To follow, are Medical Journal Articles of the use of Hypnotherapy for Medical Conditions.

Hypnotherapy for Weight Loss

Hypnosis was found to be 30 times more effective for weight loss in a study involving 60 females, at least 20% overweight. The hypnosis group lost an average of 17 lbs vs. an average of .5 lbs lost by the control group. Cochrane, Gordon; Friesen, J. (1986). Hypnotherapy in weight loss treatment. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54, 489-492.

A study involving 109 patients who completed a behavioural treatment for weight loss either with or without the addition of hypnosis. At the 2-year follow-up the hypnosis subjects continued to lose significant weight, while those that only received behavioural treatment showed little further change. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1985.

People who received hypnosis lost more weight than 70% of other weight loss treatments and kept it off 2 years later according to a meta-analysis involving 18 studies using cognitive behavioural therapy, such as relaxation training, guided imagery, self -monitoring or goal setting with the same therapy supplemented by hypnosis.
University of Connecticut, Storrs Allison DB, Faith MS. Hypnosis as an adjunct to cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy for obesity: a meta-analytic reappraisal. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1996;64(3):513-516

An additional weight loss study of the effect of adding hypnosis to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for weight loss indicated that the benefits of hypnosis increased substantially over time.
Hypnotic enhancement of cognitive-behavioral weight loss treatments--Another meta-reanalysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Kirsch, Irving 1996, 64 (3), 517-519.

Another weight loss study published in 1996 reported on an analysis of five weight loss studies and showed that weight loss reported in the five studies indicates that hypnosis can more than double the effects of traditional weight loss approaches. University of Connecticut, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology in 1996 (Vol. 64, No. 3, pgs 517-519).

A trial with 156 participants, who received 9 weekly individual hypnosis sessions plus behaviour-modification treatments were compared with results from those who received behaviour-modification treatment alone. On average, the hypnosis group had lost 7 kg of weight more than the control group at the 2-year follow-up.Bolocofsky DN, Spinler D, Coulthard-Morris L. Effectiveness of hypnosis as an adjunct to behavioural weight management. J Clin Psychol. 1985;41: 35-41.Reference: Weight Loss Research

Hypnotherapy for Smoking Cessation

Of 43 consecutive patients undergoing this smoking cessation treatment protocol using hypnosis, 39 reported remaining abstinent from tobacco use at follow-up (6 months to 3 years post-treatment). This represents a 90.6% success rate using hypnosis.University of Washington School of Medicine, Depts. of Anesthesiology and Rehabilitation Medicine, Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2001 Jul;49(3):257-66. Barber J.

A single 12-hour group session for volunteer smokers who had unsuccessfully tried other methods of smoking cessation. The program achieved an 88% 1-year abstention rate using hypnosis for smoking cessation.Kline MV. The use of extended group hypnotherapy sessions in controlling cigarette habituation . Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 1970;18:270-282.

A 3 month follow up study of the use of hypnosis on smoking cessation showed that of 93 men and 93 women, 86% of the men and 87% of the women reported continued abstinence from the use of tobacco using hypnosis.

Hypnosis is the most effective way of giving up smoking , according to the largest ever scientific comparison of ways of breaking the habit. A meta-analysis, statistically combining results of more than 600 studies of 72,000 people from America and Europe to compare various methods of quitting. On average, hypnosis was over three times as effective as nicotine replacement methods and 15 times as effective as trying to quit alone.University of Iowa, Journal of Applied Psychology, How One in Five Give Up Smoking. October 1992.

Hypnotherapy for Allergies:

In a study of 18 volunteers selected for their hypnotisability, immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions were suppressed in 8 of the 12.Black S. Inhibition of immediate-type hypersensitivity response by direct suggestion under hypnosis . Br Med J. 1963;1:925-929.

Hypnotherapy for Anaesthesia for surgery/Surgical Recovery

This paper quotes extensively from historical examples of the use of hypnosis as the sole anaesthesia for major surgeries in the 1800's. These historic examples by themselves provide powerful documentation of the ability of the mind to influence the body, but they are then followed by a review of contemporary literature and controlled research on the use in hypnosis in relation to surgery and prior to medical procedures.Hypnosis as sole anesthesia for major surgeries : historical & contemporary perspectives. Hammond DC. Am J Clin Hypn. 2008 Oct;51(2):101-21.

