Hypnosis has been buried under decades of myth, misconception and manipulation. It has been one of the most misunderstood of the complimentary sciences. Over the years, the accumulation of positive scientific research has become too great to ignore. Here is a list of some of the hypnosis research organizations which have been shining a bright light on its clinical values:
American Society of Clinical Hypnosis
Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis
International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis
American Psychological Association
Hypnosis is now consistently validated as one of the leading therapeutic tools for personal positive change. Today’s practicing hypnotists have benefited from all of the dedicated research by these fine organizations.
Knowledge is power for the practitioners and clients alike. Research certainly helps me better understand the science of hypnosis, which in turn helps me prepare and treat my clients. Informed individuals have a good idea of what hypnosis is and how to productively use it are more likely to experience their desired success.
By: Paul Gustafson RN CH
As National Barbecue Month comes to an end, the official start of barbecue season kicks off with this Memorial Day Weekend’s festivities. These summer months will have you eating outside for plenty of reasons including family picnics, birthday parties, and outdoor festivals. All this means the simplicity of counting calories gets a little harder. Because you’re generally not the one cooking or controlling the menu, you’ll need a little help keeping track at these events. Below is a rundown of what you may encounter at a BBQ.
A Day’s Worth of Fat
That traditional
bratwurst is calling your name, but saying yes to it will pack on the fat grams to the tune of 25. If you go for two, you’re almost at a day’s worth of fat and almost 600 calories not even counting the bun. If a
chicken or turkey bratwurst is available, choose that. Bring a pack to the party to add to the grill if you’re unsure if it’s an option. That will save you 20 grams of fat and a third of the calories per dog. Even a hot dog or hamburger has about half the fat of a pork bratwurst.
A Day’s Worth of Added Sugar
Cookouts are a prime location for sugary beverages. Aside from the 20 oz. bottle of soda, which packs about 240 calories, you may have that highly desirable cup of lemonade. Both pack about 70 grams of added sugar. That’s a day’s worth of added sugar for most people. Drinking watered down lemonade takes all the fun out of the experience, but who says you have to fill your cup to enjoy the taste. Bring a few packs of club soda instead and add fresh fruit to it. Pieces of strawberries or watermelon are a fun surprise for the sweet taste you crave in a cold beverage in the summer months. A splash of apple or cranberry juice can get your taste buds going as well. Dress it up in a nice cocktail glass for a visual treat.
Stay Full Foods
Now for the good part (nutritionally speaking). Barbecues are the perfect place to have foods that will keep you satisfied. With high protein meats a central part of the menu, and side dishes that scream fiber, you can choose foods that will stick to your ribs as my Mom would say. A couple wedges of
watermelon has a couple grams of fiber and a high water content that will help fill you up. An ear of corn has a couple more grams of fiber. A side of broccoli
coleslaw nets you four more grams of fiber and you’re feeling pretty good on the hunger front. Add a half a
chicken breast, with 26 grams of protein and you should make it through the barbecue without the need for a second or third plate.
Missing Gems
If your family is known for not grilling fruits and vegetables to go with all that meat, be the one that steps up. Pineapples, tomatoes, zucchini, asparagus, artichokes and so many more can really add a nutritious flair. Some well placed seafood on the grill, like shrimp, salmon, halibut, or tilapia, can be another way for you to save calories without sacrificing the fun and flavor of barbecue foods.
By: carolyn_r
Although hypnosis has been shown to reduce pain perception, it is not clear how the technique works. Identifying a sound, scientific explanation for hypnosis’ effect might increase acceptance and use of this safe pain-reduction option in clinical settings.
Researchers at the University of Iowa Roy J.and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine and the Technical University of Aachen, Germany, used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to find out if hypnosis alters brain activity in a way that might explain pain reduction. The results are reported in the November-December 2004 issue of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine.
The researchers found that volunteers under hypnosis experienced significant pain reduction in response to painful heat. They also had a distinctly different pattern of brain activity compared to when they were not hypnotized and experienced the painful heat. The changes in brain activity suggest that hypnosis somehow blocks the pain signal from getting to the parts of the brain that perceive pain.
“The major finding from our study, which used fMRI for the first time to investigate brain activity under hypnosis for pain suppression, is that we see reduced activity in areas of the pain network and increased activity in other areas of the brain under hypnosis,” said Sebastian Schulz-Stubner, M.D., Ph.D., UI assistant professor (clinical) of anesthesia and first author of the study. “The increased activity might be specific for hypnosis or might be non-specific, but it definitely does something to reduce the pain signal input into the cortical structure.”
The pain network functions like a relay system with an input pain signal from a peripheral nerve going to the spinal cord where the information is processed and passed on to the brain stem. From there the signal goes to the mid-brain region and finally into the cortical brain region that deals with conscious perception of external stimuli like pain.
Processing of the pain signal through the lower parts of the pain network looked the same in the brain images for both hypnotized and non-hypnotized trials, but activity in the top level of the network, which would be responsible for “feeling” the pain, was reduced under hypnosis.
Initially, 12 volunteers at the Technical University of Aachen had a heating device placed on their skin to determine the temperature that each volunteer considered painful (8 out of 10 on a 0 to 10 pain scale). The volunteers were then split into two groups. One group was hypnotized, placed in the fMRI machine and their brain activity scanned while the painful thermal stimuli was applied.
