How Scientists Are Trying to Unlock the Mysteries of Hypnosis

 

Interesting TED Idea about pain, hypnosis and brain wave patterns.

 

Does Hypnosis Work?

 

Here's a very interesting study reported in Scientific America showing that hypnosis actually changes the brain using a memory test. 

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Hypnosis and Asthma

 

According to a report published by the UPI Dr. Ran Anbar of the State University of New York Upstate Medical University in Syracuse suggests proper use of hypnosis may be helpful for children with asthma. Hypnosis was used to reduce many of their symptoms such as habit cough and difficulty breathing. A reduction in anxiety related to procedures was also noted. To see the full article go here.

 

Hypnosis and Cancer

 

There was an interesting article in the Tribune siting a couple of studies by the National Institute of Health relating to hypnosis and breast cancer. Women that were given hypnosis before surgery required less anesthesia and pain medication during the surgery. After the surgery, women using hypnosis had less pain, nausea, fatigue and discomfort. Hypnosis is helpful for hot flashes and improving mood and sleep. To view the complete article click here.

 

Hypnosis a Powerful Tool in Complementary Cancer Care

 

Complementary therapies, while not given the attention that more traditional cancer therapies may receive, are perhaps equally important while undergoing treatment for certain types of cancer. Patients diagnosed with difficult to treat malignancies will often use these types of therapies in conjunction with traditional surgical, chemotherapeutic, or radiology techniques to form a more comprehensive and effective treatment regimen. Among the most important and effective alternative therapies utilized by those diagnosed with cancer is hypnotherapy.

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Hypnotherapy has been used for many years in clinical settings. Hypnotherapy’s role in cancer management however, is relatively new and indications are that its utilization has not been fully maximized yet. Effective cancer treatment often depends on the patient’s ability to not only defeat the cancer through treatments but also to maintain their health and mental spirit throughout the painful side effects of cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation.

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Often, the symptoms and effects of the cancer itself on the body are negligible compared to the pain and other side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. This is where acupuncture has been said to be most effective. Cancers such as mesothelioma, which are often unable to be removed by surgical means, are often treated with some combination of chemotherapy and radiation. While these potent therapies can be effective in eliminating some of the tumor mass and growth, they also profoundly affect the health of the surrounding tissue. Symptoms of these effects including fever, nausea, and general pain have been dramatically reduced through the utilization of hypnosis. Patients, who are able to withstand these symptoms and recover quickly, will often be able to be more aggressively treated, increasing the efficacy of the treatment regimen as a whole. Some specific hypnotherapy techniques utilized in pain management include altering the neurophysical configuration of pain, control of anticipatory anxiety, and targeted imagery.

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Hypnotherapy techniques may not be appropriate for all patient’s pain and individual symptoms but it’s certainly worth exploring as it can do very little harm in experimenting with integrative therapies. The goal with alternative therapies, as with traditional mesothelioma treatments, is always to increase the effectiveness of treatment as a whole. If hypnotherapy can assist in any way in helping patients recover or manage symptoms of chemotherapy or radiation, then it will have contributed to the treatment regimens overall efficacy and should certainly be utilized.

 

References

 

Erickson MH: Hypnosis in painful terminal illness, in Haley J (ed): Advanced Techniques of Hypnosis and Therapy: Selected Papers of Milton Erickson, MD. New York, Crune & Stratton, 1967.

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Sunnen, Gerard M.D. , Hypnotic Approaches in the Cancer PatientOzonics International, LLC

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To learn more about mesothelioma cancer go to the mesothelioma website.