Medical Hypnosis

Hypnosis can be an alternative or adjunct treatment for those in pain

Pain is our body’s language to alert us that we need to pay attention.  Pain has a function, however oftentimes pain becomes chronic. Hypnosis can help with any kind of pain, sever, or low grade chronic.

P.E.T.  scans show that hypnosis alleviates pain by decreasing the activity of brain areas involved in the experience of suffering.

Hypnosis  has a health promoting, balance-restoring, and pain reducing, effect on the subconscious and unconscious mind (the mind of the body, the nervous system, the sympathetic nervous system, the amygdala and vagus nerves).

Patients and clients experience immediate improvements in pain conditions, education and training that empowers them along with a reprogramming of subconscious patterns and beliefs.

Hypnosis aids the psychological and emotional state as well as directly cause a physical result in the body.. Whether it is anxiety, fear, or chronic pain, or an unhealthy habit, a skilled hypnotherapist can aid a client in restoring a healthier balanced state.

Hypnosis can help clients speed healing, moderate the immune system response, balance emotions, desensitize to fears, change habits and above all teach clients tools they can use daily to achieve a better version of themselves, better cope with chronic disease, and speed the healing process.

Hypnosis, clinical hypnosis, and hypnotherapy are not “medicine”  or a “cure-all,” but rather a “tool” which can benefit one immensely. Hypnosis is an important component of Mind-Body medicine and Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM).

Gastrointestinal disorders and hypnosis

The application of hypnosis is valuable in variety of gastrointestinal (GI) problems such as Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcers, colitis, and Crohn’s disease where the application of hypnosis has been proven to help clients cope with their conditions, lower stress and anxiety, learn to lower pain, and improve somatic awareness. Hypnosis can both stimulate and inhibit gastric secretions, the subconscious mind directly controls GI function and can be trained to lower sensitivity, and to moderate severity of symptoms.

Hypnosis helps those suffering with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) 

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, known as IBS, is a frequent gastrointestinal condition that affects up to 45 million people in the United States.

Its symptoms are second only to the common cold in the reason why people see their doctor. The gastrointestinal tract has its own brain, the enteric nervous system. It is capable  of mediating reflex behavior without input from the brain. At the same time it is constantly sending messages to the brain.

When you are stressed sometimes the “gut brain” feels the stress and likewise discomfort in the digestive track can cause stress to the brain in the head.   With hypnosis we can address the gut-brain axis and help restore balance to the mind in your gut as well as the mind in your brain.

IBS can cause debilitating abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, and a sense of urgency to empty bowls, often several times. The discomfort of IBS is sometime accompanied with nausea  and headaches.

IBS can occur on a regular basis preventing a person from attending work, enjoying social events, traveling, leaving home, or achieving simple tasks such as going to the store.   While diet restrictions help IBS, oftentimes they are not enough to set patients on a path of empowerment.  Sometimes the cause of IBS is neurological and/or immune based.. Stress plays a major causative role in triggering IBS episodes.

There are multiple published studies that have confirmed that hypnosis can help you break the cycle of pain, discomfort and anxiety related to IBS.

Studies have also confirmed that thousands of people who have utilized hypnosis have had long- term improvement, or complete disappearance of symptoms.  Hypnotherapy helps you find the root of the problem, and help you manage any stress that may be making the IBS worse. It helps you by providing positive suggestions to increase your confidence and your well being while reducing sensitivity in your gut.

In addition hypnosis improves a patient’s ability to avoid habits that trigger IBS. In addition, improving your somatic awareness helps you sense the genesis of IBS allowing you to take corrective action early on.

A blending of hypnotic healing techniques in a several week protocol can help you neutralize the unrecognized reactions that are responsible for your IBS symptoms. These protocols are endorsed by many well know physicians and health educators including Andrew Weil.

Hypnosis is an effective treatment for migraines and tension headaches

Hypnosis, in many cases, appears to be superior than pharmacological approaches alone. Individuals treated with hypnosis had a reduction of the severity of migraine attacks and the number of attacks.

Both migraine and tension headaches respond to hypnosis. Oversimplified, either muscle strain (tension headache) or swelling and contracting within the walls of the blood vessels generates headache discomfort.

