Hypnotherapy can help with physical health issues and conditions through what can be termed medical hypnosis. It aims to improve health and wellness including experiences with treatment and outcomes..
Hypnosis is useful in medical settings when patients have physical or emotional problems that are due at least in part to limitations of their abilities or capacities (stemming from their own unconscious mind) to cope with and manage feelings and sensations, such as pain, stress or anxiety for example.
Historically, medical hypnosis was identified with surgical anaesthesia (loss of sensation/pain relief for surgical and invasive procedures) and with the removal or relief of symptoms with health issues and conditions such as diseases, with bodily disorders, e.g. nausea, cramps, headaches, weakness, pain etc… The use of hypnotherapy has developed with wide-ranging applications.
Hypnosis is a powerful non-pharmacological tool (non-drug / medication form of treatment).
Hypnosis can be used to help reduce stress and anxiety as part of preparation;
- Before a surgical and invasive medical procedure, such as a breast biopsy,
- Treatment, such as injections where there might be a fear of needles,
- Diagnostics, such as MRI and CT Scans.
It can be very helpful in the holistic management and treatment of a number of health conditions, of which there are too many to list. Some examples include;
- Gastro-intestinal disorders (the middle or lower gastrointestinal tract) such as Functional Bowel Disorders (FBD) including Irritable Bowel Syndrome,
- Cardiovascular Disorders such as High Blood Pressure,
- Dermatological disorders such as Eczema, Psoriasis, Warts, Herpes Simplex,
- Allergy and Asthma,
- Chronic Illnesses such as Cancer and Diabetes,
- Hot flashes, for example, to help relieve symptoms of hot flashes associated with menopause,
- Treatment side-effects, such as Cancer treatment, e.g. Hypnosis can be used to ease side effects related to chemotherapy or radiation treatment.
Hypnosis can be used as a tool in dentistry. It provides effective relaxation and sedation and can help treat chronic pain, providing analgesia and anaesthesia whilst maintaining patient collaboration, as well as with bleeding and swelling, reducing bruxism, severe gag reflex and salivary production, but it also may help patients with dental anxiety and phobia from visiting a dental surgery to recovery. It can also be used to promote effective self-care habits.
