90.6% Success Rate for Smoking Cessation: Of 43 consecutive patients undergoing this treatment protocol, 39 reported remaining abstinent from tobacco use at follow-up 6 months to 3 years post-treatment. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2001 Jul;49(3):257-66. Barber J.
Hypnosis 30 Times as Effective for Weight Loss: Investigated the effects of hypnosis in weight loss for 60 females, at least 20% overweight. Treatment included group hypnosis with metaphors for ego-strengthening, decision making and motivation, ideomotor exploration in individual hypnosis, and group hypnosis with maintenance suggestions. Hypnosis was more effective than a control group: an average of 17 lbs lost by the hypnosis group vs. an average of 0.5 lbs lost by the control group on follow-up. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54, 489-492.
Hypnosis Reduces Frequency and Intensity of Migraines: Results show that the number of attacks and the number of people who suffered blinding attacks were significantly lower for the group receiving hypnotherapy than for the group receiving medication. International Journal of Clinical & Experimental Hypnosis 1975; 23(1): 48-58.
Hypnosis Reduces Pain and Speeds up Recovery from Surgery: Since 1992, we have used hypnosis routinely in more than 1400 patients undergoing surgery. We found that hypnosis improved intraoperative patient comfort, reduced anxiety, pain, intraoperative requirements for anxiolytic and analgesic drugs, optimal surgical conditions and a faster recovery of the patient. Rev Med Liege. 1998 Jul; 53(7):414-8.
Hypnosis Lowered Post-treatment Pain in Burn Injuries: Patients in the hypnosis group reported less post treatment pain than did patients in the control group. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology 1997; 65(1): 60-7.
Healed 41% faster from fracture and surgery: Two studies from Harvard Medical School show hypnosis significantly reduces the time it takes to heal. Study One: Six weeks after an ankle fracture, those in the hypnosis group showed the equivalent of eight and a half weeks of healing. Study Two: Three groups of people studied after breast reduction surgery. Hypnosis group healed “significantly faster” than supportive attention group and control group. Harvard Medical School Gazette May 8, 2003
In the largest long-term study of hypnotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to date, seven out of 10 patients reported an improvement in symptoms after treatment and four out of five respondents maintained the improvement for years after stopping hypnosis. Those who did not maintain a response to hypnosis only deteriorated slightly.
“We have known that this treatment is effective, but this study confirms that patients can maintain the improvements for many years,” researcher Wendy M. Gonsalkorale, PhD, tells WebMD. “There is growing interest in hypnosis for the treatment of IBS, but too few patients know about it.”
Most Sufferers Are Women
As many as 58 million Americans suffer from the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and four out of five sufferers are women, based on figures from the American College of Gastrointerology.
Typically people with IBS have recurrent symptoms of abdominal pain, distention, and altered bowel movements — diarrhea, constipation, or a combination of both. Because there is no obvious cause for the array of gastrointestinal disturbances experienced by patients and conventional GI treatments often do not work.
It has been almost two decades since British researcher Peter Whorwell and colleagues first reported on the use of hypnotherapy in the treatment of IBS. Since that 
time other small studies have also shown hypnosis to be effective, but this new research, appearing in the latest issue of Gut, is the first to follow a large group of patients for years after treatment.
For the study, Gonsalkorale and Whorwell followed 204 patients for up to six years. Researchers asked patients to score their IBS symptoms, as well as their overall quality of life, and levels of depression and anxiety immediately before hypnotherapy and after the treatment. They also responded to a mailed questionnaire sent at least a year and no more than six years after treatment ended. The hypnotherapy course consisted of 12-weekly, one-hour sessions.
Almost three-quarters of the patients (71%) gave positive reports following hypnotherapy, and 81% said they maintained their improvement over time. The sustained improvements reported by most of the patients could not be attributed to other treatments because fewer than one in 10 used other treatments following hypnotherapy.
“This study demonstrates that the beneficial effects of hypnotherapy appear to last at least five years,” the researchers write. “Thus, it is a viable therapeutic option for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.”
Researcher Olafur S. Palsson, PsyD, who has studied IBS says the number of patients in the new study and the length of follow-up put hypnosis in a favorable light and possibly show it may be the most effective long-term treatment for irritable bowel syndrome. But he says that it is still rarely offered to IBS patients and is not often covered by insurance.
“Hypnotherapy still carries the aura of mystery and magic, and is not really used much for medical conditions in this country,” Palsson says. “It requires special training that clinicians in most medical settings simply do not have. And it is considered more costly than drug therapy because it requires repeated sessions.”
The University of North Carolina researcher says hypnosis may actually be much cheaper than other treatments because the long-term results appear to be so promising.
“There are only a couple of medications approved for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, and it can be expensive to keep patients on these medications long-term,” says Palsson. “For many patients, hypnotherapy is a very cost-effective way of improving outcome.”
By: Salynn Boyles Web MD
My 4 session virtual gastric band weight loss program not only offers a unique option to traditional dieting, but also a very interesting hypnotic application that is as enjoyable as it is effective.
Session one focuses on releasing the past and preparing for healthy change. Nearly all of my weight loss clients have been wrestling with their problem for years. Hypnotic release therapy techniques can be extremely powerful, instantly changing ones perspective from struggle to the anticipation of success.
This session also prepares clients for imaginary surgery, which is session two. They are guided through imaginary pre-op testing such as lab work and x-rays; they also meet with a nutritionist as well as their surgeon. At the conclusion of this session most clients feel liberated and refreshed, as though they finally have a choice.
Session two is the surgery session which includes all the sounds of the operating room. With the benefit of Bose noise cancelling headphones and a digital sound system, clients are guided into deep hypnosis and are then transported through an imaginary procedure making it much easier to lose weight.
The imaginative subconscious mind fills in the details with vivid imagery and sensations of the real thing. In fact, a small percentage of individuals actually experience a slight abdominal twinge lending a sense of realism to the process.
Session three mirrors what occurs after real-life gastric band surgery; clients get their gastric band tightened. This session offers another layer of
personal control which makes it easier for clients to succeed with their weight loss goals. Real-life gastric bands can easily be adjusted with a saline syringe, which is what clients are guided to imagine during hypnosis.
Session four supports enhanced confidence and eagerly seeking out healthy nutritional options. It helps clients become more aware of how they feel while eating so they can conclude mealtime when comfortable not full. It also suggests that mealtime be an uninterrupted endeavor; no texting, twitter, or television.
Most clients are pleasantly surprised by how they are easily able to establish healthy nutritional changes. After years of struggling with dieting, this program offers struggle-free, comfortable change. Clients feel as though they are trading-up to preferred options and activities that support what they want.
by: Paul Gustafson RN CH
888-290-3972 // info@burlingtonhypnosis.com
