How is Hypnosis useful for Pain/Symptom Control?

Somatic (Body) Hypnosis taps into the Autonomic Nervous Center, where our body processes and responds to pain, nausea, and other discomforts. When you learn the language of the subconscious, you learn how to get to the source of the discomfort and are able to communicate with your body to decode the sensation of pain - and transform it.

Techniques that may be effective are Hypnosis Analgesia (Glove Hypnosis), Pain Dial, Disassociation, and Emotional Release (to name a few), plus we work on reducing any anxiety, fear and neutralizing negative associations with the discomfort. As always, I use a client-centered approach so that we may land on the techniques that work best for you.

PS. There are literally thousands of research papers documenting the effectiveness of Hypnosis on pain. (And some excellent articles that shift through them all and break it down.)

Here’s a nice blog that summarizes Hypnosis and Pain Management:

https://www.healingheartshealingminds.org/best-scientific-evidence-on-hypnosis/

And here, specifically, are a just a few studies that my mentor Dr. Richard Nongard pulled together in his free E-book, 101 Proofs Hypnosis Helps Heal Faster, Recover Stronger and Works In Medical Treatments.

Smoking Cessation:  81% Quit smoking with hypnosis, and the majority of those who quit  remained smoke-free a year later.

Elkins, G. R., & Rajab, M. H. (2004). Clinical Hypnosis For Smoking Cessation: Preliminary Results of a Three-Session Intervention. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 52(1), 73-81. doi:10.1076/iceh.52.1.73.23921

Weight Loss:  Hypnosis helped people lose weight in both the short-term and in the long-term. In other words, hypnosis helps people keep from regaining weight!

Kirsch, I. (1996). Hypnotic enhancement of cognitive-behavioral weight loss treatments: Another meta-reanalysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64(3), 517-519. doi:10.1037//0022-006x.64.3.517

Immune System Response: Only hypnotized patients had significant alteration of immune response.

Ruzyla-Smith, P., Barabasz, A., Barabasz, M., & Warner, D. (1995). Effects of Hypnosis on the Immune Response: B-Cells, T-Cells, Helper and Suppressor Cells. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 38(2), 71-79. doi:10.1080/00029157.1995.10403185

Notice the word “cured” in this citation: A wide spectrum of dermatologic disorders may be improved or cured using hypnosis as an alternative or complementary therapy, including acne excoriée, alopecia areata, atopic dermatitis, congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma, dyshidrotic dermatitis, erythromelalgia, furuncles, glossodynia, herpes simplex, hyperhidrosis, ichthyosis vulgaris, lichen planus, neurodermatitis, nummular dermatitis, postherpetic neuralgia, pruritus, psoriasis, rosacea, trichotillomania, urticaria, verruca vulgaris, and vitiligo.

Shenefelt, P. D. (2000). Hypnosis in Dermatology. Archives of Dermatology, 136(3). doi:10.1001/archderm.136.3.393

Chemotherapy patients had less anticipatory and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. And feeling better, is the first step in recovery!

Richardson, J., Smith, J., Mccall, G., Richardson, A., Pilkington, K., & Kirsch, I. (2007). Hypnosis for nausea and vomiting in cancer chemotherapy: A systematic review of the research evidence. European Journal of Cancer Care, 16(5), 402-412. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2354.2006.00736.x

Hypnosis controls pain! Hypnosis has direct effects on many suprasinal sites involved in the experience of pain.

Jensen, M. P. (2009). Hypnosis for chronic pain management: A new hope. Pain, 146(3), 235-237. doi:10.1016/j.pain.2009.06.027

Heart failure patients reported “Symptom-related quality of life was improved” when relaxation, meditation and guided imagery strategies were used to manage symptoms.

Kwekkeboom, K. L., & Bratzke, L. C. (2016). A Systematic Review of Relaxation, Meditation, and Guided Imagery Strategies for Symptom Management in Heart Failure. The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 31(5), 457-468. doi:10.1097/jcn.0000000000000274

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: The hypnotherapy patients showed a dramatic improvement in all features, the difference between the two groups being highly significant. In the hypnotherapy group no relapses were recorded during the 3-month follow-up period, and no substitution symptoms were observed.

Whorwell, P., Prior, A., & Faragher, E. (1984). Controlled Trial Of Hypnotherapy In The Treatment Of Severe Refractory Irritable-Bowel Syndrome. The Lancet, 324(8414), 1232-1234. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(84)92793-4

If you are interested in the Hypnosis for Weight Loss Program, Smoking Cessation, or have other habits you need to replace, please explore Hypnosis for Habits.