Hypnosis has been accepted by the American Medical Association since 1958 as a
recognized healing modality. This is relatively recent in the history of
hypnosis since hypnosis was first identified as an effective therapy for many
conditions by physician Anton Mesmer in the late 18th century. And
it is fair to say that hypnotism has still not been wholeheartedly embraced by
the medical community as a whole. Never less more and more doctors, nurses
and other medical practitioners are coming to appreciate hypnosis' value.
Scientific research has increasingly over the past 20 years been validating
hypnotists' claims of healings and symptom relief.
It is important to know
that hypnosis and hypnotherapy are complementary therapies to medical treatment.
I had the privilege of working at Women and Infants' Hospital for three years in
their oncology outpatient department as a hypnotherapist and am always happy to
work in consultation with your doctor, nurse practitioner or other medical
professional as part of your medical team.
Here are a few medical areas that I have experienced success in with a
variety of patients:
Surgery of any kind can be a
frightening experience. The uncertainty of it. The potentially intimidating
hospital surroundings. The unknown. Hypnotherapy for with clients about to
undergo surgery is a very underutilized intervention. The results I have seen in
my practice have been very satisfying for all concerned. Clients go into surgery
with less fear, more confident and as a full partner with their medical team in
the healing process. One client was able to undergo a surgical procedure that
normally called for anesthesia with only local pain reduction medication. In
that case, I went to the hospital before surgery and re-hypnotized her
reinforcing her post-hypnotic suggestions and her ability to enter a
self-hypnosis trance at will. An anesthesiologist was standing by but was not
required by my client. This was her choice and not something I would recommend
most people even consider. But she was a very good hypnosis candidate and had a
strong motivation to stay alert during surgery.
The research on pre and post
hypnotism for surgery shows several advantages to this non-invasive
intervention. according to
a study published recently in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, a
brief
hypnosis session
before surgery can help breast cancer patient feel better afterwards and may
actually reduce the cost of the procedure.
A team led by
researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York found that women who
had hypnosis reported fewer side effects like pain, nausea, and fatigue in the
recovery room. Additionally, surgical costs were $772.71 less for patients who
underwent hypnosis compared to those who did not. The patients supported by
hypnosis also spent an average of 10 minutes less in the operating room. The
author of the study feels this is because they were more relaxed going into the
procedure than the non-hypnosis group. Also following surgery, hypnosis patients
reported lower scores for pain intensity, pain unpleasantness, nausea, fatigue,
discomfort, and emotional upset. Here is a comment from a client who was
particularly fearful of gall bladder surgery.
Dear John,
I can't thank you
enough. I surprised myself by being far less anxious worrying about my surgery
before I went. What's more you were right about the surgery itself. The nurses
were amazing at how I was sitting up in bed and joking with them within minutes
afterwards.
I am very glad I took
my sister's advice and came to see you for hypnosis despite my skepticism. I am
certainly a believer now.
Mary S. (Attleboro,
Massachusetts)
Click
here for information on pre-surgery
hypnosis.
Hypnosis for Dermatology (warts, rashes, skin conditions, etc.)
Skin conditions often
respond very favorably to hypnosis. I have had particular success in removing
warts. But hypnosis has also shown to be effective for other skin conditions.
Research has shown that hypnosis can be effective for a wide range of
skin conditions thought not to be under conscious control. An example is
atopic dermatitis. Patients in a recent
study showed decreased urge to scratch as well as actual scratching and sleep
disturbance after treatment with hypnosis. In many patients, the improvements
were still present at follow-up evaluations up to 18 months later.
Hypnosis for
Fear of Dentists, Physicians and Medical Procedures
Consciously everyone
knows that putting off going to the dentist or seeing the doctor is not a good
idea. Untreated conditions continue to worsen. But fear can be a barrier that
keeps people away from proper attention for years, often resulting in very
serious problems that could have been handled easily if caught early.
Hypnosis can help you
break through the fear to get the help you need, often in a single session.
Hypnosis
for Healing Facilitation (general positive attitude)
A study of
152 cancer patients has shown that a positive attitude toward treatment was a
better predictor of response to treatment than the severity of the disease. And
as positive attitudes can effect the body's response to illness so apparently
can negative ones. In a provocative study
411 cancer patients were told to expect hair loss
from a new chemotherapy drug. Some were given the actual drug. Others were
administered a placebo. 30% of those who received a placebo lost their hair
anyway! Increasingly
illness is being seen as more than a purely physical problem, but as a problem
of the whole person, including thoughts, feelings and attitude.
And
hypnotism can help you create that attitude. I have
seen many inspiring examples of individuals with positive attitudes who have
continued to enjoy healthy, normal lives long after statistics based on their
diagnosis said they wouldn't. At the
very least, a positive attitude toward one's condition can hardly hurt, can it?