Then the hypnotic state was broken and a second fMRI scan was performed without hypnosis while the same painful heat was again applied to the volunteer’s skin. The second group underwent their first fMRI scan without hypnosis followed by a second scan under hypnosis.
Hypnosis was successful in reducing pain perception for all 12 participants. Hypnotized volunteers reported either no pain or significantly reduced pain (less than 3 on the 0-10 pain scale) in response to the painful heat.
Under hypnosis, fMRI showed that brain activity was reduced in areas of the pain network, including the primary sensory cortex, which is responsible for pain perception. The imaging studies also showed increased activation in two other brain structures — the left anterior cingulate cortex and the basal ganglia.
The researchers speculate that increased activity in these two regions may be part of an inhibition pathway that blocks the pain signal from reaching the higher cortical structures responsible for pain perception. However, Schulz-Stubner noted that more detailed fMRI images are needed to definitively identify the exact areas involved in hypnosis-induced pain reduction, and he hoped that the newer generation of fMRI machines would be capable of providing more answers.
“Imaging studies like this one improve our understanding of what might be going on and help researchers ask even more specific questions aimed at identifying the underlying mechanism,” Schulz-Stubner said. “It is one piece of the puzzle that moves us a little closer to a final answer for how hypnosis really works.
“More practically, for clinical use, it helps to dispel prejudice about hypnosis as a technique to manage pain because we can show an objective, measurable change in brain activity linked to a reduced perception of pain,” he added.
In addition to Schulz-Stubner, the research team included Timo Krings, M.D., Ingo Meister, M.D., Stefen Rex, M.D., Armin Thron, M.D., Ph.D. and Rolf Rossaint, M.D., Ph.D., from the Technical University of Aachen, Germany.
University of Iowa Health Caredescribes the partnership between the UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine and UI Hospitals and Clinics and the patient care, medical education and research programs and services they provide. Visit UI Health Care online at www.uihealthcare.com.
STORY SOURCE:University of Iowa Health Science Relations, 5135 Westlawn,Iowa City,Iowa52242-1178
The June 2004 issue of Time magazine devoted an entire issue to the subject of obesity. One study reported that the children of today believe that fast food is healthier than home-cooked meals and another stated that today’s youth is predicted to have a shorter life expectancy than that of their parents for the first time in American history.
A recent study reported medical spending due to overweight and obesity to be as much as $92.6 billion in 2002 dollars or 9% ofU.S.health expenditures. (Finkelstein EA 2003) Another study reported how, in the last 30 years, obesity has dramatically increased for adults and children. The prevalence of obesity in adults 20 to 74 years of age from 1976-1980 increased from 15% to 33% in the 2003–2004 survey. (cdc.gov)
I conduct more weight loss hypnosis sessions than any other course of treatment. Obesity-related patterns like poor nutrition, sedentary living and emotional eating become problematic with repetition. Over time, unhealthy patterns become rooted in the subconscious mind and, as a result, individuals feel powerless to change. Like a computer hard drive, the subconscious stores whatever information it is given.
Unfortunately, the traditional response to obesity is dieting, a conscious-level solution to a subconscious-level problem. The multi-billion dollar dieting industry focuses on the weight rather than on the pattern. An analogy would be if a physician only treated the cough, rather than prescribing antibiotics for the infection, which caused the cough.
My approach with weight-challenged clients is to help them change their goal from losing weight to living well. During hypnosis the subconscious mind can be directed in two very positive empowering ways: to release unhealthy patterns, and to begin focusing on the life they want. When clients release the unproductive past, they begin to see and feel a new healthier, fitter version of self.
Hypnosis melts away the struggle, making it easier to move forward. I help weight loss clients create a linear connection between where they are now and where they want to go in life. With all the frustration and failure removed from the equation, thoughts and images of freedom and success begin to take shape, and by routinely repeating this process, they train their brain to initiate whatever healthy changes need to be made, to succeed.
My hypnosis sessions enhance the desire to be fit for life. They empower individuals to sever the connections to emotional eating, and pull past healthier patterns forward in time. They also help individuals make a positive connection to exercise and a more active lifestyle.
By routinely listening to home reinforcement CDs, individuals become proficient imagining what their ultimate goal means to them. These powerful images influence their actions, supporting new positive values and beliefs. If your overall goal is to live well then the weight takes care of itself.
I also ask clients to limit weighing themselves to once a month. We live in an extremely polarized, pass/fail society. Frequent weigh-ins can result in disappointment because of unrealistic expectations as to how much and how quickly weight loss should occur. By focusing more on how they feel about their plan, and how loosely their clothes fit, they will remain more centered and directed too long term success. It takes a long time to accumulate excess weight, so it should take a period of time to become healthfully free of it.
By: Paul Gustafson RN CH
Every time someone goes into hypnosis they have the opportunity of disconnecting and becoming free of past struggles, worries and concerns. It amazes me how quickly most clients experience the positive change they’re looking for.
What also surprises me is how most of the clients I see have absolutely no experience with hypnosis but still manage to succeed with their goals. They routinely have an expression of wonder at the conclusion of their first session. They look around the room trying to figure out what is different until they realize their perspective is what has changed.
This feeling of positive change becomes rooted with repetition. By pressing play once a day their inner thoughts become conditioned to stay on course with success. This process of repetition also creates unexpected freedom, clarity, and relief in areas of their life completely unrelated to the problem than one fix.
By: Paul Gustafson RN CH
