Countless scientific and university studies show the benefits and effectiveness of Hypnotherapy.
Hypnosis can be traced back to nearly all cultures worldwide, but its modern form didn't emerge until the late 1700s with Dr. Franz Mesmer, who also brought the Western concept of psychotherapy to the world. Since the 1950s, Hypnosis has been recognized by the American Medical Association as a valid medical procedure, and today it is acclaimed by neuroscientists, Ivy League University researchers, physicians, and wellness gurus alike.
There are many myths about what Hypnosis is and what it isn't. Let the articles and peer-reviewed research studies below shed light on the vast uses and benefits of the hypnotherapeutic technique on health and wellbeing.
Here are four notable ones to start:
3) Time Magazine's take on studies showing the scientific validity of using Hypnosis for smoking cessation, modulating anxiety, pain, weight loss, and PTSD.
Academic Performance: (see also: Stress & Anxiety)
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The Effect of Hypnotic Training Programs on the Academic Performance of Students
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Effects of Hypnosis on the Academic Self-Efficacy of First-Generation College Students
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Using Hypnosis to Enhance Learning Second Language Vocabulary
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The Effectiveness of Hypnosis to Increase Confidence and Academic Performance
Addiction:
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A Comparative Study of Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy in the Treatment of Methadone Addicts
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Intensive Therapy: Utilizing Hypnosis in the Treatment of Substance Abuse Disorders
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Refraining of an Addiction via Hypnotherapy: A Case Presentation
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Hypnotherapy to Decrease Depression of Patients at Addiction Recovery Centers
Agoraphobia and Panic Attacks:
Allergies:
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Effect of Hypnosis on Allergic Skin Responses in Asthma and Hay-fever
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Hypnotically Induced Analgesia on Flare Reaction of the Cutaneous Histamine Prick Test
Anxiety: (See Stress & Anxiety)
Athletics: (see Sports Performance)
Alzheimers & Dementia:
Bruxism: (Teeth Grinding)
Burns:
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Hypnosis to Reduce Anxiety Before and During Dressing Changes of Burn Patients
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Medical Hypnosis for Pain and Psychological Distress During Burn Wound Debridement
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Hypnosis for Burn-Related Pain: Case studies and a review of the literature
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Hypnosis for Pediatric Burn Wound Healing and Pain Reduction
Cancer:
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Hypnosis for Enhancing Comfort of Women Undergoing Radiation Therapy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer
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Self-Hypnosis for Pain and Anxiety During Biopsy Outpatient Procedures
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Brief Pre-Surgery Hypnosis Reduces Distress and Pain in Excisional Breast Biopsy Patients
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Hypnosis to Manage Anxiety and Pain Associated with Colonoscopy for Colorectal Cancer Screening
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Guided Imagery for Thyroid Cancer Patients’ Stress and Fatigue
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Guided Imagery and Story-Telling for Nausea and Vomiting of Children Undergoing Chemotherapy
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Self-Hypnosis for Percutaneous Tumor Treatment – Pain and Anxiety
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Hypnosis for Venipuncture for Blood Sampling of Cancer Patients
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Hypnosis Intervention for Treatment of Hot Flashes Among Breast Cancer Survivors
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Clinical Hypnosis for Symptom Management of Cancer Patients in Palliative Care
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Hypnosis as an Adjunct for Managing Pain in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Post Radiotherapy
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The Effect of Hypnosis on Anxiety in Patients With Cancer: A Meta-Analysis
Cataracts:
Child Birth or HypnoBirthing: (See Motherhood)
Diabetes:
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Hypnosis as an Adjunct Therapy in the Management of Diabetes
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A Hypnotherapeutic Approach to the Improvement of Compliance in Adolescent Diabetics
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Hypnosis for Adolescents with Diabetes to Address Sleep Problems
Erectile Dysfunction:
Fears & Phobias: (for Agoraphobia, see above)
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Claustrophobia: Hypnosis and Claustrophobia in Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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Claustrophobia: Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Improved Patient Tolerance Utilizing Medical Hypnosis
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Claustrophobia: Increase Magnetic Resonance Imaging Tolerance with a Claustrophobic Patient
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Fear of Dentist: Functional Changes in Brain Activity After Hypnosis in Patients with Dental Phobia
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Fear of Dentist: Hypnosis in Pediatric Dental Treatment
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Fear of Dentist: Effects of Hypnosis as an Adjunct to Intravenous Sedation for Third Molar Extraction
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Fear of Dentist: Use of Imagery to Make Easier Injection of Anesthesia for Dental Work
