Although hypnosis is still considered to be an alternative form of medicine, it is increasingly gaining acceptance within the medical community for its many uses. This is largely due to the fact that numerous studies into the effectiveness of hypnosis in treating a number of different maladies have been performed, most of which have indicated that hypnosis is a valid and effective means for treatment of many different physical, emotional, and mental problems.

The Healing Power of Hypnosis

Numerous studies have been conducted surrounding the ability of hypnosis to aid in decreasing the amount of recovery time necessary after surgery or when facing a major illness or other health issue. 

Carol Ginandes, who is a professor at Harvard Medical School, has conducted more than one study into the use of hypnosis to help reduce pain and to help patients recover more quickly following surgery. In one study, Ginandes paired with fellow Harvard Medical School professor, Daniel Rosenthal, in order to look into the effects of hypnosis on patients that had broken their ankles.

In their study, Ginandes and Rosenthal followed twelve patients that had broken their ankles and that did not require surgical intervention.  Half of this group was hypnotized once per week for a period of twelve weeks while the other patients received the standard medical care from the same hospital. The same doctor provided care to all twelve volunteers and the same radiologist was used, though the professionals were not aware of who was going through hypnosis and who was not.

This study found that those undergoing hypnosis healed at a much faster rate. In fact, at their six week check-up, they had already healed to the point that would be expected after 8 ½ weeks of healing time. 

Ginandes has also paired up with Union Institute in Cincinnati professor Patricia Brooks to perform additional studies into the effects of hypnosis on healing. With this study, the researchers focused on women that had undergone breast reduction surgery. In order to eliminate the possibility that the patients with the broken ankles had healed more quickly simply because they received more attention, Ginandes broke these 18 participants into three groups. One group received standard treatment, one group received hypnosis treatments in addition to standard treatment, and one group received support through a psychologist.

Those receiving support through a psychologist underwent sessions at the same frequency as those going through hypnosis sessions, which was once per week for an eight week period. Those receiving extra care from a psychologist did heal faster than those receiving standard treatment, but those going through hypnosis healed at a much faster rate than both groups of women. 

With so much research supporting the positive effects of hypnosis, it is easy to see why more and more hospitals are choosing to add hypnosis to their patient offerings. The University of Chicago Medical Center and the Stanford Hospital & Clinics of Stanford University Medical Center in California, for example, both offer this service to their patients in an attempt to help reduce healing time and pain. 

Increasing Fertility through Hypnosis

Scientific studies have also been performed that demonstrate the ability of hypnosis to help couples overcome infertility. One of the reasons for the positive effects of hypnosis on infertility is the fact that many people fail to become pregnant simply for psychological reasons. For example, they may have a deep rooted fear of becoming a parent or may be afraid of going through a pregnancy and the childbirth process. With hypnosis, these fears can be allayed and pregnancy becomes possible.

Research has also demonstrated that hypnosis can significantly increase a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant. One study performed by an Israeli research team at the Soroka Hospital in Beersheva found that the chances of becoming pregnant can actually double with the help of hypnosis. This study followed 185 women who were having in vitro fertilization performed. With the help of hypnosis, the transfer of the embryo to the uterus was far more successful because the women were better capable of relaxing their uterine muscles and preventing contractions from occurring.

Dr. Ernest L. Rossi, who wrote a book entitled The Psychology of Gene Expression: Neuroscience and Neurogenesis in Hypnosis and the Healing Arts in 2002 also expresses the importance of hypnosis in increasing the chances of conception. According to his research, human genes must be in what he calls a “state of physical readiness” in order to conceive. Through hypnosis, the IL-1, c-fos, and CYP17 genes can become activated and prepared for conception.

Reducing Stress and Other Psychological Disorders with Hypnosis

A myriad of studies have also been conducted and have shown the positive effects that hypnosis can have on stress and other psychological disorders. One internationally recognized doctor, Dr. Michael Yapko, has received a great deal of attention for his ability to help patients suffering from depression. For the past thirty years, his primary treatment strategy has been to use hypnosis with his patience.

Dr. Alfred A. Barrios has also conducted research into the effectiveness of hypnosis in treating depression. His studies found that 93% of his patients that were treated with hypnosis required only 1½ months and six sessions of treatment before overcoming their depression. Behavior therapy only helped 72% of his patients and required six months of care and 22 sessions. Psychotherapy, on the other hand, required 600 sessions over an 11½ month period and helped only 38% of his patients. 

Hypnosis is steadily gaining acceptance within the medical community. Even if all doctors do not understand how or why the treatment works, the results are becoming difficult to deny. In fact, the National Institutes of Health technology assessment panel officially deemed it to be an effective treatment for alleviating the pain brought on by cancer and other conditions that cause pain back in 1996. This determination has been further backed by a study published in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, which found that 73% of a total of 933 people participating in 27 experiments experienced less pain.