I love Keith Barry. “Now You See Me” was a great movie. And hypnosis is real. But what I want to talk about it: what are the medical benefits of hypnosis?
Since many of my patients are making changes to diet or quitting smoking, this question come up often enough. Hypnosis has a long history and it’s use has been promoted for everything from child birth to dental work, from flying phobias to weight loss to smoking cessation. And it has serious appeal as a “quick fix”
Let’s do the science and sum up the current evidence:
What is hypnosis? It is an altered brain state where you are calm, relaxed, focused and open to suggestions. (In deep hypnosis, your brain waves change – this is a fascinating area of ongoing research but still not completely understood.)
Can anyone be hypnotised? No. Evidence suggests that fewer than 50% of people can achieve that deep trance-like state where they are suggestible and do not consciously remember the suggestion made during hypnosis. But other people still can benefit in other levels of trance where they remain fully conscious.
Is it safe? Yes. Despite how it looks like in television, you retain complete self-control during hyponotic states. However, experts usually recommend that people with serious mental health conditions avoid it.
I also advise patients with history of trauma or addiction to avoid hypnosis, especially to avoid as a short-cut to treating addiction or complications from trauma.
But does it work? The short answer is: maybe, for some people, for some reasons. Let’s break this down.
Hypnosis for weight loss and smoking/addiction? Evidence just isn’t there yet. While small studies are often cited to show benefits, in the meta-analyses that were done, some patients had short-term results but follow-up at 6 to 12 months showed no benefits. The patients who did benefit used hypnosis as part of other conventional therapies/treatments.
Hypnosis is NOT a treatment for obesity!
What about dental work or childbirth? Studies found that it definitely reduced anxiety for the patients that were able to be hypnotised, and patient felt the benefit. However, there evidence was less clear on its role in in pain relief (some researchers feel that pain relief in hypnosis requires patient to achieve certain type of brain waves). The current recommendations from experts is that there isn’t enough evidence in the studies that have done so far, and recommend more studies.
How about for phobias (fears)? Hypnotherapy has a role (again, doesn’t work for everyone and the evidence is mixed) It has best results as part of more comprehensive therapy sessions with a qualified counsellor/psychologist.
I really enjoyed this read on the medical side of hypnosis! The shoutout to Keith Barry and “Now You See Me” was a cool start. It’s awesome to see someone tackle the question of hypnosis in a medical context, especially with patients making changes like quitting smoking or adjusting their diet.
The breakdown of what hypnosis is, who it might work for, and the safety aspects was super clear. I appreciated the honesty about its limitations and the caution for folks with certain conditions. The bit on evidence-based medicine and hypnosis as a complementary approach is spot-on and practical.
The exploration of hypnosis for weight loss and addiction was intriguing, and I liked how you highlighted the need for more research in areas like dental work, childbirth, and phobias. It’s a quick and insightful read, shedding light on the medical benefits of hypnosis. Thanks for breaking it down!