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Fear of Dentist: Hypnosis as Adjunct Intervention for Anxiety About Tooth Removal
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Fear of Dentist: Self-Hypnosis for Dental Pain
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Fear of Swallowing: A Case Study of Hypnosis for Phagophobia
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Flying Phobia: 178 Flying Phobia Treated with Single 45 min Hypnosis Session
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Needle Phobia: Hypnosis for Needle Phobia of Child
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Needle Phobia: Hypnosis Effective for Needle Phobia in Dental Patients
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Needle Phobia: Meta-Analysis of Distraction and Hypnosis for Needle-Related Pain and Distress in Children and Adolescents
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Snake Phobia: 36 Female Snake Phobia & Hypnosis Study
Flow State:
Glaucoma:
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The Effects of Hypnosis on Intraocular Pressure in Normal and Glaucomatous Subjects
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Hypnosis and Intraocular Pressure, Ocular Perfusion, and Overall Mental State
Healing: (see pain)
Headaches:
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Review of the Efficacy of Clinical Hypnosis with Headaches and Migraines
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Treatment of Chronic Tension-Type Headache with Hypnotherapy: A single-blind time controlled study
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Clinical Hypnotherapy/Self-Hypnosis for Chronic and Episodic Headaches in Children and Adolescents
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Self-Hypnosis and Recurrent Headaches: Children and Adolescents
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Hypnosis in the Treatment of Headache: Is Hypnotherapy Beneficial?
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Long-Term Follow-Up of Self-Hypnosis Training for Recurrent Headaches: What the Children Say
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Hypnosis in the Treatment of Headache Pain: A Methodological Review
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The Use of Hypnosis in the Treatment of Migraine Headache: A Case Study
Hemophilia:
HIV:
HPV:
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Hypnosis to Reduce and Clear HPV Lesions (Better than Medical Treatment Upon Twelve-Week Follow-Up
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure):
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Effectiveness of Hypnosis in Reducing Mild Essential Hypertension
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The use of Hypnosis and Biofeedback Procedures for Essential Hypertension
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Guided Imagery Therapy on Blood Pressure among Hypertensive Geriatric Group
IBS:
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Controlled Trial of Hypnotherapy in the Treatment of Severe Refractory Irritable-Bowel Syndrome
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Long-Term Benefits of Hypnotherapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (Beneficial effects of Hypnotherapy appear to last at least five years or more)
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Hypnosis for IBS Helps both Diarrhea-Predominant IBS and Constipation-Predominant IBS
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Hypnosis for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: The Empirical Evidence of Therapeutic Effects
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Hypnosis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Review of Efficacy and Mechanism of Action
Memory:
Motherhood, Fertility, and Childbirth (‘Hypno-Birthing’):
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Fertility: Infertility and Pregnancy Loss: Hypnotic Interventions for Reproductive Challenges (book link)
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Fertility: Using Hypnosis to Enhance Fertility of Women Experiencing Infertility
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Fertility: Impact of Hypnosis During Embryo Transfer on the Outcome of In Vitro Fertilization-Embryo Transfer
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Pregnancy: Guided Imagery for Stress in Pregnant African American Women
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Pregnancy: Effects of a Guided Imagery Intervention on Stress in Hospitalized Pregnant Women
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Childbirth: Hypnosis for Childbirth Pain: Less Anesthesia Use
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Childbirth: Self-Hypnosis for Labor and Childbirth
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Childbirth: The Effects of Hypnosis on the Labor Processes and Birth Outcomes of Pregnant Adolescents
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Childbirth: Hypnosis to Facilitate Uncomplicated Birth
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Childbirth: The Effect of Hypnosis on Pain Relief During Labor and Childbirth in Pregnant Women
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Motherhood: Hypnosis for Maternal Stress
Multiple Sclerosis:
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Efficacy of Self-Hypnosis in Pain Management in Female Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
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Use of Self-Hypnosis to Manage Chronic Pain in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis
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Self-Hypnosis Training for Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis and Chronic Pain
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Case Study Explores Hypnosis as Potential Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms
Pain:
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Hypnotic Approaches for Chronic Pain Management: clinical implications of recent research findings
