Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy In The News ... Also, other complementary and integrative therapies ...

What the media is saying or covering ...  hypnosis and complementary therapy ...

"Pensioner goes under the knife - using self-hypnosis as her only pain relief ... coping with the one-hour knee operation when she insisted on avoiding drugs to numb the pain of the procedure." Daily Mail, Channel 4 News, Sky News, Talk Sport, and more - Jul 07 2008

Remember reading about the good old times when some "clever" scientists believed the world was square and flat? A few still exist! No matter what they witness, they still maintain their beliefs. They still believe we are just "physical, material bodies" - they don't have any time for mind and spirit. Fortunately, more and more people are beginning to understand there is more to humans than what some "experts" believe.

Let's forget  "a long time ago scientists thought" - look at very recent history - less than 30 years ago. Take something as logical and precise as Mathematics. The very best mathematicians in the world thought they knew everything there was to know. What they didn't know (and what many clever people still don't know) is that our knowledge at any given time is limited, thus clouding our judgment. Only when we are open minded can we enjoy the opportunity of expanding our experience and our collective knowledge pool. When Benoit Mandelbrot published his work on Fractal Geometry (the geometry of nature), some ridiculed his work.  However, his Mandelbrot set is now an integral part of mathematics, physics, science, the study of nature, etc.

"Many non-conventional therapies ... are not used as mainstream treatments because of social or political reasons." 01 July 2008 Psychiatric Times. Vol. 25 No. 8 FUTURE OF PSYCHIATRY Nonconventional Modalities James Lake, MD

Does Hypnotherapy Really Work?

• Psychoanalysis 38 percent recovery after 600 sessions

• Behavior therapy 72 percent recovery after 22 sessions

• Hypnotherapy 93 percent recovery after 6 sessions

in an article/report by Dr. Alfred Barrios, a clinical psychologist (BS Caltech, Ph.D. UCLA) - American Health Magazine

In other equally excellent articles, Dr. Barrios explores why there's a great reluctance to use Hypnotherapy as a mainstream complementary therapy (briefly, ignorance, fear of the unknown, etc.).

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is calling on interested members to help participate in the development of the proposed Integrative Medicine (IM) Faculty, a proposed sub-faculty of the specific interest faculty of the RACGP. Areas of interest will include mind-body medicine such as hypnosis and meditation, evidence-based nutritional & environmental medicine and evidence-based herbal medicine. 26 June 2008

"Cognitive behavioural therapy is now reasonably well accepted, and so, too, is psychotherapy, but of the three, I would say hypnotism is potentially the most powerful." Professor Peter Whorwell, University Hospital of South Manchester, It's all in the mind, an article on how hypnotherapy helps many issues, Belfast Telegraph, 30 January 2007

Sports Enhancement Hypnotherapy - In pursuit of 'unfair advantage,' ... hockey team hires team hypnotherapist. The Flint Journal, 26 July 2008

It is also widely reported Tiger Woods and other top sports personalities use hypnosis to enhance their sports performance ("to go in the Zone").

Pole vaulter Steve Hooker shows nerves of steel after hypnosis - A hypnotherapist cured Steve Hooker's fear of pole vaulting a few years ago and the success was visible on Friday when the Australian soared to Olympic gold in dramatic fashion. Earth Times, 22 Aug 2008

After accidents and fears until 2003, Hypnotism and visualisation began to help... Steve Hooker Gold Medalist visualises his way to “what every kid dreams of” - an Olympic Gold. International Association of Athletics Federations - IAAF 23 Aug 2008

The man who was once so spooked of vaulting he was hypnotised to allay his fears is Australia's first athletics gold medallist since Cathy Freeman in 2000. The Age, AU, 23 Aug 2008

Can Hypnosis Help Your Golf Swing? " ... it is important to focus on what is in your head. ... train the brain ..." KTNV Las Vegas 29 July 2008

Pack football: Hypnosis used for game-time strategy, [Sports Hypnosis], article by Colby Balkenbush, Reno Gazette-Journal, 10 August 2008

Coach targets mental game in high-pressure sport, "That's where the hypnosis comes in." San Francisco Chronicle, 16 August 2008

When mental games come into play, " ... a form of self-hypnosis really ..."  USA Today 14 August 2008

