Research shows children can be taught to use their imagination to tackle frequent bouts of stomach pain. A relaxation-type CD, asking children to imagine themselves in scenarios like floating on a cloud led to dramatic improvements in abdominal pain. <br/><br/>The US researchers said the technique worked particularly well in children as they have such fertile imaginations. In the study, the children had 20 minute sessions of guided imagery, a technique which prompts the subject to imagine things which will reduce their discomfort. It has been estimated that frequent stomach pain with no identifiable cause affects up to one in five children. The research has been published in the journal Pediatrics.<br/>