Clinical hypnosis has been used to treat various conditions and problems, including depression, anxiety, smoking cessation, and attention deficit disorders. Its use in medicine began to gain popularity during the 20th century with the growth of social science and psychology. Various international societies have since developed in order to further study the science of hypnosis. Today, it is largely used to treat people with a variety of ailments, from anxiety and smoking to pain and obesity.

Early studies have shown that hypnosis can alter the body’s response to various stimuli. It has been shown that social support can influence the activity of natural killer cells and the levels of cortisol, and that it can even impact the progression of cancer. Hypnosis has long been used as a treatment for impotence, and results from a study of 3000 patients reported an eighty percent success rate. Similarly, a study combining hypnosis and acupuncture showed a 75% success rate for impotence.

The process of hypnosis differs from one person to another, with each client receiving a different treatment. Clinical hypnotherapists use techniques based on the person’s suggestibility, the goal, and the specific problem. For example, age regression can help patients recall qualities they’ve lost and improve their self-esteem. Hypnosis is much easier to induce than a completely new state of consciousness. The hypnotherapist may use guided imagery to relive a comfortable state of relaxation and help them quit smoking.

Hypnosis is a method of mind control in which a person is induced to sleep or enter an unconscious state, or increase response to suggestions. The techniques used to hypnotize people are mostly therapeutic in nature, though there is also stage hypnosis, which is a form of mentalism. The techniques used in hypnosis are described below. So, what are the steps of hypnosis?

Traditional hypnosis is regarded as the most common form of hypnosis. It is a powerful technique, and a person undergoing hypnosis appears to behave in ways that are out of character. Some clinical practitioners, however, have contributed to the tarnished image of hypnosis. In this chapter, we examine conventional and traditional approaches to hypnosis, including the advantages and disadvantages of hypnosis as a complementary therapy.

Meta-analysis of clinical trials of hypnosis in medical procedures has not found convincing evidence that hypnosis can prevent and/or treat pain. One meta-analysis compared the effects of hypnosis to control treatments. In both studies, hypnosis reduced pain, decreased emotional stress, and relieved irritable bowel symptoms compared to control treatments. The results were inconsistent in one meta-analysis, however, and there were no significant differences in safety and side effects. However, two other meta-analyses reported that there was no difference between the two treatments, which may be due to the lack of high-quality controlled trials.

Some jurisdictions have taken different approaches to hypnotic testimony. Georgia, and the military court martial system prohibit testimony from individuals who have been hypnotized. Georgia courts allow such testimony as long as the subject has reasonable doubts regarding his or her recollection. In the meantime, some jurisdictions are still deciding whether or not to admit evidence obtained through hypnosis.

Although there is no conclusive evidence about whether hypnosis is a proven treatment for pain, a number of studies have indicated that it is an effective way to treat chronic pain. In one study, hypnosis was found to help patients undergo a cardiac procedure under anesthesia, with direct suggestions reducing the pain measured by brain potentials. In another study, hypnosis was used in conjunction with surgery to repair atrial septal defects. In a fourth study, hypnoanalgesia was the sole method of anesthesia in one patient.