Exam results improved with hypnosis

119 students at a South African University were divided into 4 test groups. One group received hypnosis and relaxation treatment; a second group received hypnosis only. A third group received relaxation only and the fourth group received no special treatment. The treatment was carried out between April and June examinations. The improvement in test results was significantly greater for the two groups receiving hypnosis than for the control groups.
reported in American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis Oct 2006

Research shows effect of hypnosis on weight loss

In six separate weight-loss studies involving over 100 subjects, weight loss using hypnosis was compared with weight loss without hypnosis. At the final assessment of these studies conducted for various periods of time, the average weight loss without hypnosis was 6 lbs per person compared with an average weight loss of nearly 15 lbs with hypnosis. Moreover, continued weight loss experienced after treatment was significantly greater with hypnosis than without.

Reported in Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1996

Painless childbirth with hypnosis

Catharine Fox, wife of hypnotist Patrick Fox gave birth to their third child Chanel on Christmas Day without the need for any pain relief. Patrick says that the basic response to pain is tension, and that magnifies unwanted sensations. Hypnosis can help you to reinterpret pain so that when the feeling of contraction reaches the brain, instead of pain and fear, you feel relaxed and in control.

Reported in the Daily Mail, 7 February 2006 also in the Galway Advertiser 12 January 2006

Controlling fibromyalgia pain with hypnosis

The effect of hypnosis on the experience of fibromyalgia pain in a number of subjects was studied while using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. Suggestions with hypnosis and the same suggestions without hypnosis were used to increase or decrease the subjective experience of fibromyalgia pain. Patients reported significantly greater pain control and pain reduction when hypnotised. The MRI scan confirmed that activation of brain areas was of greater magnitude when suggestions followed a hypnotic induction.

Reported in the European Journal of Pain, May 2009

Hypnotherapy and ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a nasty gastrointestinal disease that flares without warning and makes it vital for sufferers to find the toilet fast. The disease is often diagnosed when people are in their late 20s and early 30s. The flare-up is like having a severe stomach bug that can drag on for weeks. It ruins vacation plans, causes lengthy absences from work and generally messes up peoples' lives

The National Institute of Health in USA is funding a study of the effect of hypnotherapy on 80 patients over three years. The study is at an early stage, but Laurie Keefer, a clinical health psychologist and assistant professor of medicine, said that the preliminary results look positive. Ten of the twelve patients who have competed a year's treatment have not experienced a relapse and subjects reported a 76 percent increase in the quality of their lives (the improvements were most notable in their bowel symptoms) compared to a 25 percent increase for standard care.

Keefer reported that one patient who was afraid to stand up at a friend's wedding is now going to be a bridesmaid and the patient who was nervous about getting on a plane with the boss is now taking business trips with him.

reported in scienceblog May 2009

Hypnotherapy an effective treatment for IBS

25 patients suffering from IBS were treated with hypnotherapy and the effect was assessed by comparison with 25 patients suffering a similar degeee of IBS who received no such treatment. Patients treated with hypnotherapy reported significantly less severe abdominal pain, bloating, bowel habit, nausea, flatulence, urinary symptoms, lethargy and backache than the control patients. In addition hypnotherapy profoundly improved the patients' quality of life and reduced absenteeism from work.

Reported in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, February 1996

London Zoo offers hypnosis to cure fear of spiders

Millions of perfectly rational people are terrified of spiders, according to London's famous Zoo. No matter how much they try to calm themselves the response remains the same: sweating, nausea, panic, rapid, heartbeat and worse. So the Zoo offers a "Friendly Spider Programme" using a combination of cognitive behavioural therapy and hypnotherapy. They
have achieved an 80% success rate in over 2000 people who have taken the course.

Hypnosis and Asthma

A review of the treatment of asthma with hypnosis, published in 2000, found significant data to suggest that hypnosis may be an effective treatment. Studies have consistently demonstrated an effect of hypnosis with asthma but more studies are needed before it can be concluded that hypnosis is always effective. Existing data suggest that hypnosis efficacy is enhanced in subjects who are susceptible to hypnosis, with experienced investigators, when administered over several sessions. Children in particular appear to respond well to hypnosis as a tool for improving asthma symptoms.
Reprted in Journal of Asthma, Feb 2000

From 40-a-day to smoke free

A sceptic describes in Time Out Dubai Feb 2009 how hypnotherapy surprised him.
'I felt like a bit of a fraud but I lay there, pretending that I was under, for about 20 minutes. I answered all of her questions before she counted me back.
'I “awoke” feeling refreshed and a bit hazy. I even pretended that I was never going to smoke again, while fully intending to spark up the minute I got outside. But then, something weird happened. I got back to my car, called my friends to tell them what a load of rubbish this hypnotherapy lark was, but I didn’t light up a fag. In fact I chucked the packet I had in the car away. I figured I may’s well try now that I’d been through the session.
'That was four-months ago. I haven’t smoked a cigarette since. I have wanted too. In the first few weeks, I was madly inhaling other people’s passive fumes but I’ve even got over that now - just '

Why are we scared of dentists?

A ten week course of hypnotherapy finally got rid of my 35-year phobia where I would faint just sitting in the dentist's chair. I would recommend trying hypnotherapy to anyone as it is drug-free and helps across the board with getting relaxed.
Comment on an article in the BBC News Magazine February 2009