with a committed group of scientific partners to improve access to this treatment by developing Regulora, an FDA-cleared smartphone app that delivers a clinically proven treatment for IBS pain based on Brain-Gut therapy. Gut-directed hypnotherapy (GDH) is a Brain-Gut therapy intended to help you normalize the communication between your brain and your gut. Many studies have shown its effectiveness in helping patients with IBS. Specifically: GDH results in significant symptom relief The effects of GDH are sustained over time – up to a year GDH provides results at least equivalent to a low FODMAP diet Although there is a lot of scientific evidence for this kind of therapy, you may have some questions about starting GDH treatment—I know I did. What does GDH feel like? GDH uses suggestions and imagery to help your brain interpret signals from the gut as normal instead of triggering pain and IBS symptoms. You will most likely simply feel very relaxed as you are guided through visualizations that encourage you to focus on comfort and letting go.  What if I’m not hypnotizable? Studies show that most people can be hypnotized. In the case of GDH, you do not need to enter a deep hypnotic state to see a treatment response. Achieving a state of relaxation and focused attention is what’s most important.   How long will I have to do GDH to see an effect? Many patients see an immediate benefit upon starting treatment, with benefits increasing over time. A typical course of treatment is 7 short sessions spread over a 12-week period.   I encourage you to check out this short video from University of Michigan Medicine if you want to learn more about gut-directed hypnotherapy and if it might be a good option for you (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrayU1zEI2Q). If you don’t live near a gastropsychologist that can provide in-person GDH, these videos explain how Regulora can deliver GDH to you wherever you are (https://regulora.com/support-and-resources/).  All the best in gut health

Danny Bernstein Founder, metaMe Health danny@metamehealth.com

[Jeffrey Roberts]

Dear IBS Patient Support Group Community, I wanted to follow up on my email about gut-directed hypnotherapy (GDH) with some additional information about metaMe Health’s app, Regulora. If you don’t live near a gastropsychologist that can provide in-person GDH, Regulora could be a helpful option for treating IBS pain.  Regulora digitizes a proven and tested way to provide gut-directed hypnotherapy, making it possible to access an American College of Gastroenterology-recommended treatment on your mobile device in the comfort of your own home. Regulora is FDA-cleared and requires a prescription from your doctor, just like medication. It can be added to your current treatment plan and has outstanding patient satisfaction: 87% of research trial participants would recommend Regulora to someone else with IBS. Regulora was recently approved by the FDA, so your doctor may not have experience with it. If you respond to this email directly from me, I will send you a discussion guide for talking to your doctor about Regulora, along with instructions to receive a special individual access code that will provide the entire 3-month treatment at an introductory cost of no more than $75. To participate, you must have health insurance, but the $75 introductory cost applies even if Regulora is not covered by your insurance. These videos explain how Regulora can deliver GDH to you wherever you are (https://regulora.com/support-and-resources/).  It has been a long journey of many years to develop Regulora, and I’m so excited to share information about this IBS treatment option with this incredible patient support community. I am happy to answer any specific questions you may have about gut-directed hypnotherapy or Regulora, so feel free to reach out to me personally at danny@metamehealth.com.  Best,

Danny Bernstein Founder, metaMe Health danny@metamehealth.com