Health and Healing through the Mind/Body Connection

Since 1958, hypnosis has been recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) and the British Medical Association as a legitimate treatment modality for a wide range of medical and behavioral issues. Even the National Institute of Health (NIH) recognizes hypnosis as a pain management technique. Harvard Medical School has found hypnosis to be useful in pre and post surgery anxiety and recovery. Hypnosis is commonly used at the Mayo Clinic’s Complimentary and Alternative Center for various medical issues. Dr. Mehmet Oz, Cardiac Surgeon at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City uses hypnosis routinely with his patients. Dr. Andrew Weil frequently refers patients to Hypnotherapists because he has seen it produce excellent results in many illnesses.

Hypnosis is not a substitute for medical treatment, but it can assist in how an individual manages their illness, perceives their condition, and compliments the healing process.

Hypnosis has been proven to be very effective in helping people to break self-sabotaging habits such as over-eating, smoking, and prolonged stress. With Hypnosis, you can replace limiting decisions and behaviors with new attitudes and actions that promote desired results and success. The Hypnotherapist teaches and guides the individual using tools and techniques that reinforce success even after the session is complete.

In a Hypnosis session, you are awake and completely in control.  You hear every word on the conscious and the unconscious level. When you emerge from Hypnosis, you feel energized and ready to begin making serious behavioral changes. Hypnosis is said to be an accelerated process of learning, and it is no different than doing meditation or guided imagery to bring peacefulness, calmness and awareness to the individual.

In Working With Sandra, Other Treatments May Include:

Acupressure
Cleansing and Detoxification of the Body
Essential Oils
Naturopathy
Kinesiology
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
Energy Medicine
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

Hypnotherapy for Specific Medical Conditions:

Listed are some of the specific medical conditions, illnesses and system disorders that hypnotherapy can assist with in the healing process.

Weight Release Smoking Cessation Stress Management Pain Management Diabetes Auto-Immune Disorders Allergic Disorders Ulcerative Colitis Cancer

Crohn’s Disease Menopause Irritable Bowel Syndrome Tension Headaches Migraines Rheumatoid Arthritis Chronic Fatigue Fibromyalgia Skin Disorders

Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Disorders High Blood Pressure or Hypertension Coronary Artery Disease Asthma Degenerative Neurological Disorders

Hypnotherapy for Medical Procedures:

PRE-OPERATIVE SURGERY -  Many hospitals are now using hypnosis before surgery as a way to relax the patient and have found that a more relaxed patient takes less anesthetic, heals faster, and needs less pain medication after surgery.  In April 2000, the edition of the Lancet, Dr. Elvira Lang of Harvard University published her study of clinical trials using hypnosis before surgery.  People who had been hypnotized prior to surgery needed less pain medication, left the operating room sooner, and had more stable vital signs during their operation.

INTRA-OPERATIVE SURGERY -  All this takes is a CD player or an IPOD with non-obtrusive earphones, and a cooperative and open-minded anesthesiologist!

A growing number of clinicians and researchers are reporting instances of patients recalling events that occurred during surgery and deep anesthesia.  “This phenomenon called, Anesthesia Awareness, implies that even though the perception of pain may be absent, portions of mental function remain active and enough so that memory traces persist (Wilson 1969).”  Therefore, it can be a benefit to influence a successful procedure as it is taking place as well to quicken recovery time, blood pressure stabilization and a relaxed state.

POST-OPERATIVE -   In the recovery room, hypnosis can be utilized to speed healing and diminish pain.  It has been documented that relaxed mental processes may accelerate tissue repair (Holden-Lund, 1988).  Therefore, swelling and inflammation may resolve more quickly with modification of accompanying pain.

OTHER MEDICAL PROCEDURES INCLUDE:

Intensive Care Unit or Rehabilitation
MRI’S (claustrophobia)
I.V.’s, Blood Draws and Needles
Burn Patients
Other Emergency Situations

HYPNOSIS FOR DENTISTRY : “HYPNODONTICS”

Hypnosis for dentistry is sometimes called “hypnodontics”.  Aaron Moss, D.D.S in the early 1950’s, coined this phrase to be used for patients who could be helped with effective yet safe and natural health care as an alternative to chemical anesthesia.  Visualization and guided imagery is useful and effective in alleviating those unpleasant experiences that are associated with visiting the dentist and is helpful for patients who experience dental anxiety.

The first objective is to alleviate fear, tension and anxiety of the dental visit.  The second objective is to help the patient relax so as to require less anesthesia.

Indications for “hypnodontics” are varied:

I hope this helps you to understand the many ways that Medical Hypnotherapy can complement your medical or psychological treatment.

It would be a pleasure to assist you in your healing journey to abundant health.