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Hypnosedation: a valuable alternative to traditional anesthetic techniques
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Reason Why Hypnosis Alleviates Pain isn’t Because of Endorphins
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Guided Imagery for Pain of Children with Sickle Cell Disease
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Hypnosis When Added to Conventional Medical Treatment for Fibromyalgia
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Fibromyalgia Pain and its Modulation by Hypnotic and Non-Hypnotic Suggestion
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Self-Hypnosis for Pain & Anxiety During Biopsy Outpatient Procedures
Parkinson’s Disease
Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD)
PTSD:
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PTSD & Children (Death of close relative)
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Hypnosis for PTSD in Immigrants who Escaped to America After Being Tortured
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Hypnosis for PTSD: Evidence-Based Placebo-Controlled Studies
Sleep
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Chronic Insomnia: Outcome of Hypnotherapeutic Intervention in Six Cases
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Hypnosis As Effective Or Better Than Ambien For All Sleep Variables for Combat-Related PTSD Insomnia
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Sleep-terror disorder in children: the role of self-hypnosis in management
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The Treatment of Parasomnias with Hypnosis: a 5-Year Follow-Up Study (ages 6-71)
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Hypnosis for Older Adults Addicted to Sleeping Pills for Insomnia
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The Effectiveness of Self Hypnosis to Overcome Insomnia: A Case Study
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Adult Insomnia: Increasing Relaxation and Reducing Anxious-Depressive Symptoms
Smoking Cessation:
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Hypnosis to Quit Smoking in One Session (Compared to Placebo and No Treatment)
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Hypnosis and Smoking Cessation in the Workplace – Hypnotherapy Accompanying a Smoke-Free Work Policy
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Hypnotic Suggestion During General Anaesthesia on Postoperative Smoking Habits
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Hypnotherapy on Smoking Cessation of Secondary School Students
Sports Performance:
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Hypnosis to Improve Performance of College Basketball Players
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The Effects of Hypnosis on Flow States and Three-Point Shooting Performance in Basketball Players
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Hypnosis and Alpine Mountain Climbing: Injury Recovery and Performance Enhancement
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Hypnosis to Increase Throwing Accuracy and Motor Skill Learning
Stress & Anxiety:
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Hypnosis Audio Recorded Hypnosis for Stress, Burnout and Well-Being
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Effects of Anxiety-Reducing Hypnotic Training on Learning and Reading-Comprehension Tasks
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A Trial of Virtual Hypnosis to Reduce Stress and Test Anxiety in Family Medicine Residents
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Impact of Hypnotherapy on Examination Anxiety and Scholastic Performance Among School Children
Strokes:
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Hypnosis and Strokes – To Improve Motor Function, Range of Motion, Increased Grip Strength, Etc.
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Hypnosis and Strokes – To Assist Recovery of Left Arm Function
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The Use of Hypnotherapy as a treatment for Functional stroke.
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Hypnosis and Strokes: Descriptions of Improvements by Six Stroke Victims after Hypnosis (Book Link)
Stuttering:
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Hypnosis for Stuttering/Articulation Disorder for An 8-Year-Old
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Hypnosis Combined with Diaphragmatic Exercises for Stuttering
Surgery and Speed Healing:
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Can Medical Hypnosis Accelerate Post-Surgical Wound Healing? Results of a Clinical Trial
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Hypnosis for Plastic Surgery: Morale, Drug Reduction, Hypnoanalgesia
Tobacco: (see smoking cessation)
Tinnitus
Tourette's Syndrome / Tics:
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Elucidating Tourette’s Syndrome: Perspectives from Hypnosis, Attention and Self-Regulation
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Children and Teens with Tourette Syndrome Find Relief with Self-Hypnosis
Trichotillomania:
Vomiting:
Warts:
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Hypnotherapy for Warts (verruca vulgaris): 41 consecutive cases with 33 cures
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Successful repeated hypnotic treatment of warts in the same individual: a case report
Weight Loss:
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Effectiveness of Hypnosis as an Adjunct to Behavioral Weight Management
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Hypnotic Enhancement of Cognitive-Behavioral Weight Loss Treatments
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Hypnotherapy as an Adjunct to the Dietetic Management of Obese Patients
Other:
It is essential to choose a practitioner who has the skill set to guide you into the deepest realms of your inner mind in a way that you will be most receptive to. No matter your circumstance, a consultation will help you understand what hypnosis is and how it can help.