Nerva Review (2024) – Does it work?

If you have heard about the Nerva app and want to know if there is any evidence behind it, keep on reading this Nerva review.

The Nerva IBS app claims to help users with IBS manage their symptoms better and improve their overall quality of life by utilizing gut-directed hypnotherapy.

In this Nerva review, we will discuss what Nerva is and the scientific evidence behind this. We will also cover step by step how this app works.

What is Nerva?

The Nerva app is a self-management tool that aims to help people with IBS manage their symptoms. It allows users to experience the benefits of hypnotherapy from their homes.

It provides a holistic approach to IBS by utilizing a combination of:

• Gut-directed hypnotherapy sessions and deep breathing exercises
• Symptom tracker to help identify triggers
• Educational resources such as articles, guides, and animations 
• Flare-up toolkit
• In-app chat support

How does the Nerva app work?

The Nerva app offers a structured six-week gut-directed hypnotherapy program. During this time, you learn techniques to manage IBS symptoms.

The app offers daily 10-15-minute hypnotherapy audio sessions. To start, you close your eyes while sitting or lying down comfortably. 

The audio recording guides you through relaxation exercises and positive affirmations through a themed visualization. These sessions address specific IBS symptoms that you experience.

Nerva claims to rewire your brain’s response to stress and reduce stress, alleviate pain, and provide a sense of control over the symptoms of IBS. 

It also offers interactive content such as educational IBS articles, video tutorials, practical tips and to-do lists. You can also track your diet, symptoms, and lifestyle factors. 

Tracking your lifestyle allows you to gain insight into your patterns and triggers. Nerva aims to empower you with the knowledge to help you make informed decisions about your health.

There are also community forums and support groups inside the app which you can engage with. These forums are included to allow you to feel comforted that you are not alone and to connect with others living with IBS.

After the six-week program, you can choose to end the program or move on to the maintenance phase. During this phase, the app offers customizable IBS support and flare-up management.

How does clinical hypnotherapy help IBS?

The gut-brain axis is a two-way communication between your central nervous system (the brain) and enteric nervous system (your gut) (1).

IBS is categorized as a disorder of the gut-brain interaction (2). This means that there is a disconnection between how the brain and gut communicate with each other.

We don’t truly understand how gut-directed hypnotherapy works for IBS but it has multiple potential mechanisms to target the brain-gut axis.

Gut-directed hypnotherapy has been shown to ease gut symptoms by enhancing the movement of food through the gut and lowering sensitivity (3). 

Studies also show its positive impact on mental well-being, anxiety, depression and reducing stress which can be a trigger for IBS (4).
One study looked at how well gut-directed hypnotherapy worked compared to a low FODMAP diet in people with IBS (5).

Researchers divided 78 people with IBS into three groups: 

• The first group received gut-directed hypnotherapy
• The second group followed the low FODMAP diet
• The third group received a combination of both treatments

The results showed that gut-directed hypnotherapy was as beneficial as the low FODMAP diet in managing IBS symptoms.

By the end of the six-week study, hypnotherapy improved IBS symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, wind, and stool consistency in 70% of the people. 

The hypnotherapy group also reported feeling less anxious and depressed compared to the low FODMAP group.

The improvement was carried on after six months. People in the hypnotherapy group did not change their diet, meaning that hypnotherapy alone is beneficial in managing IBS symptoms.

However, this is only a single study and there is currently limited research looking at how effective gut directed hypnotherapy alone is for IBS. 

In comparison, numerous clinical trials have proven the low FODMAP diet to be successful in managing IBS symptoms (6).

You can find out how hypnotherapy helps with IBS here: ‘4 different ways hypnotherapy can help combat IBS symptoms’.

Does Nerva really work?

The Nerva app is based on gut-directed hypnotherapy. It uses suggestion, imagery, and relaxation techniques to address the ‘miscommunication’ between the brain and the gut. 

Dr. Simone Peters is a psychophysiologist & gut-directed hypnotherapist who designed the Nerva program.

A 2023 study evaluated the number of people who completed the six-week Nerva program and the improvement in gut and psychological symptoms in 3141 people (7).

7% of people completed the study. Those who completed the program experienced improvements in their IBS symptoms, like bloating, pain, stool consistency, and stress levels.

As a lot of people did not finish the 6 week course, the number of people who completed the study is too small to draw conclusions from.

The study also acknowledges that some people are better suited to hypnotherapy than others. 

It mentions that gut-directed hypnotherapy is beneficial in targeting physical symptoms and cognitive behavioral therapy is better at psychological symptoms.

However, the Nerva app itself does not intend to replace the care provided by your healthcare professionals and IBS treatment. It is a general lifestyle tool to help people with IBS live well.

Does Nerva cost money?

You can access a 7-day free trial of Nerva to experience the program before making a payment decision.

Nerva then costs US $78.99 (equivalent to AU $99.99 or £49) for a 3-month subscription to complete the 6-week course.

However, if you remain undecided after the free trial, you can choose to pay a monthly fee of US $43.99 (equivalent to AU $67.80 or £35).

Nerva reviews

To date, Nerva has an average rating of 4.5 from over 12,000 Apple and Play Store reviews. 

It has a rating of 3.4 on TrustPilot with generally positive in-app reviews. The negative ratings are related to cost, payment, and technical issues. 

How to Get Started with the Nerva IBS App

1. Nerva App Download

The Nerva app is available on both iOS and Android devices. You can download the Nerva app in the App Store or Google Play Store.

2. Create your profile

You can create an account with your basic information and customize your preferences, which will be used to create personalized content that meets your goals.

3. Using the Nerva app

You can access hypnotherapy sessions, a symptom tracker, educational resources, and a chance to engage with the community from the main screen. 

Also, you can easily reach out to the support team with questions or for assistance using the app.

Summary

In our Nerva review, we mentioned Nerva is a self-management mobile app that guides you through a six-week program of gut-directed hypnotherapy to improve IBS symptoms. 

The app also offers tools such as a symptom tracker to identify triggers, educational IBS resources, in-app chat support, community forums, and support groups.

There is only one study that looked at the effectiveness of the Nerva app in improving IBS symptoms.

Only 7% of users completed the entire 6-week course, so the actual number of people that participated in the study is too small to draw conclusions from.

It is worth noting that hypnotherapy may only work for some, as everyone is different. Nerva can be a valuable tool but should not be used in place of care by your healthcare professionals.

Written by Kirsten Jackson Consultant Dietitian BSc Hons, RD, PG Cert