Digestion: Soothing a Sensitive Gut.(stress related digestive problems can be treated with mind body medicine)(use of relaxation therapy, hypnotherapy and biofeedback)(Cover Story)

(Adapted from "The Sensitive Gut," a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School. For more info, go to health.harvard.edu/NEWSWEEK.)

It's probably happened to you. You're driving to work and suddenly remember that a neglected assignment is due today. Your gut clenches, your intestines twist and before you know it you're feeling downright ill. One person in four ends up seeking medical attention for a gastrointestinal problem such as heartburn or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). When doctors examine these patients, their blood tests and abdominal X-rays are usually normal. But the absence of ulcers or tumors doesn't mean that nothing is wrong. The brain and gut communicate through an impressive network of hormones, peptides and neurotransmitters. When emotional distress disrupts this dialogue, the effects can be seen on a brain scan. An area known as the midcingulate cortex goes into overdrive--and the gut suffers potentially devastating consequences.

Stress-related digestive problems often defy conventional treatments, such as antacids and anti-diarrhea medications. But mind-body techniques such as relaxation, hypnosis or cognitive behavioral therapy can provide a safe, effective alternative. Last year, for example, researchers at the University of North Carolina showed that cognitive behavioral therapy was effective in treating IBS. When the brain perceives pain, it tends to fret over the sensation and amplify it. In cognitive behavioral therapy, a trained therapist helps patients quell that amplification by reorienting negative ways of thinking. Instead of tensing up at the first sign of abdominal pain, a patient might learn to tell herself, "I can manage this pain and still live my life." In the North Carolina study, 70 percent of IBS patients ...