Hypnosis is a natural state that we experience daily through daydreaming or zoning out. By harnessing this state, hypnosis provides helpful direction to support specific goals, leading to relaxation, improved immune response, and enhanced circulation that promotes rapid healing.
The Historical Context of Surgical Hypnosis
In the mid-1840s, pioneers like John Elliotson and James Esdaile began using hypnosis asMichael Emery
Michael J. Emery an anesthetic with impressive results, reducing mortality rates from 40% to 5%. Despite their success, hypnosis was overshadowed by the advent of chemical anesthetics. However, the practice has since regained recognition for its therapeutic potential.
Key Factors for Successful Hypnotic Outcomes
The success of hypnosis hinges on three factors:
- The client’s openness to relaxation techniques.
- Their motivation to make positive changes.
- The hypnotist’s skill in offering supportive suggestions and imagery.
A trusting and cooperative relationship between the client and hypnotist is crucial for achieving positive results.
The Role of Hypnosis in Modern Medicine
Dr. Elvira Lang, a Harvard University teacher and Director of Interventional Radiology at Beth Israel Deaconess in Boston, MA, has been a strong advocate for surgical hypnosis. Her research involving 241 patients undergoing invasive procedures showed that hypnosis significantly reduced pain and anxiety while improving hemodynamic stability Elvira V Lang et al., The Lancet, 2000.
Additional studies have found that: