Written by Patrick Massey, M.D., Ph.D. Hypnosis has been shown to help reduce the intensity and duration of migraine headaches, fibromyalgia pain and even back pain.
Pain is perceived in the mind and if the mind can be “redirected,” pain can decrease. There are many ways to redirect the mind, but one of the oldest is hypnosis.
Over the past 100-plus years, medical research has shown that hypnosis can reduce the perception of pain for a number of acute and chronic conditions.
The history of hypnosis probably spans thousands of years. It was made popular in the late 1800s by a Viennese physician, Franz Mesmer. He became famous in Europe for his demonstrations of hypnosis.
He suggested that a hypnotist could control a subject because of an invisible force wielded by the hypnotist. That is where the word “mesmerize” comes from. While his idea made for good entertainment, it is not true and has hampered medical research ever since.
Under hypnosis, a person cannot be compelled to do anything he or she ordinarily would not do. The hypnotic state is believed to be a super-focused mental state. In that state, a patient can exert a level of control over many bodily functions that are not easily controlled consciously. The hypnotist simply focuses the patient’s attention onto a specific problem.
Some people are easily hypnotized; some aren’t. People who easily are hypnotized have a better response to the treatment.
Hypnosis might benefit patients about to undergo surgery. Patients use less pain medication, recover from anesthesia faster and have shorter hospital stays. In addition, there is some indication that hypnotic suggestion significantly reduces blood loss during surgery. It also can accelerate healing after surgery.
Labor and delivery can be less painful and traumatic with hypnosis. In addition, one study showed that women who used hypnosis during labor had fewer complications and healthier babies.
Hypnosis might help reduce the intensity and duration of migraine headaches, fibromyalgia pain and even back pain.
Hypnosis is not the same as common relaxation techniques. It does not cause a release of natural painkillers – endorphins – like acupuncture does. It is not a placebo.
Studies have shown that it specifically activates parts of the brain associated with focused mental activity. During pain, the left part of the brain is activated or becomes dominant. During hypnotic analgesia, the right side of the brain becomes dominant. Some researchers have suggested that those who are easily hypnotized have a greater ability to shift from left-brain dominance to right-brain dominance. But it is not that simple.
Interestingly, under hypnosis, there appears to be reduction in pain perception even at the spinal cord level, suggesting an undiscovered level of communication and control of the body by the brain.
Hypnosis is not a cure-all but, for some people, it might be beneficial. An experienced physician or psychologist should do hypnotism for any medical condition. It is not a procedure that yields lasting results with one or two sessions. However, patients can be trained in self-hypnosis.
I have recommended hypnosis for a number of my patients with chronic pain, and I’ve seen the good results.