The Scottish physician James Esdaile, who used hypnoanesthesia in approximately 300 surgical patients in India between 1845 and 1851, became the best known early hypnoanesthetist.Esdaile J. Mesmerism in India, and its practical application in surgery and medicine. New York: Arno Press, 1976 reprint of 1846 ed. Published by Longman, London.

The available literature suggests that hypnosis, suggestion, and relaxation are underutilized techniques which can shorten postoperative hospital stays, promote the physical recovery of patients from surgery, and aid in the psychological and emotional response of patients following surgery. Suggestion, relaxation, and hypnosis as adjuncts in the care of surgery patients: review of the literature. Am J Clin Hypn 1991;33:172–86.

A double-blind study in which patients undergoing hysterectomy listened either to an audiotape with positive suggestions or to a blank tape while under general anaesthesia. The treatment group had significantly fewer bowel problems, shorter recovery time, shorter hospital stay, less fever, and a better recovery (by nursing assessment) than the control patients.Evans C, Richardson PH. Improved recovery and reduced postoperative stay after therapeutic suggestions during general anaesthesia . Lancet. 1988;2: 491-493.

“Since 1992, we have used hypnosis routinely in more than 1400 patients undergoing surgery. We found that hypnosis used in patients as an adjunct to conscious sedation and local anaesthesia was associated with improved intraoperative patient comfort, and with reduced anxiety, pain, intraoperative requirements for anxiolytic and analgesic drugs, optimal surgical conditions and a faster recovery of the patient.”Hypnosis and its application in surgery Rev Med Liege. 1998 Jul;53(7):414-8 Faymonville ME, Defechereux T, Joris J, Adant JP, Hamoir E, Meurisse M.

Hypnotherapy for Anxiety

Twelve out of 21 patients, including 4 with total loss of scalp hair, presented a significant hair growth. All patients presented a significant decrease in scores for anxiety and depression. Although the exact mechanism of hypnotic interventions has not been elucidated, the authors' results demonstrate that hypnotic interventions may ameliorate the clinical outcome of patients with alopecia and may improve their psychological well-being. Hypnotic approaches for alopecia areata. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2008 Jul;56(3):318-33. Willemsen R, Vanderlinden

Hypnotherapy for Arthritis

Following Hypnotherapy, patients with arthritis achieved significant decreases in pain, anxiety, and depression, and an increases in beta-endorphin-like immunoreactive material. Biochemical correlates of hypnoanalgesia in arthritic pain patients. Domangue, B.B., Margolis, C.G., Lieberman, D. & Kaji, H. (1985). "Biochemical Correlates

Hypnotherapy for Asthma

Decreased rates of hospital admissions, length of stay, and use of corticosteroids were attained with hypnotherapy during the year of study in patients with refractory asthma who served as their own controls.Morrison JB. Chronic asthma and improvement with relaxation induced by hypnotherapy . J R Soc Med. 1988;81:701-704.

Hypnotherapy for Bone Fracture Healing

Harvard Medical School conducted research on the use of hypnosis to enhance healing of bone fractures. Twelve people with a recent bone fracture were divided into two groups. One group received hypnosis and the other group served as control. Both groups received standard orthopaedic treatment. The results showed a faster healing for the hypnosis group. X-rays revealed a notable difference at the edge of the fracture at week 6. The hypnosis group also had better mobility, greater functional ability to descend stairs and used less pain killers. The researchers conclude by saying that "despite a small sample size.... these data suggest that hypnosis may be capable of enhancing both anatomical and functional fracture healing, and that further investigation of hypnosis to accelerate healing is warranted. Ginandes, CS, Rosenthal, DI.1999, "Using hypnosis to accelerate the healing of bone fractures: a randomized controlled pilot study", Therapy Health Medicine, March, 5(2), pp.67-75.

