Hypnotherapy is a gentle therapeutic technique that can work alongside medical treatment to reduce pain, anxiety and promote recovery. This can help with a wide range of issues including:
- Anxiety related to operative procedures: Lang et al (1996) studied thirty surgical patients undergoing painful procedures were randomised into control or hypnosis groups. In the hypnotherapy group when painful stimuli were imminent, competing suggestions of fullness, numbness, coolness or warmth were suggested. Results showed seven times less clinician administered drugs and significantly less pain medication in the hypnosis group.
- Hypnotherapy is a medically approved treatment for IBS (abdominal pain, distension, constipation, and a feeling of needing to evacuate the bowels)*. Professor Whorwell (2003) studied 204 patients over six years. In a baseline and post-treatment questionnaire patients self-evaluated quality of life, levels of anxiety and depression. Results showed that 71% responded to this treatment (81% of which continued to experience improvement after treatment had concluded).
*https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg61/chapter/1-Recommendations#psychological-interventions