Information for Physicians, Dentists, Chiropractors, Healthcare Providers

W hen you refer your patients to us, they benefit from the effects that hypnosis has been proven to provide in thousands of medical journal articles for relief of chronic pain and other conditions. We provide just a quick sampling of some research below...

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Recent Medical Research

Training in the use of self-hypnosis might be considered a viable 'first-line' approach to treat chronic pain

Nature Reviews Neurology 10, 167-178 (2014)

Integrative Pain Management
by Robert A. Bonakdar and Andrew W. Sukiennik

"Based on published trials, hypnosis has been shown to be effective for treating numerous chronic pain conditions. For example, findings indicate that approximately 70% of individuals with chronic pain are able to experience short-term reductions in pain intensity during a treatment session or hypnosis practice"
Hypnotherapy for the Management of Chronic Pain.
Elkins G, Jensen MP, Patterson DR. The International journal of clinical and experimental hypnosis. 2007;55(3):275-287.

"The findings indicate that hypnosis interventions consistently produce significant decreases in pain associated with a variety of chronic-pain problems. Also, hypnosis was generally found to be more effective than nonhypnotic interventions such as attention, physical therapy, and education."
Review of the Efficacy of Clinical Hypnosis with Headaches and Migraines
D. Corydon Hammond. The International journal of clinical and experimental hypnosis. 2007;55:207-219.

"The 12-member National Institute of Health Technology Assessment Panel... reviewed outcome studies on hypnosis with cancer pain and concluded that research evidence was strong and that other evidence suggested hypnosis may be effective with some chronic pain, including tension headaches... concluding that it meets the clinical psychology research criteria for being a well-established and efficacious treatment and is virtually free of the side effects, risks of adverse reactions, and ongoing expense associated with medication treatments."
Hypnosis in the Treatment of Migraine
C. H. Harding
Conference paper. pp 131-134

"Briefly the first appointment was devoted to teaching the patient to respond to hypnosis. The remaining 3-6 appointments of 30 minutes each concentrated on multiple and varied suggestions regarding relief. Of the 90 cases treated, 74 (or 80%) responded to inquiry regarding the results at periods ranging from 6 months to 8 years after treatment. Of the respondents, 34 patients (or 38%) reported complete relief for periods of up to 8 years. Of this group, 4 experienced recurrence at from 3 months to one year after therapy. Sixteen patients reported 75% relief. Most of these reports indicated a reduction in frequency, but some indicated only a reduction in the severity or duration of attacks... Nine reported 50% relief, while 4 reported 25% relief."
Hypnosis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Review of Efficacy and Mechanism of Action
Gabriel Tan PhD , D. Corydon Hammond & Joseph Gurrala
American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis Vol. 47, Iss. 3,2005 Pages 161-178 | Published online: 21 Sep 2011

"We concluded that hypnosis consistently produces significant results and improves the cardinal symptoms of IBS in the majority of patients, as well as positively affecting non-colonic symptoms. When evaluated according to the efficacy guidelines of the Clinical Psychology Division of American Psychological Association, the use of hypnosis with IBS qualifies for the highest level of acceptance as being both efficacious and specific."
Use of Hypnosis in the Treatment of Pain
Jin-Seong Lee, MD, and Young Don Pyun, MD
Department of Psychiatry, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea.
Korean J Pain. 2012 Apr;25(2):75-80. English.

"Hypnosis not only has analgesic effects in acute pain, but it also serves to relieve chronic pain such as fibromyalgia, cancer pains, and headaches."
Can Medical Hypnosis Accelerate Post-Surgical Wound Healing? Results of a Clinical Trial
Carol Ginandes Ph.D., Patricia Brooks, William Sando, Christopher Jones & John Aker
American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis Vol. 45, Iss. 4,2011
Pages 333-351 Published online: 21 Sep 2011

"In this randomized controlled trial, we compared the relative efficacy of an adjunctive hypnotic intervention, supportive attention, and usual care only on early post-surgical wound healing. Eighteen healthy women presenting consecutively for medically recommended reduction mammaplasty at an ambulatory surgery practice underwent the same surgical protocol and postoperative care following preoperative randomization (n = 6 each) to one of the three treatment conditions: usual care, 8 adjunctive supportive attention sessions, or 8 adjunctive hypnosis sessions targeting accelerated wound healing."

"Analysis of variance showed the hypnosis group's objectively observed wound healing to be significantly greater than the other two groups', p < .001, through 7 postoperative weeks; standard care controls showed the smallest degree of healing. In addition, at both the 1 and 7 week post-surgical observation intervals, one-way analyses showed the hypnosis group to be significantly more healed than the usual care controls, p <0. 02. The mean scores of the subjective assessments of postoperative pain, incision healing and functional recovery trended similarly."