Hypnosis for Pain Management
Before the perfection
of anesthesiology, hypnosis was often
used as the sole pain reduction agent in medical procedures. In the early 19th
century, a British physician in India reported performing hundreds of operations
such as
appendectomiesand amputations using deep state
hypnosis. The ease and predictability of anesthesiology pushed hypnosis into the
background. However, hypnotism remains an effective way to reduce pain. This
includes pain associated with dental procedures.
Of course, it is essential that we only work on your
pain in co-operation and under the supervision of your physician. Pain often
serves a purpose. And to remove a pain without understanding or addressing its
root cause would be a serious mistake.
Hypnosis for Irritable bowels
The treatment of irritable bowels is one area where
research on its effectiveness is fairly well established. Naturally, it is
essential to first seek professional medical advice before considering
hypnotherapy. As a hypnotherapist I am not qualified to, and cannot, diagnose or
treat any medical condition. I will work with someone only with one the approval
of and under the supervision of a physician.
Having said that, you should be aware that hypnotism
has been shown to have a positive impact on bowel problems. It has been so
markedly successful in alleviating irritable bowel problems that Adriane
Fugh-Berman, MD, chair of the National Women's Health Network in Washington, DC,
has said that hypnosis should be the treatment of choice for Irritable
Bowel Syndrome cases which have not responded to conventional therapy. Studies
are showing a response rate of IBS to hypnotism of 80% or more. You will find a
wealth of information on the use of hypnosis in treating IBS at a free site
IBSHypnosis.com, a public information website by
clicking here.
Bowel problems respond well to treatment by hypnosis or self-hypnosis in
several ways. First, stress-related attacks can be reduced. Second,
hypnosis can help you reduce the pain associated with bowel problems.
Third, because IBS itself is not a disease but a "syndrome", relieving
the symptoms lets a patient effectively "cure" themselves of the disorder.
The underlying cause may still be present. But without the symptoms, a patient
is able to live a more normal life.
HypnoBirthing
I have been privileged to
help a number of women make the birthing experience a joyous, positive one
through hypnosis and by teaching self-hypnosis. And a number of studies support
hypnosis and self-hypnosis' effectiveness in the birthing process. One large
study compared a self-hypnosis group with a control group to study the effects
of hypnosis on labor. The hypnosis group reported less discomfort and shortened
labor. Another dealt with pregnant adolescents. These were assigned randomly to
individual sessions of hypnosis or to supportive counseling with the medical
staff. At delivery, the hypnosis group had a significant decrease in
complications, fewer surgical interventions, and a shorter hospital stay. Here
is the experience of one of my hypnobirth clients:
Dear
John,
Thank
you so much for your help with my daughter Jessica's
birth. I won't
say her delivery was "painless", but I didn't really expect that ;-). However, I
was pleasantly surprised at how little discomfort there was. I actually
found I was able to appreciate the miracle of the process and can say in
all frankness that Jessica's birth was overall one of the best experiences of my
life. I don't know exactly how hypnosis did...but I do know that it
worked. Thank you for your sensitive, concern and skill.
M.P. (Lincoln, RI)
Hypnosis for Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Tinnitus is a word of Latin origin. It means "to tinkle or to ring
like a bell." Simply put, tinnitus is the experience of sound in the
ears or head where no external source is present. The sound is
individual to the sufferer. It can be ringing, crickets, whooshing,
pulsing, ocean waves, buzzing, dial tones, even music. It can
be occasional or constant.
Keep in mind that tinnitus is a medical condition and must be
treated by a physician. However, working under the supervision of
your physician hypnosis can be effective in reducing the sound
itself, or its annoyance factor. .
Treatment
Motivation Hypnosis
According to a report by the
National Council on Patient Information and
Education, poor
compliance to prescribed medical treatment plans is a leading cause of
failed medical treatment and drug-resistant conditions.
Millions of people with chronic conditions either do not take
medications correctly or stop taking them altogether. The report shows
that only about half of hypertension patients follow their prescribed
drug regimen, even though high blood pressure triples the risk of heart
disease. The report also finds that adherence is an issue that crosses
age groups and that the possibility of severe consequences for not
taking recommended medications is insufficient to guarantee proper use.
People fail to follow medical advice for a
number of reasons. Chief among these for many patients is the cost of
medications. But people also fail to follow through for psychological
reasons. This is particularly a problem where the symptoms are not
immediate such as the example of hypertension patients. And it isn't
just medication programs that aren't followed faithfully. Physical
therapy, diet considerations and other treatment recommendations also
fall by the wayside.
