Hypnotherapy

With its origins in the world of Ancient Greece, the therapy known as hypnosis has been used for centuries to help individuals achieve trance-like states during which positive suggestions can aid in their healing. More modern hypnotherapy had its start, however, with 19^th century German physician, Franz Anton Mesmer, who believed that imbalances in magnetic forces in the human body were responsible for illness. His early therapy – known as mesmerism – included the use of gestures and calming words to help relax patients and supposedly restore balance to their magnetic forces. (It is from his name that we get the term “mesmerize.”)

Today, hypnotherapy is a widely-accepted practice that enjoys a number of applications and is usually administered by a licensed professional who is trained in this and other psychological techniques. Different than the hypnosis demonstrations seen as entertainment, medical hypnotherapy has long been acknowledged as an accepted treatment for a number of conditions. As much as a half-century ago, the British Medical Association condoned the use of hypnosis for a variety of disorders or diseases and American healthcare professionals have also been promoting its use for several decades.

Hypnosis and Cancer Patients

Much research has been done on the use of hypnotherapy for cancer patients with various forms of the disease. Though many experts, both inside and outside the medical field, believe that the mind and body are interconnected and that one’s state of mind can affect the immune system, hypnosis is not a cure for cancer. It can, however, help to improve the quality of life for cancer patients who are experiencing the difficult symptoms of the disease or the side effects of more conventional treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation.

· Stress reducer – Many cancer patients choose this alternative therapy as a way to reduce the level of stress in their life. It has been proven that hypnotherapy helps promote relaxation and, therefore, improve quality of life for the patient and allow them to more easily carry on with day-to-day activities. A hypnotherapist can teach clients how to perform self-hypnosis so that they can call upon this technique whenever they need to reduce their level of stress.

· Side effect reducer – The side effects of chemotherapy, commonly used in the treatment of many classes, can be very serious and very distressing. Even the anticipation of these side effects can produce severe anxiety for the patient. The use of hypnotherapy for this purpose has been proven effective in reducing nausea and other common side effects of traditional treatments.

· Preparation for surgery – The treatment of cancer may require surgery, which for most individuals is a very stressful time. Hypnosis prior to surgery can help reduce those scary, anticipatory thoughts and the use of hypnotherapy or self-hypnosis after the surgery has been proven to reduce pain and recovery time.

· Immune system benefits – The field of psychoeuroimmunology is a relatively new one. It touts the relationship between the mind and the human immune system. Many experts agree that stress can reduce the effectiveness of the human immune system, therefore, the reduction of stress through hypnosis should – in turn – assist the immune system in doing its job. Some hypnotherapists even use visualization and verbal suggestions with patients to help them picture the immune system as strong and healthy. Limited research has been done in this field, but results have been positive in general.

Hypnosis for Caregivers

Cancer patients aren’t the only ones that might benefit from the alternative treatment known as hypnotherapy. Those who are caring for a cancer victim may also need help in dealing with the stress surrounding their duties. Hypnotherapy may prove to be an easy way to call upon a relaxed state when the pressure of caring for a sick friend or loved one proves too difficult to handle.

Happily, many participants in these studies were able to stop taking pain medication when using acupuncture or were able to significantly reduce the amount of pain medication consumed.

Currently, clinical trials are also studying the effects that acupuncture may have on other symptoms of cancer or side effects of cancer treatment, including weight loss, cough, chest pain, fever, anxiety, depression, night sweats, hot flashes, dry mouth, speech problems, and fluid in the arms or legs. So far, results suggest that acupuncture relieves some of these symptoms or prevents them from worsening.

Last modified: February 15 2010.