Integrative Digestive Health

Relaxation Therapies

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Our team delivers holistic care for people with GI disorders. We enhance your overall well-being with a wide range of dietary, behavioral and integrative health practices. Call us at 310-825-2631 to connect with an expert.

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Relaxation therapies are an essential part of UCLA Health’s integrative approach to managing gastrointestinal (GI) conditions. These evidence-based techniques help reduce stress, improve gut-brain communication, and support overall digestive wellness.

Relaxation therapies use physiologic techniques to regulate the sympathetic/parasympathetic balance and help to reduce symptoms. Relaxation training includes techniques that elicit the relaxation response to reduce stress and muscle tension and improve physical health. This approach interrupts the cycle of worsening stress intensity on thoughts, physical sensations, and emotions. Relaxation training is a helpful strategy for managing digestive issues and when used with problem-solving techniques, it can reduce physical symptoms (abdominal symptoms, sleep) and mental stress.

Diaphragmatic breathing to support digestive wellness

A form of slow deep breathing in which the diaphragm contracts on the inhale and relaxes on the exhale. This kind of breathing stimulates the vagus nerve and activates the relaxation response of the parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous system.

Woman sitting bedside with patient teaching them relaxation techniques

Beneficial for:

  • Abdominal bloating
  • Abdominal pain
  • Anxiety
  • Constipation
  • Depression
  • Enhancing digestion and motility
  • Functional gut disorders
  • GERD
  • Regurgitation
  • Rumination
  • Sleep
  • Stress
  • Visible abdominal distention

Watch demonstration of diaphragmatic breathing

 

Relax, visualize, heal: Guided imagery techniques to support gut-brain health

Mind-body practices that focus on visual images and other sensory experiences to promote feelings of mental and physical relaxation and ease.

Beneficial for:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Anxiety
  • Sleep
  • Stress

Progressive muscle relaxation for stress relief and digestive support

A mind-body practice where one voluntarily slowly contracts and relaxes different muscle groups in coordination with breathing. This practice trains the mind to recognize when there is tension in the body and promote the ability to relax the tension.

Beneficial for:

  • Anxiety
  • Sleep
  • Stress