"... undergoing a competitive hypnosis before its winners' ..." Attitude in it to win it, York Daily Record 3 August 2008

"... two shooting Golds from the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. ... anyone can learn to master a skill through mental training and hypnosis." The Herald Standard 19 August 2008

"... a combination of programs used in performance coaching including hypnosis, NLP, visualization, breathing exercises and nutrition." Valley native helps Olympians win gold, The Valley Independent 23 Aug 2008

ABBA star tries hypnosis to restore lost memory, News Interactive, article from The Daily Telegraph (AU) July 17, 2008

Birth Day: A second-time mom chose hypnosis over pain medication during labor and delivery. Health TV Highlights, Star Telegram

Children ... Without fear (use of hypnosis) at a dentist's of their very own, by Kirsty Robinson, Daily Mail

Soothe Your Stomach - irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): Psychotherapy—cognitive behavioral therapy, stress management, relaxation therapy, and hypnosis — are helpful for severe symptoms. Psychology Today Magazine, May/Jun 2008

Hypnosis as mainstream medicine, not magic - article in The Wellesley Townsman and Metrowest Daily News

Health Tip: Understanding Autoimmune Diseases - When the body begins to attack itself (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.) Meditation and self-hypnosis also have helped some people. U.S. News & World Report

Want to know about hypnosis? Burlington Times-News

Try hypnotherapy to help a troubled teen, Healthy Alternatives: Health and fitness options, article in Orange County Register

Hypnotherapy: The science behind the hype, "Hypnosis is taught in medical schools and is recognized by medical associations worldwide. It requires more time, however, than most medical practitioners want to invest." article in Lodi News-Sentinel 

Haven't got time for the pain? Alternatives to medication exist for chronic sufferers, Courier-Post

Hypnotherapy for bedwetting, "... overcame his bedwetting by means of hypnotherapy, which involves using hypnosis to treat medical and psychological problems." The Times

Bid to reopen case another twist for RFK archive "... whether his client can have his memory restored through hypnosis ..." The Standard-Times

"Hypnotherapy is effective in several diseases with a psychosomatic component. ... Hypnosis reduced several components of the systemic and mucosal inflammatory response in active ulcerative colitis (UC) toward levels found previously in the inactive disease. Some of these effects may contribute to the anecdotally reported benefits of hypnotherapy and provide a rationale for controlled trials of hypnotherapy in UC." Source: American Journal of Gastroenterol 2008;103:1460–1469

"... there is no doubt that hypnosis is starting to garner powerful supporters in the medical establishment. 

Dr Martin Wall, President of the Royal Society of Medicine’s Hypnosis and Psychosomatic Medicine division, says: ‘Pain is a construct conjured up by the brain. In other words, it’s not real. It’s simply a series of electrical impulses travelling to the brain. 

‘Hypnosis is a powerful technique with a great many benefits for the patient. It’s a great way of relieving anxiety and boosting confidence.’ " The article also refers to a New Scientist report about an operation/surgery under hypnosis. Could hypnotism be the future of surgery? This dental patient certainly thinks so, an article in the Daily Mail June 2008

You may also recall Live Surgery on the BBC. There are many other examples - but that doesn't stop some "experts" from saying hypnosis may or may not work!

"Hypnosis used in dental procedure," ... Dr Bhatt said: "The hypnosis was 100% effective." BBC News June 2008

University of Buffalo professor uses hypnosis to help others reduce stress, overcome disabilities. Tonawanda News, Greater Niagara Newspapers, June 2008

The University of New Mexico's Center of Life, an Integrative Medicine Specialty Clinic offers Hypnotherapy (some indications: pre/post-op preparation, pain management, accelerated healing, post op, smoking cessation, weight loss).

25 of Dubai’s finest spas offer premium treatments (including Hypnotherapy)
"Dubai Summer Surprises is providing visitors 25 possibilities of cooling off this summer. The DSS Spa Packages, into its third successful year, is an arrangement between 25 of the finest spas in Dubai and DSS where exclusive promotions are being offered on treatments to visitors and residents.
The modern-day spa is not just a relaxation centre but a well-being concept as many Spa managers will tell you. Treatments on offer include: Swedish, Japanese Shiatsu, and Thai massage, European facials, acupuncture, Dead Sea salt scrubs, aromatherapy, reflexology, endermologie, reiki, rasul, hypnotherapy, classes in nutrition, meditation, yoga and Tai Chi, state-of-the-art fitness centres with personal trainers, and much more."