Hypnotherapy for Burns

Clinical trials have shown significant pain relief with hypnosis in patients with burns, many of whom were taught self-hypnosis for pain control.Wakeman JR, Kaplan JZ. An experimental study of hypnosis in painful burns. Am J Clin Hypn. 1978;21:3-12. Patterson DR, Everett JJ, Burns GL, Marvin JA. Hypnosis for the treatment of burn pain . J Consult Clin Psychol. 1992;60:713-717.

Hypnotherapy for Cancer Survival

Patients with metastatic breast cancer benefited from self-hypnosis and from participation in group support. Despite a lack of specific suggestions, the women benefited with significantly less pain and an increased duration of survival.Spiegel D, Bloom JR. Group therapy and hypnosis reduce metastatic breast carcinoma pain. Psychosom Med. 1983;45:333-339.Spiegel D, Bloom JR, Kraemer HC, Gottheil E. Effect of psychosocial treatment on survival of patients with metastatic breast cancer . Lancet. 1989; 2:888-891.

An untapped potential for hypnosis for cancer treatment is the reported ability to alter regional blood flow, which offers the prospect of increasing the delivery of chemotherapy to a tumour or reducing blood flow to it.Clawson TA Jr, Swade RH. The hypnotic control of blood flow and pain: the cure of warts and the potential for the use of hypnosis in the treatment of cancer. Am J Clin Hypn. 1975;17:160-169.

Hypnotherapy for Chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting

Children receiving chemotherapy who were assigned randomly to hypnosis had less anticipatory nausea and vomiting and less vomiting with chemotherapy compared with a control group.Zeltzer LK, Dolgin MJ, LeBaron S, LeBaron C. A randomized, controlled study of behavioral intervention for chemotherapy distress in children with cancer. Pediatrics. 1991;88:34-42.

Hypnotherapy for Childbirth

Pregnant adolescents were assigned randomly to individual sessions of hypnosis or to supportive counselling with the medical staff blinded to their group assignments. At delivery, the hypnosis group had a significant decrease in complications, fewer surgical interventions, and a shorter hospital stay. Additional positive findings not statistically significant were a decreased need for anaesthesia, postpartum analgesia, and infant admissions to the intensive care unit.Martin AA, Schauble PG, Rai SH, Curry RW Jr. The effects of hypnosis on the labor processes and birth outcomes of pregnant adolescents [published correction appears in J Fam Pract. 2001;50:749]. J Fam Pract. 2001;50:441-443.

Hypnosis for Dental Procedures

It has been widely shown that hypnosis is a useful adjunct in dentistry. However, it is unfortunate that hypnosis is not more widely used as it has the potential for making conventional dental management more acceptable and reducing the number of children requiring general anaesthesia.

Hypnotherapy for Depression

In a meta-analysis of hypnosis in the treatment of depression, hypnosis appeared to significantly improve symptoms of depression. Hypnosis appears to be a viable nonpharmacologic intervention for depression.

Twelve out of 21 patients, including 4 with total loss of scalp hair, presented a significant hair growth. All patients presented a significant decrease in scores for anxiety and depression. Although the exact mechanism of hypnotic interventions has not been elucidated, the authors' results demonstrate that hypnotic interventions may ameliorate the clinical outcome of patients with alopecia and may improve their psychological well-being.Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2008 Jul;56(3):318-33. Willemsen R, Vanderlinden

Hypnotherapy for Dermatitis

Hypnosis has been used successfully for dermatologic conditions. Patients with atopic dermatitis noted decreased pruritus, scratching, sleep disturbance, and tension after treatment with hypnosis. In many patients, improvements persisted at follow-up evaluations up to 18 months later.

Hypnotherapy for Dyspepsia

In a study of 126 patients with functional dyspepsia, those treated with hypnosis noted improvement in quality of life and long-term symptoms, fewer physician visits, and less health care spending compared with the group treated with medication.Calvert EL, Houghton LA, Cooper P, Morris J, Whorwell PJ. Longterm improvement in functional dyspepsia using hypnotherapy. Gastroenterology. 2002;123:1778-1785.

