Without a doubt, the most frequent question I get about hypnosis is: “Does it really work?” As a hypnotist who has earned a living actually seeing client’s day in and day out, I know hypnosis works. I have seen the results in my office.
But when people ask this question, they really aren’t asking about my assessment of my own clients. What they want to know is “Is there unbiased peer-reviewed research that shows hypnosis works?” I want you to see the list of citations below that proves hypnosis works.
The answer to that is yes! I I have listed eight of these studies later in this article When you know what the research says about hypnosis you will be amazed. Peer reviewed medical journals are full of studies showing that hypnosis works, and that methods we identify as hypnotic methods (such as visualization, relaxation, mindfulness meditation, etc.) can change lives.
I have created a new course, the ICBCH Professional Medical Hypnosis Certification Course. And in this course I share over 100 studies that show
hypnosis really works. I have listed a few of these here for you to see. Unfortunately blog space is limited, so I can’t add all 101 to this blog post, but even having these resources is a big help. You can use these in your own marketing, to communicate with others and to motivate referrals to send you new clients. If you want to complete bibliography eBook register for the new course that starts this month! In addition to all the 12 videos, the printable PDF scripts, and the downloadable audio hypnosis sessions, I have included by eBook 101 Proofs 101 Proofs That Hypnosis Helps Heal Faster, Recover Stronger and Works in Medical Treatment.
Here are some of the citations that I hope will help you to understand the power of hypnosis in not just anecdotal, but is in fact a predictable outcome. When you know the methods of medical hypnosis, your clients can expect similar results!
Smoking Cessation: 81% Quit smoking with hypnosis, and the majority of those who quit remained smoke-free a year later.
Elkins, G. R., & Rajab, M. H. (2004). Clinical Hypnosis For Smoking Cessation: Preliminary Results of a Three-Session Intervention. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 52(1), 73-81. doi:10.1076/iceh.52.1.73.23921
Weight Loss: Hypnosis helped people lose weight in both the short-term and in the long-term. In other words, hypnosis helps people keep from regaining weight!
Kirsch, I. (1996). Hypnotic enhancement of cognitive-behavioral weight loss treatments: Another meta-reanalysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64(3), 517-519. doi:10.1037//0022-006x.64.3.517
Immune System Response: Only hypnotized patients had significant alteration of immune response.
Ruzyla-Smith, P., Barabasz, A., Barabasz, M., & Warner, D. (1995). Effects of Hypnosis on the Immune Response: B-Cells, T-Cells, Helper and Suppressor Cells. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 38(2), 71-79. doi:10.1080/00029157.1995.10403185
Notice the word “cured” in this citation: A wide spectrum of dermatologic disorders may be improved or cured using hypnosis as an alternative or complementary therapy, including acne excoriée, alopecia areata, atopic dermatitis, congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma, dyshidrotic dermatitis, erythromelalgia, furuncles, glossodynia, herpes simplex, hyperhidrosis, ichthyosis vulgaris, lichen planus, neurodermatitis, nummular dermatitis, postherpetic neuralgia, pruritus, psoriasis, rosacea, trichotillomania, urticaria, verruca vulgaris, and vitiligo.
Shenefelt, P. D. (2000). Hypnosis in Dermatology. Archives of Dermatology, 136(3). doi:10.1001/archderm.136.3.393
Chemotherapy patients had less anticipatory and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. And feeling better, is the first step in recovery!
Richardson, J., Smith, J., Mccall, G., Richardson, A., Pilkington, K., & Kirsch, I. (2007). Hypnosis for nausea and vomiting in cancer chemotherapy: A systematic review of the research evidence. European Journal of Cancer Care, 16(5), 402-412. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2354.2006.00736.x
Hypnosis controls pain! Hypnosis has direct effects on many suprasinal sites involved in the experience of pain.
Jensen, M. P. (2009). Hypnosis for chronic pain management: A new hope. Pain, 146(3), 235-237. doi:10.1016/j.pain.2009.06.027
Heart failure patients reported “Symptom-related quality of life was improved” when relaxation, meditation and guided imagery strategies were used to manage symptoms.
Kwekkeboom, K. L., & Bratzke, L. C. (2016). A Systematic Review of Relaxation, Meditation, and Guided Imagery Strategies for Symptom Management in Heart Failure. The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 31(5), 457-468. doi:10.1097/jcn.0000000000000274
Irritable Bowel Syndrome: The hypnotherapy patients showed a dramatic improvement in all features, the difference between the two groups being highly significant. In the hypnotherapy group no relapses were recorded during the 3-month follow-up period, and no substitution symptoms were observed.
Whorwell, P., Prior, A., & Faragher, E. (1984). Controlled Trial Of Hypnotherapy In The Treatment Of Severe Refractory Irritable-Bowel Syndrome. The Lancet, 324(8414), 1232-1234. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(84)92793-4
This is just a short snippet of what is contained in the eBook. I simply don’t have enough space in a blog post to list all the research! Imagine how much time it would take you to find 94 more of these citations. It took me a few weeks to create this list, and you can have access to all of it.
Do you want access to the eBook and module 1 of the ICBCH Professional Medical Hypnosis Certification Course and all its resources? You will find that by taking this course, it opens doors to your own personal well being, and that the referrals you generate for medical hypnosis, will also find the life changing value of hypnosis.