Hypnotherapy is one way to get back on
track. Hypnosis can program in a new habit of following the doctor's
prescription or your own commonsense. Here is a comment from a client of
mine who had a simple habit issue. He couldn't consistently floss his
teeth with resulting gum disease:
Dear
John,
Bleeding gums are no fun. Yet try as I might I just couldn't seem to get into
the habit of regular flossing.
Your hypnosis helped me to change all that. My dentist is happy. I am happy.
What I have trouble understanding is how one session could alter a lifetime
habit of NOT flossing and not even brushing like I should. It has been 8 years
since we met and flossing and proper
dental hygiene
are still a regular part of my life. I appreciate the opportunity to share my
(and your) success through this note on your website.
V.P.
(Providence, Rhode Island)
This may not seem a likely use of
hypnosis. But if you need help keeping on track with your medical
program and would like support, it could be the answer you are looking
for.
Hypnosis for Problems
Sleeping
According to the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services,
approximately 60 million Americans suffer from insomnia each year. Some
people have trouble getting to sleep. Others have trouble staying
asleep. Prescription medications work fine for many people. But some
clients would prefer a natural approach in conjunction with medical
treatment.
Hypnotherapy can be
effective in not only falling asleep and staying asleep; it can
also help to develop good sleeping habits over time. It can be effective
in taking the mind away from present day worries and towards a more
relaxing place where sleep is more accessible. Here is a comment from a
client who came to hypnosis for stress release and found it also helped
her problem sleeping:
Dear
John,
Thought that I would write a note to let you know how things are going. I
thought you might be interested to know that since our hypnosis sessions, the insomnia
that I have suffered for as long as I can remember has seemed to have left.
I am sleeping better now than at any time that I can remember. Also, I seem to
be more at peace with myself. Nothing I can really express in words, just a
feeling. So, thank you very much for your help.
B.D.
(Barrington, Rhode Island)
Dear
John,
You
asked for my opinion about your Stress ReleaseVideotape.
Well, I like it. Since I started watching it last week I can definitely report
and immediate relaxation of my usual Type A+++ tension. Also, I notice I am
sleeping much better at night. I think you have a winner.
L.P
(Cranston, RI)
Hypnosis for Sleep Apnea
I do not treat
sleep apnea. But I do help people who have been prescribed CPAP units to
wear them comfortably and consistently for maximum benefit.
Click here for
details.
Smoking Cessation Hypnosis
It has been
established that half of all people who continue to smoke throughout
their life will die from smoking related disease.
Here is what
the Red Cross has to say about the danger of smoking:
Each year, 390,000 American die from the effects of
smoking.
Cigarette smokers have more than twice the risk of
heart attack.
Cigarette smokers have two to four times the chance
of cardiac arrest.
Giving up smoking rapidly reduces the risk of heart
disease. After a number of years, the risk of heart disease
diminishes to the same level as a person who has never smoked.
A pregnant woman who smokes increases her baby's
chances of infant crib death.
Most people are at least vaguely aware of
these facts. Yet still they smoke. Hypnosis is a proven way to quit the
habit easily and permanently. Click here
for information on how hypnosis can help you kick the habit once and for
all. Here is just one of the many comments I have received from clients
who are now former smokers as a result of hypnosis:
Hi John,
It has been a couple of weeks and all is well, in fact I can
honestly say that I will never smoke again...Thanks to your help!!!
I feel great too. I had an irritating little throat clearing cough
for quite some time but I am happy to say that it is gone.
My best friends boyfriend of 8 years died suddenly May 9th of
a heart attack. He had just turned 48 in March. His only vice of
late was smoking.. We are the same age and he was also the best man
at my wedding. I have known him for so long and it was very
stressful dealing with all of the sadness and all of the emotions
involved in his sudden death. If I was ever going to smoke again I
am sure it would have been then. But I didn't and I know I never
will again...
There are no words perfect enough that I can say to you to
express how grateful I am for your help.
Thank You Always,
Susan S. (Franklin, Massachsetts)
Weight Control
Hypnosis
The United States is in the midst of
an epidemic of obesity. And the health risks are enormous. They include
increased
health risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, cancers,
fatty liver disease, chronic venous insufficiency, gallbladder disease,
breathing problems (including sleep apnea), deep vein thrombosis, arthritis,
birth defects and an early death.
Losing weight, however, can be a
difficult challenge for overweight people. Sometimes so difficult that they
simply give up and the weight stays on year after year.
It doesn't have to be this way.
Research and my own experience show that hypnosis at least doubles the
effectiveness of any weight loss program. Hypnosis also increases the likelihood
of keeping the weight off by 150%.
I
use hypnosis to help clients lose weight and keep it off in both individual and
group settings.
To schedule
your first hypnosis appointment or arrange a free 15-20 minute consultation to
see whether hypnosis is right for you, click the new client intake form link
below: New Hypnosis Client Intake Form