Hypnotherapy for Fatigue/Fibromyalgia

Patients with refractory fibromyalgia (mean duration, 8.5 years) who were randomly assigned to receive hypnosis obtained significant improvement compared with those assigned randomly to physical therapy alone. Benefits included improvements in morning fatigue, sleep, muscle pain, overall assessment, and use of pain medications, with results persisting for at least 6 months.Haanen HC, Hoenderdos HT, van Romunde LK, et al. Controlled trial of hypnotherapy in the treatment of refractory fibromyalgia. J Rheumatol. 1991;18:72-75.

Hypnotherapy for Haemophelia

Patients who were assigned to receive hypnosis had a significantly decreased need for transfusions compared with controls.LaBaw W. The use of hypnosis with hemophilia. Psychiatr Med. 1992; 10:89-98.

Hypnotherapy for Headaches

The hypnosis group had a significant reduction in the number, duration, and intensity of headaches. Instruction in self-hypnosis produced significant benefit for tension headaches in other studies including a group of less hypnotizable patients.Kuile MM, Spinhoven P, Linssen AC, Zitman FG, Van Dyck R, Rooijmans HG. Autogenic training and cognitive self-hypnosis for the treatment of recurrent headaches in three different subject groups. Pain. 1994; 58:331-340.

Hypnotherapy for Hypertension

In a study involving 44 patients, the hypnosis group had a significant decrease in blood pressure compared with the control group. At 6 months, the hypnosis group had mean decreases of 13.3 mm Hg systolic and 8.5 mm Hg diastolic below their baseline blood pressures.Friedman H, Taub HA. A six-month follow-up of the use of hypnosis and biofeedback procedures in essential hypertension. Am J Clin Hypn. 1978; 20:184-188.

A trial compared Hypnosis with biofeedback or a combination of both on patients with hypertension. All groups had significant reduction in blood pressure. However, at six-month follow-up only patients receiving Hypnosis had maintained the reduction. Friedman, H. & Taub, H. (1978). "A Six Month Follow-up of the Use of Hypnosis and Biofeedback Procedures in Essential Hypertension." American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 20, 184-188

Hypnotherapy for Impotence

A review of the personal experience and techniques of an experienced practitioner cited an 88% success rate using hypnosis for impotence in almost 3000 patients. Crasilneck HB. Hypnotic techniques for smoking control and psychogenic impotence. Am J Clin Hypn. 1990;32:147-153.

Hypnotherapy for Infertility

A research team from Israel found that 28% of women in a group of 185 who were hypnotised became pregnant, compared with just 14% of those who were not.Ryan, C. BBC News Online. 29th June 2004.

Hypnotherapy for Insomnia

Patients with refractory fibromyalgia (mean duration, 8.5 years) who were randomly assigned to receive hypnosis obtained significant improvement compared with those assigned randomly to physical therapy alone. Benefits included improvements in morning fatigue, sleep, muscle pain, overall assessment, and use of pain medications, with results persisting for at least 6 months.Haanen HC, Hoenderdos HT, van Romunde LK, et al. Controlled trial of hypnotherapy in the treatment of refractory fibromyalgia. J Rheumatol. 1991;18:72-75.

Hypnotherapy for Incontinence

50 women served as their own controls. At 1 month, 58% were symptom-free and another 28% were improved, with cystometric testing at 3 months objectively confirming the benefits.Freeman RM, Baxby K. Hypnotherapy for incontinence caused by the unstable detrusor. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1982;284:1831-1834.

Hypnotherapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

A 1984 study in England showed significant benefits from hypnosis. Thirty patients with refractory IBS and severe symptoms were randomly assigned to 7 individual sessions of hypnotherapy or psychotherapy plus placebo pills. Although the psychotherapy group showed a small but significant improvement in some characteristics, all patients in the hypnosis group had significant improvements in well-being, bowel habits, distension symptoms, and pain, with no re-lapses at 3-month follow-up. Whorwell PJ, Prior A, Faragher EB. Controlled trial of hypnotherapy in the treatment of severe refractory irritable-bowel syndrome. Lancet. 1984; 2:1232-1234.