The release of serotonin in the blood helps blood vessels back to normal and encourages muscles to be flexible. Deep relaxation stimulates release of serotonin and promotes pain relief.

With practice you can develop the relaxation response to be used almost automatically whenever you feel discomfort.

Clients and patients are given effective tools that can reduce pain, tension, nausea, and anxiety. In addition, the use of self-hypnosis, and hypnotherapy can reach deeper into possible causes of these painful conditions, or at the least allow the patient to have better somatic (body) awareness to detect a migraine before it even starts and take corrective measures.

Hypnosis is an effective solution for dermatological (skin and hair) conditions

There are a variety of skin disorders in which hypnosis can help with including but not limited to pruritus acne, psoriasis, eczema, warts and herpes simplex.

Post-hypnotic suggestions may be used to reduce picking and scratching.

When suggestions aren’t effective hypnotherapy gives a way of addressing the subconscious underlying reasons behind skin conditions and addresses the body’s mind directly to reduce discomfort.

Hypnosis for surgery and dentistry

Operations on hypnotized persons averaged 17 minutes shorter than non-hypnotized. A review of the medical literature shows that people who prepare for an operation have less pain, fewer complications and recover sooner. You can feel less anxious about the  procedure and strengthen your immune system by using hypnotic techniques.

Benefits of pre-surgery hypnosis are: less anxiety, less pain, less medication, and fewer complications, shorter hospital stays.

Benefits of post-surgical hypnosis: quicker recovery, faster wound healing, less pain, stronger immune system, more compliance with physician’s directions and physical therapy.

Unpleasant experiences at the dentist can be a thing of the past with hypnosis. You can feel comfortable during your dental visit. Hypnodontics helps you eliminate fear, tension, anxiety, expected pain or related discomfort.  You will learn to manage or eliminate the suffering of a visit to the dentist.

Adjust comfortably to orthodontic or  prosthetic appliances (braces, dentures.) Prevent nausea or the gag response. Control unnecessary bleeding or swelling after procedures.

In addition, hypnosis and hypnotherapy can help modify bruxism (grinding of teeth), the biting on objects (causing damage to teeth).

TMJ is the cause of many headaches and jaw pain and responds well to hypnosis.

Hypnosis for the fear of needles or blood

Many patients have a fear of needles and the sight of blood making it difficult for them and the practitioner to draw blood, start IV’s or perform any other invasive procedures. Medical hypnosis methods can help patients with pain erasure and control over bodily sensations reducing their current and future anxiety during these procedures.

Hypnosis for hypertension (high blood pressure)

Research has demonstrated that hypnosis has been effective in reducing hypertension. 

Working with your physician or health coach, you can find solutions for hypertension. Hypnosis can help lower blood pressure and has no side-effects. Hypnosis tends to last longer than taking anti-hypertensives, and once you have experienced hypnosis it will cost you nothing to lower your blood pressure in the future.

Side effects of hypnosis are beneficial rather than negative. It is inexpensive, non-invasive and leaves you with a greater sense of control and well-being.

Relaxation and pleasant guided visualization along with biofeedback can help you regulate your heart rate and arterial contraction while lowering your anxiety. You can do something about your high blood pressure.

Hypnosis for chronic pain

Hypnosis is a viable alternative to traditional pain medication for many people.

Preventing, alleviating and minimizing pain is accomplished by coupling hypnotic techniques with relaxation, skills training, and hypnotherapy work that communicates directly with the subconscious mind.

Hypnotic techniques allow the subconscious mind to interpret the pain signal either, as something other than pain (pressure), or eliminate it (as often happens with psychogenic and psychosomatic pain).

Alleviating the fear, tension and anxiety that often accompanies chronic pain creates a relaxed state, which allows our own natural opiate endorphins to flow, lessening the experience of pain.

The experiences and tools provided to the patient empower them for years to come.

Hypnosis and fibromyalgia

Fibromyagia is a medical diagnosis indicating a disease marked by soft tissue pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and widely distributed areas of tenderness known as “tender points”.

It is estimated that this chronic condition affects about 3.4% of women and 0.5% of men, with numbers on the rise. There is no laboratory test to diagnose fibromyalgia, and some physicians refuse to acknowledge fibromyalgia as a true condition, stating that it is “all in your mind.”  More and more are diagnosed with this disease daily.  There is no known cause for fibromyalgia.