"Results of this preliminary trial indicate that use of a targeted hypnotic intervention can accelerate postoperative wound healing and suggest that further tests of using hypnosis to augment physical healing are warranted."
Suggestion, Relaxation, and Hypnosis as Adjuncts in the Care of Surgery Patients: A Review of the Literature
Robert P. Blankfield M.D.
American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis Vol. 33, Iss. 3,1991
Pages 172-186 | Received 20 Oct 1989, Accepted 04 Oct 1990, Published online: 21 Sep 2011

"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."
A meta-analysis of hypnotically induced analgesia: How effective is hypnosis?
Guy H. Montgomery, Katherine N. Duhamel & William H. Redd
International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis Vol. 48, Iss. 2,2000
Pages 138-153; Published Online 31 Jan 2008

"This study examines the effectiveness of hypnosis in pain management, compares studies that evaluated hypnotic pain reduction in healthy volunteers vs. those using patient samples, compares hypnoanalgesic effects and participants' hypnotic suggestibility, and determines the effectiveness of hypnotic suggestion for pain relief relative to other nonhypnotic psychological interventions. Meta-analysis of 18 studies revealed a moderate to large hypnoanalgesic effect, supporting the efficacy of hypnotic techniques for pain management. The results also indicated that hypnotic suggestion was equally effective in reducing both clinical and experimental pain. The overall results suggest broader application of hypnoanalgesic techniques with pain patients."
Hypnorelaxation as treatment for myofascial pain disorder: A comparative study
Ephraim Winocur, DMD, Anat Gavish, DMD, Alona Emodi-Perlman, DMD, Michele Halachmi, DMD, Ilana Eli, DMD
Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, April 2002, Vol 93, Issue 4
Pages 429-434

"The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of hypnorelaxation in the treatment of MPD compared with the use of occlusal appliance and/or to minimal treatment."

"The study population consisted of 40 female patients with myofascial pain who were allocated to 1 of 3 possible treatment groups: (1) hypnorelaxation (n = 15), (2) occlusal appliance (n = 15), and (3) minimal treatment group (n = 10). "

"Results: Both active treatment modes (hypnorelaxation and occlusal appliance) were more effective than minimal treatment regarding alleviating muscular sensitivity to palpation. However, only hypnorelaxation (but not occlusal appliance) was significantly more effective than minimal treatment with regard to the patient's subjective report of pain on the Visual Analog Scale."
Hypnosis Reduces Preoperative Anxiety in Adult Patients
Saadat, Haleh MD; Drummond-Lewis, Jacqueline MD; Maranets, Inna MD; Kaplan, Deborah; Saadat, Anusha; Wang, Shu-Ming MD; Kain, Zeev N. MD
Anesthesia & Analgesia: May 2006 - Volume 102 - Issue 5 - pp 1394-1396
Pages 138-153; Published Online 31 Jan 2008

"We found that patients in the hypnosis group were significantly less anxious postintervention as compared with patients in the attention-control group and the control group (31 ± 8 versus 37 ± 9 versus 41 ± 11, analysis of variance, P = 0.008). Moreover, on entrance to the operating rooms, the hypnosis group reported a significant decrease of 56% in their anxiety level whereas the attention-control group reported an increase of 10% in anxiety and the control group reported an increase of 47% in their anxiety (P = 0.001). In conclusion, we found that hypnosis significantly alleviates preoperative anxiety."
Premedication in children: hypnosis versus midazolam
CALIPEL, S., LUCAS-POLOMENI, M.-M., WODEY, E. and ECOFFEY, C.
Pediatric Anesthesia, 15: 275–281 (2005)

"Hypnosis seems effective as premedication in children scheduled for surgery. It alleviates preoperative anxiety, especially during induction of anesthesia and reduces behavioral disorders during the first postoperative week."
Hypnosis in the Control of Chronic Low Back Pain
Harold B. Crasilneck Ph.D.
American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, Vol 22, 1979 - Issue 2
Pages 71-78, Published Online 22 Sep 2011

"Twenty-nine patients were referred because of low back pain. Five were excluded on psychological grounds because they were highly masochistic, extremely depressed, or manifested a low frustration tolerance. Of the 24 in the treatment group, 18 of the patients had surgery two or more times, and six one time. In each case low back pain returned within three to six months after surgery. Twenty of the patients were addicted to or excessively dependent on medications including acetaminophen, secobarbital, codeine phosphate, oxycodone hydrochloride, and morphine sulphate. Common factors among the patients included (1) consistent pain which was primarily organic in origin, (2) analgesic dependence, (3) insomnia, (4) reactive depression, (5) excessive interpersonal dependence, and (6) a fear of becoming a lifelong “backache cripple.”"