Long term (18 months) follow up on 50 patients at the University Hospital of South Manchester showed a response rate of 95% in cases of classical cases of IBS, 43% in atypical cases and 60% in patients with significant psychopathology. Patients over age 50 responded poorly (25% success), but patients below age 50 with classical symptoms had a 100% success rate. Whorell PJ, Prior A. Gut, 1987, 28, 423-425

Hypnotherapy for Migraine Headache

Hypnosis was compared with propranolol use for children with migraine headaches in a prospective, randomized, controlled, crossover trial. Patients taught self-hypnosis had a decreased frequency of headaches.Olness K, MacDonald JT, Uden DL. Comparison of self-hypnosis and propranolol in the treatment of juvenile classic migraine. Pediatrics. 1987;79: 593-597.

Hypnotherapy for Pain

This paper quotes extensively from historical examples of the use of hypnosis as the sole anesthesia for major surgeries in the 1800's. These historic examples by themselves provide powerful documentation of the ability of the mind to influence the body, but they are then followed by a review of contemporary literature and controlled research on the use in hypnosis in relation to surgery and prior to medical procedures.Hammond DC; Am J Clin Hypn. 2008 Oct;51(2):101-21. Hypnosis as sole anesthesia for major surgeries : historical & contemporary perspectives.

A National Institutes of Health panel issued a statement published by the AMA in 1996 indicating that there was “strong evidence for the use of hypnosis in alleviating pain associated with cancer ". NIH Technology Assessment Panel on Integration of Behavioural and Relaxation Approaches into the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Insomnia.
Integration of behavioural and relaxation approaches into the treatment of chronic pain and insomnia.JAMA. 1996;276:313-318.

"Hypnotic analgesia is real, no less palpable an analgesic than medication, although the pathways are different and do not seem to involve endogenous opiates. Rather, hypnosis seems to involve brain activation via dopamine pathways. Thus, it is not surprising that hypnosis, which mobilizes attention pathways in the brain, can be used effectively to reduce pain perception and attendant anxiety." Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Volume 99, Issue 17, 1280-1281

The researchers found that volunteers under hypnosis experienced significant pain reduction in response to painful heat. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), they found a distinctly different pattern of brain activity compared to when they were not hypnotised and experienced the painful heat. The changes in the brain activity suggest that hypnosis somehow blocks the pain signal from getting to the parts of the brain that perceive pain.November 2004 issue of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine. University of Iowa Health Science Relations, 5135 Westlawn, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1178

Hypnotherapy for Pain/Neuropathic

In a randomized, double-blind (for the use of naloxone) crossover study, patients with neuropathic pain were taught self-hypnosis. Considerable relief from pain was achieved by hypnosis, and this relief was not reversed by administration of naloxone.Spiegel D, Albert LH. Naloxone fails to reverse hypnotic alleviation of chronic pain. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1983;81:140-143.

Pain/Comparison with other treatments

Twenty volunteers were evaluated for the level of pain caused by 2 different experimentally induced methods and were treated subsequently with hypnosis, acupuncture, medication, or placebo. Hypnosis with direct suggestions for pain relief produced significant pain relief compared with placebo and gave the best results of all the treatments.Stern JA, Brown M, Ulett GA, Sletten I. A comparison of hypnosis, acupuncture, morphine, valium, aspirin, and placebo in the management of experimentally induced pain. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1977;296:175-193.

Hypnotherapy for Peptic Ulcer Disease

Thirty patients with recurrent peptic ulcer disease were treated with ranitidine and were assigned randomly to receive hypnosis or ranitidine alone, initiated after healing was documented by esophagogastroduodenoscopy. During 12 months of monitoring, significantly fewer patients in the hypnosis group (53%) experienced relapse compared with 100% of patients in the ranitidine-only group.Colgan SM, Faragher EB, Whorwell PJ. Controlled trial of hypnotherapy in relapse prevention of duodenal ulceration. Lancet. 1988;1:1299-1300.

Hypnotherapy for Tinnitus

Patients with chronic tinnitus treated with hypnosis improved significantly in 7 of 10 disturbing symptoms compared with a group treated with masking techniques or supportive measures.Attias J, Shemesh Z, Sohmer H, Gold S, Shoham C, Faraggi D. Comparison between self-hypnosis, masking and attentiveness for alleviation of chronic tinnitus. Audiology. 1993;32:205-212.