Powers of the Paranormal ...

Did you catch the last episode? It had two excellent segments on hypnosis and hypnotherapy. The first one featured a demo on age regression / past life regression. The second one featured the removal of the fear of spiders / insects and distance hypnosis (two thousand miles away).

"A woman's tonsils were removed under hypnosis and without painkillers or anaesthetics at Milpark Hospital." News 24 South Africa

"Hollywood hot shots Matt Damon and Samuel L. Jackson kicked the habit with hypnosis and now a study at a North Shore hospital shows that the alternative therapy helps make quitters out of smokers better than the patch or nicotine gum." Boston Herald

"A group of acrophobics conquered their fear of heights yesterday by taking part in a session of mass hypnosis." The Scotsman

"... growing number who use hypnosis to modify behavior or control pain. ... hypnosis has become so mainstream that some hospitals offer sessions to help treat eating disorders, promote weight-loss and help smokers quit." Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"Hypnosis proves an effective tool in cancer fight." San Antonio Express-News

"... hypnotherapy is changing the lives of millions of people." WTVO/WQRF Rockford

Millions across the country cope with chronic pain - Dr. Cynthia Marske, Touro University Department of Primary Care chairwoman said, "... others are trying behavioral therapy and hypnotherapy, spinal manipulations and chiropractic care." Vallejo Times-Herald

From BBC News

• A small study found that hypnotherapy helped psychological treatment in reducing anxiety and feelings of helplessness in students. 
  

• Breast cancer patients need less anaesthetic during operations if they have been relaxed by hypnosis beforehand, US research suggests. 
  

• Man hypnotises himself before an operation - A hypnotist from West Sussex has undergone surgery on his right hand without a general anaesthetic. "At one stage a hammer and chisel was used as well as a surgical saw, but I felt no pain." Alex Lenkei
  

• Hypnosis 'can ease bowel illness' - Hypnotherapy could help people with severe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), researchers say. Doctors should consider using this and other "psychological" treatments such as antidepressants to help sufferers, King's College London experts say in the British Medical Journal.

"When You Wake Up ... Delving into Hypnosis-Aided Self Improvement ..." Santa Barbara Independent 23 Aug 2008

A randomized clinical trial of a brief hypnosis intervention to control side effects in breast surgery patients.
Montgomery GH, Bovbjerg DH, Schnur JB, David D, Goldfarb A, Weltz CR, Schechter C, Graff-Zivin J, Tatrow K, Price DD, Silverstein JH. Department of Oncological Sciences, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Sept. 2007

"Hypnosis was superior to attention control regarding propofol and lidocaine use; pain, nausea, fatigue, discomfort, and emotional upset at discharge; and institutional cost. Overall, the present data support the use of hypnosis with breast cancer surgery patients."

"New cancer center a high-tech marvel - Nearly $11 million in high-tech cancer machinery will coexist in a building with a variety of complementary or integrative medical therapies, such as yoga and hypnosis. These alternative treatments are now requested by up to 75 percent of cancer patients. ... Dr. Andrew Weil, a Harvard Medical School graduate, brought national attention and legitimacy to the role of complementary medicine in health care ..." Everett Herald

"... the witnesses were flown to ... undergo hypnosis to help jog their memories." Casper Star-Tribune

The Wellness Community Valley/Ventura offers a workshop for cancer patients and their families, harnessing the power of hypnotherapy; using hypnosis to reduce stress and foster healing. TwcVv.org

"... The pre-race hypnosis worked. ... a personal record and a personal triumph." The Valdosta Daily Times

"I can't stop sweating, ...Treatments for hyperhidrosis [excessive sweating ] include hypnotherapy ..." article in The Times, 2 August 2008

"How to fly without fear. ... Hypnotherapy - This highly effective treatment ..." The Independent 28 July 2008

"... Hypnosis has been used to 'anaesthetise' patients. One ... aged 19, had her appendix removed following hypnosis in 1961." BBC News Health