"Twenty patients responded positively; four patients failed to respond to the repeated hypnotic induction techniques and were considered failures. Sixteen reported an average of 80% relief during the first four sessions, and all 20 patients reported an average of 70% relief (based on verbal estimates by patients) by the sixth session. Fifteen voluntarily discontinued medication by the third week of therapy, and the rest were withdrawn by their physicians during the ensuing four weeks."

"Most patients were seen daily the first week, three times the second week, twice the third week, and thereafter as necessary. The mean number of out-patient sessions was 31 over an average of nine months. All patients were taught self-hypnosis."

"None of the individuals retained their addiction, and only occasionally did they require analgesics. Patients were seen by their referring physicians as needed during the course of hypnotherapy, and frequent consultations between the therapists created a combination of treatments best suited for each patient. It is concluded that hypnosis may be utilized maximally as an important adjunct to other therapeutic methods in the treatment of low back pain."
A randomized controlled trial of hypnosis compared with biofeedback for adults with chronic low back pain
G. Tan, D.H. Rintala, M.P. Jensen, T. Fukui, D. Smith, W. Williams
European Journal of Pain, February 2015, Vol 19, Issue 2
Pages 271-280, First published 17 June 2014

"One hundred veterans with CLBP participated in a randomized, four-group design study. The groups were (1) an eight-session self-hypnosis training intervention without audio recordings for home practice; (2) an eight-session self-hypnosis training intervention with recordings; (3) a two-session self-hypnosis training intervention with recordings and brief weekly reminder telephone calls; and (4) an eight-session active (biofeedback) control intervention."

"Participants in all four groups reported significant pre- to post-treatment improvements in pain intensity, pain interference and sleep quality. The hypnosis groups combined reported significantly more pain intensity reduction than the control group. There was no significant difference among the three hypnosis conditions. Over half of the participants who received hypnosis reported clinically meaningful (=30%) reductions in pain intensity, and they maintained these benefits for at least 6 months after treatment. Neither hypnotizability nor amount of home practice was associated significantly with treatment outcome."

"The findings indicate that two sessions of self-hypnosis training with audio recordings for home practice may be as effective as eight sessions of hypnosis treatment. If replicated in other patient samples, the findings have important implications for the application of hypnosis treatment for chronic pain management."

What our clients say

  • The pain has decreased. I would say from an 8 to 3 or 4. Each day it has slightly been decreasing but the hypnosis has definitely helped...especially when I think about the session the pain will decrease - R.K.
  • Hypnosis helped me turn negatives into positives, manage my pain, and fight to overcome my pancreatic cancer. After the first session, my oncologist said the cancer was reduced 80% and my pain and nausea were gone. After the second session, I was able to start eating again and recover more of my sense of taste. And now I'm on track to be 100% cancer free. Marlo has helped me immensely to keep on fighting for new life. - C.R.
  • As you know, I fractured my pelvis and was in excruciating pain. You taught me how to hypnotize myself before going to bed, and I can report that I had almost miraculous results. I was able to go to sleep and slept through the night for the first time in a long time! - R.M.
  • Remarkable! Initially, I went to normalize my sleeping habits and I have gone from going to sleep at 4 AM to being in bed by 9 PM! In a month, I have felt improvements in almost every area of my life. It's almost like having access to the Genie's Magic Lamp and getting unlimited wishes. - M.J.
  • Since I had my first consultation I noticed great improvement in my sleep issues. I had 3 sessions and the changes were great so I'm having 3 more. I do recommend Human Settings (aka Pain Escape of North Dallas) to all people who want to get better. - P.D.
  • After seeing the dentist several times, a jaw specialist, and an M.D., for intolerable facial nerve pain brought on by stress and jaw tightening, the hypnotist stopped it. After one session I walked out and I have never experienced the pain since. The subconscious mind is a powerful thing and I appreciate the hypnotist for helping me to use it. - K.L.
  • I was limping due to plantar fasciitis on my left foot. I learned how to do self-hypnosis and did it for two nights. On the third day I realized I didn't even notice the pain anymore. It's still there, but I just don't care about it now! - D.M.
  • After years of pain that limited me from physical acitivity, I received one session from Dave and have had no pain in that area and it has been almost 3 months. Very Happy and will continue to receive therapy! - C.G.
  • I was having back and hip pain. After my session with the hypnotist, walking thru the forest, my pain went away. It has stayed away for 2 weeks so far. I just hope it stays in the forest! - M.G.
  • My Bruxism has gone from a 9 to a 3, and my Burning Mouth Syndrome has gone from a 9 to about a 4 or 5 in a month. - T.G.
  • I am sleeping better now. Not as many bad dreams either. - L.B.
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