Even though mankind in general and science in particular does not completely understand how hypnosis works, there is definitive scientific evidence that it can and does make a positive difference in how well, and how quickly, people heal.

Hypnosis has been used for everything from performing surgery without chemical anesthesia to allowing a patient to stop potentially harmful habits. Although some people remain skeptical of the efficacy of the technique, there is a longstanding—and growing— body of reputable clinical study that shows that hypnosis does indeed, not only help, but actually improve healing. 

According to the Mayo Clinic’s Proceedings (Mayo Clin Proc. 2005;80:511-524 © 2005 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) a study of patients with ankle fractures showed demonstrable and statistically significant improvement in healing at one and seven weeks postoperatively than the similarly injured patients in other groups. Their surgeons and other medical care staff did not know which treatment group a particular patient was in—(control, supportive care, or hypnosis.)

Many people are somewhat squeamish at the idea of using “hypnosis only” anesthesia, but the proven power of hypnosis is so strong that pre-operative hypnotic suggestions have been shown to effect faster healing, with reportedly decreased pain levels, less nausea and lower anxiety levels.

The use of hypnosis was accepted by the American Medical Association in 1958. Since then, it has been used on many occasions with success for nearly every conceivable medical ailment; from allergic wheals to pain control during childbirth. The relatively recent advent of PET scans and MRI machines—which allow doctors to see the workings of the brain and body/mind in real time as it undergoes changes—have further elevated the respect accorded to the use of hypnosis within the mainstream medical community.

According to the American Hospital Association, in 2006, more than 25% of all hospitals in the United States had some form of a complimentary and/or alternative healing unit. In an effort to keep medical costs lower and to help promote faster recovery times, both doctors and patients alike are moving toward using the power of the mind to assist and support healthy healing.

In an article entitled Hypnosis Helps Healing, Dr. Carol Ginandes of Harvard Medical School, noted that there are a number of functional uses of hypnosis that may help people to feel better, but that she is “…also interested in using hypnosis to help people get better physically. That means using the mind to make structural changes in the body, to accelerate healing at the tissue level."

There is also some evidence that hypnosis can help improve immune system functions. A study by Olness et al. in 1989 showed that hypnosis can raise immunoglobulin levels of healthy children.  Another study reported that self-hypnosis led to an increase in white blood cell activity (Hall, 1982-83.)

Many anecdotal stories exist of those being healed of cancer and other life-threatening disease via hypnosis and/or Neurolinguistic Programming. More study is not only needed but also warranted. Science is still in the very early days of understanding the potential of the healing power of hypnosis and self-hypnosis. One pivotal element is repetitive in the stories one finds of these “miracle” cures via hypnosis and/or NLP. The patient in question needed to be both committed to the process; and patient. “Overnight” cures have been reported, but far more frequently a serious commitment over time is needed in order to bring about the healing needed and desired by the patient and his or her treatment team.

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