"Hypnotising the pain away. Hypnosis can help to cut down the use of general anaesthesia in surgery." BBC News

"Another popular way to quit is by undergoing hypnotherapy treatment. Hypnosis helps smokers to deal with all of the emotional and psychological aspects of quitting." Mirror, 26 March 2007

HypnoSurgery Live, "Live hernia operation being performed under hypnosis with no anaesthetic at all." 10 April 2006, Channel More4 

"Hypnosis is the most effective way of giving up smoking, according to the largest ever scientific comparison of ways of breaking the habit. Willpower, it turns out, counts for very little" New Scientist, 31 October 1992

"The hypnotism was a remarkable experience." BBC Four, Time - Lifetime, Professor Michio Kaku (theoretical physicist, tenured professor, co-creator of string field theory, a branch of string theory).

Psychological approaches during conscious sedation. Hypnosis versus stress reducing strategies: a prospective randomized study. Faymonville ME, Mambourg PH, Joris J, Vrijens B, Fissette J, Albert A, Lamy M. Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital of Liège, Belgium, Dec. 1997

"Stress reducing strategies are useful in patients undergoing surgery. Hypnosis is also known to alleviate acute and chronic pain. We therefore compared the effectiveness of these two psychological approaches ... This study suggests that hypnosis provides better perioperative pain and anxiety relief, allows for significant reductions in alfentanil and midazolam requirements, and improves patient satisfaction and surgical conditions as compared with conventional stress reducing strategies support in patients receiving conscious sedation ..."

Dr. O.P Yadav, CEO, National Heart Institute, “It was sheer ignorance on the part of doctors in denying this great world of medication open to mankind. We were always wrong in thinking that the two practices of medicine [conventional, alternative] are at loggerheads, when actually they are complementary to each other.”  The Times of India, 31 Jul 2008

' "We were so used to treating the disease that we had forgotten to treat the patient." He founded and directed the hospital's new Cardiac Complementary Care unit and began using Reiki touch therapy, massage and hypnosis.' Article by Heidi Brown in Forbes about Dr Mehmet Oz, the renowned heart surgeon. 4 August 2008.

Hypnosis evolves into therapeutic process, article by Steve Marroni for Public Opinion, 3 August 2008

Aussies turning in droves to alternative therapies, New Kerala,  25 July 2008

"...More medical professionals and health insurance companies are realizing the value of hypnotherapy as a complementary health service ..." Former ER nurse ventures into new trend in healing, Seacoast Media Group 26 Aug 2008

"Hypnotherapy gaining popularity ... a legitimate form of treatment...." KETK News 18 August 2008

"Hypnosis works by implanting suggestions in your unconscious mind. ..." Guardian Unlimited 18 August 2008

"...hypnosis has been used in medicine since the 1950's to treat pain and, more recently, as a treatment for anxiety, depression, trauma, irritable bowel syndrome and eating disorders...." This Is Your Brain Under Hypnosis, article by Sandra Blakeslee, New York Times, 22 November 2005

Sick children learn self-hypnosis to fight pain, article by Carol Lawson, New York Times, 7 September 1985

"Hypnotists today most commonly use their talents to help people stop smoking, lose weight or reduce stress. Other fields, such as “hypno-birthing,” fertility counseling, and pain management — particularly for athletes — also are also becoming popular. ... the stress of flying ..." Hypnotists say their profession has arrived, by Valerie Franchi, Worcester Telegram and Gazette, 12 August 2008

"She says she can help you quit smoking, lose weight, perfect your memory, sleep better, think more clearly, gain confidence and become more successful." Hypnotist utilizes power of suggestion, article by Dennis Taylor, The Monterey County Herald, 8 August 2008

Also Be Aware:

There are some programs where "researchers" try to investigate whether hypnosis works. They come with preconceived ideas and half baked research. Their aim is to put on a show. You can't do justice to hypnotherapy in a "show" - especially when your research is extremely limited.

Concise Encyclopedia and Internet Press Office

Complementary therapies are offered in conjunction with our fellow professionals. Where beneficial to you, we may suggest a “combo” program, combining all or some of the therapies below:

For more details or to book an appointment for Hypnosis, Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Reiki, NLP, contact: us (some out of office hour appointments may be available from time to time) 

With best wishes ...