Hypnosis can reduce stress, reduce pain, help with depression, help you find motivation and energy, and help you sleep better. More importantly, the use of hypnotic conditioning can help in the modification, alteration, or removal of symptoms and feelings that incapacitates sufferers.

All pain is interpreted (created) in the brain; repeated pain increases the sensitivity of the brain neuropathways involved with pain resulting in more pain. Anxiety and worry, and fixation on the pain, also increase the feeling of pain.  This lead some to assume that pain is all in you head.  This view is inaccurate and lacking in understanding.

Experienced pain is 100% real, true, and factual.. Pain is also 1000% miserable.  Our approach utilizes the mind-body connection, the understanding of how the brain functions, and utilizes the power of the subconscious mind to lower the pain.

This approach helps you end the suffering while feeling empowered in many ways. The sky is the limit in terms of the type of improvements you can experience.

Hypnosis helps with IVF fertility

Multiple studies have shown that hypnosis and hypnotherapy improves success rates in IVF.

Read more here

Hypnosis use during pregnancy and for childbirth (delivery and birthing)

The use of hypnosis to prepare for childbirth allows for the creation of a relaxed and joyful childbirth experience feeling confident and in control.

Hypnosis can help throughout pregnancy and childbirth relieving morning sickness and other discomforts from body changes.

Extreme pain is not a natural part of childbirth. Using hypnosis one in four mothers can achieve complete anesthesia during delivery. Other benefits include better control of uterine contractions, less fatigue, and an increase of pain tolerance, decreased reliance on medication leaving mom and baby more alert and speedier recovery.

To prepare the mom-to-be, multiple sessions of hypnosis training are needed. This teaches moms anesthesia, self-hypnosis, deep relaxation, breathing techniques and include powerful end-result suggestions and imagery to enhance your whole experience.

If you are an expecting mom, I recommend hypnobabies and hypnobirthing programs.

Hypnosis for diabetes

Diabetes is an illness in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, this disease impacts metabolism drastically.

Insulin is a hormone that enables the body to convert sugar into energy. If diabetes is not treated properly, it is destructive to the organs and can be fatal.  Approximately 17 million people in the United States have diabetes which is 6.2% of the population! These numbers are on the rise.

Hypnosis, guided imagery and visualization reduce stress lowering blood sugar (to normal levels), insulin requirement, adrenaline production and excess cortisone production. Hypnosis helps with metabolic syndrom and all other conditions thought to be linked to insulin resistance.

The two most prominent types of diabetes are: Type 1 (this type requires daily insulin injections) and Type 2 (this type occurs most often as an individual grows older, and is usually controlled by oral medication).  Type 2 is now commonly found in young adults and children.  Hypnosis can be effective in lowering the negative symptoms of this disease, and in any needed habit modification.

Hypnosis as an adjunct cancer therapy

Cancer develops when cells in a part of the body begin to grow out of control. There are many kinds of cancer, they all start because of out-of-control growth of abnormal cells.  One of three Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime at least once.

Cancer patients have a variety of issues that can be addressed through the use of hypnosis. Hypnosis can help minimize anxiety and worry while enhancing coping abilities and confidence. Hypnosis can offer symptomatic relief from the negative side effects of chemotherapy such as nausea, vomiting, pain, suffering, depression, and loss of self-worth.

Hypnosis reduces pre-surgery anxiety and stress.. It also can speeds recovery from operations and enhance the immune system.  Hypnosis results in less time in the procedure room and cuts hospital costs by nearly 10%.

Imagery can help reverse some of the adverse effects of chemotherapy such as nausea and fatigue. The process can boost the immune response, minimize fear and encourage hope.  Imagine undergoing treatment calm and confident.

Additionally, the use of imagery facilitates directing the body’s systems to function optimally and has been shown to help in eradicating cancer cells by directing the immune system to attack them.

The utilizing hypnosis brings positive attitude into everyday life lessens depression, anxiety, insomnia, and tension. Hypnosis also enhances confidence, self esteem, coping abilities and self-efficacy.

