Nerva: IBS & Gut Hypnotherapy app

Nerva is a 6-week program consisting of daily hypnotherapy sessions, educational readings about IBS, and breathing exercises. It addresses the gut-brain connection and uses the approach of gut-directed hypnotherapy. This works by improving the signals between your gut and brain to reduce pain sensations, improve bowel movements, and calm your IBS-related stress and anxiety.

The app provides:

• daily readings and education on topics including gut-directed hypnotherapy and how it works, the science behind gut functions, what's normal when you have IBS.
• daily 15-minute hypnotherapy sessions
• tracking of IBS symptoms, eg, pain, bloating, and stool consistency, as well as your stress and anxiety levels
• personalised coaching involving questionnaire with feedback based on your answers
• guided deep breathing exercises you’re able to complete in your own time.

Once 6 weeks of the programme is completed the app has a maintenance programme. The maintenance plan can be tailored to specify which of your favourite sessions you would like to continue with and the days of the week you would like to listen. You can also access the flare-up toolkit if your symptoms get worse.

For the complete app description, go to the app website(external link), Google Play(external link), App Store(external link) or, for a more detailed review, see reviews below.

Clinical review

Reviewer: Emma Miller, NZ Registered Dietitian
Date of review: June 2024
Platform: Apple
Version: 31.1
Comments: This app is a tool people with IBS can use to improve their symptoms by retraining their gut-brain connection through hypnotherapy. They can access sessions conveniently from the comfort of their homes, at a price much lower than in-person sessions of the same nature. Although evidenced-based, hypnotherapy may not be effective at eliminating IBS symptoms completely, or at all, and results may vary depending on the individual.

Users can potentially gain several benefits, eg, symptom relief and stress reduction. The app focuses on reducing stress levels, which can often exacerbate IBS symptoms. By calming the mind and body through hypnotherapy, users may experience fewer stress-related flare-ups. Users may also experience improved gut health because hypnotherapy has been shown to positively impact gut function by regulating intestinal motility and reducing hypersensitivity, leading to improved overall gut health.

Nerva offers personalized hypnotherapy sessions that cater to the individual needs and symptoms of the user, enhancing effectiveness and relevance. It's convenient and accessible because users can access hypnotherapy sessions anytime and anywhere through the app, providing convenience for integrating therapy into their daily routines. By actively engaging in hypnotherapy sessions, users may feel more empowered and in control of their IBS symptoms, contributing to a sense of well-being and confidence. Nerva provides a complementary approach to traditional medical treatments for IBS, offering users additional tools to manage their condition holistically.
Safety concerns: None.
New Zealand relevance: Yes.