Hypnosis to combat stress and all stress-caused illness

It has been established that stress is linked to all states of physical suffering, either as a causal factor or as an outcome of disease.  Physical and emotional stress alike result in oxidative stress in the body and speed aging and disease. Stress is indeed a killer.

Renowned Mind-body experts like Dr. Norm Shealy and Herbert Benson teach that hypnotic techniques like guided imagery and visualization cause deep relaxation. Twenty minutes, two times a day of deep relaxation lowers the stress related hormone norepinephrine (secreted by the adrenal gland) 50 % for an entire 24 hours. Moreover, it also lowers insulin requirement 50 % for the entire 24 hours and when visualization is added, double the effect!

Stress and anxiety usually go hand-in-hand with chronic pain, medical issues and dis-ease. Over $3,000.000.000 dollars are spent annually for stress-related medical issues. Through hypnosis you will begin to feel a lifting of everyday stress and anxiety relieving you from experiencing unnecessary pain or illness.

Hypnosis, guided imagery and visualization reduce stress lowering blood sugar (to normal levels), insulin requirement, adrenaline production and excess cortisone production. Hypnosis assists in healing of stress diseases and tension-anxiety feelings.

The changing of programmed beliefs and hidden pain and trauma lifts burdens and promotes a more joyful, less anxious and stressful life. Hypnosis and hypnotherapy have a lot to offer and work very effectively in helping patients and clients at ending stress or at the least managing it.

Hypnosis for insomnia

Whether you have trouble going to sleep or staying asleep, hypnotherapy can help. Many times the tension and anxiety carried over from a busy day or the pain and discomfort from a physical issue can interfere with sleep. Hypnotic conditioning can help restore normal patterns and allow you to get a good night sleep once again.

When everything else has failed, hypnosis can come to the rescue.  The unconscious mind (the body’s mind) regulates all the functions of the body.

A skilled hypnotist aids you in communicating with your body’s mind, and allows for the communicating of desired outcomes to it.  Hypnosis with a skilled practitioner allows you to gain insight into the state of your body, and mind. It allows for 2-way communication opportunities.

Hypnosis can easily calm the nervous system, calming the nervous system has a profound positive effect on emotional, mental, and physical suffering.

Balancing and removing emotional trauma, lowering stress, reducing anxiety and pain all go a long way in helping clients on the path to healing.

When talk therapy has failed, try hypnosis and mental health coaching.  Most of us are programmed from age 0 (in utero) to age 5, as you know, many of these beliefs become foundational, while unconscious to us, a lot of these are no longer healthy.

Hypnosis is ideal for those who’ve tried therapy, and for those who want to avoid therapy. Children refusing to see a therapist can be easily shown that hypnosis is very different, gentle, validating, and safe.

Balance your subconscious mind. Re-program to the beliefs you want to live by. Get rid of old subconscious beliefs that no longer serve you. Modify habits. Empower yourself. Learn (by experiencing) self-hypnosis and become your own best advocate.

Effectively communicate with the unconscious mind to find hidden beliefs, hidden emotions, and trauma (PTSD, trauma programmed in the primitive brain and the body) that need to be released!

Sessions

Treatment generally consists of 3 to 8 sessions. Clients are given CD’s and home exercises to use during the course of treatment in addition to the sessions.  The first session is always an introductory session where you learn about hypnosis, get all your questions answered, then experience multiple ways that you can induce self hypnosis.  Results vary, some clients need 1 session, others need more. Booster sessions are also held when needed.

Clients

I see “medical support hypnosis clients” starting at the age of 9, to the age of 100+.  Other approaches are used with clients. At Wise Mindbody Healing we honor and respect all our clients from any age, gender, gender identity, spiritual or religious belief (or skepticism), race, national origin, health state, or socioeconomic status.

Many of my clients are referred by dentists, physicians, chiropractors, and psychotherapists. When everything else has stopped working, if you are tired of being tired, tired of the inner saboteur, or stuck, this is where I can help you. Why not get started right now?  Get the help you need.

Disclaimer: Medical support hypnosis is not a medical or diagnostic service. We do not diagnose or treat any diseases nor prescribe medications. We work alongside your physician to help you achieve the health you desire.