Hypnosis and Self-Hypnosis - Clinical Information & Resources

DentalHealthSite.com  -  Treating Dental Anxiety

"Dental Anxiety is a learned behaviour (due to various factors) and it can be unlearned by behavioural and cognitive treatments.  Behavioral treatments include relaxation techniques such as diaphragmatic breathing and progressive muscle relaxation.  Cognitive techniques include cognitive restructuring and guided imagery.  There are various dentists who specialize in treating fearful patients and you can find them to be extremely relaxing and comforting and they are very successful in treating most patients.          ... read more

This above site has a wealth of good basic dental care information, a valuable resource for you and your family.

The Academy for Guided Imagery

A 2004 review of the literature confirmed relaxation’s effectiveness in cases of dental anxiety (Jorm, Christensen, et al, 2004).  In another study, an impressive 93% of the dental surgery patients using hypnosis showed “remarkable improvements in treatment conditions” both for patients and for surgeons (Hermes, Truebger, et al, 2005).  A combination of hypnosis and acupuncture can effectively control distinctive gag reflex, thus facilitating procedures (Eitner, Wichmann, and Holst 2005).

Reduced sedation decreases complications and cuts the need for expensive monitoring, as well as allowing patients and their caregivers a more rapid return to their daily lives.  Increased patient satisfaction also improves patient willingness to have other follow-up procedures.

Conclusion

Guided imagery can reduce anxiety and medication use in dental patients, leading to increased patient satisfaction.  This can result in shorter procedures, lower costs, and more regular dental visits.     ...read more  

The BBC reports - Hypnosis could banish hay-fever

"After a year, the researchers found the volunteers who had been using self-hypnosis had reported fewer symptoms related to hay-fever than their fellow volunteers."      ... read more

The BBC reports - Hypnosis 'eases cancer op pain'.

"Dr David Spiegel, from Stanford University School of Medicine, wrote in the journal: "You have to pay attention to pain for it to hurt, and it is entirely possible to substantially alter pain perception during surgical procedures by inducing hypnotic relaxation, transforming perception in parts of the body, or directing attention elsewhere."

"Patients in the study of 200 women by the Mount Sinai School of Medicine also reported less pain afterwards." 

... read more

The BBC report - Science Section - Hypnosis 'reduces cancer pain'

"Childhood cancer patients suffer less pain when placed under hypnosis, scientists have claimed."

"Children who had been hypnotised in trials reported they had less pain from medical procedures as well as cancer-related pain.  Dr Christina Liossi, from University of Wales, Swansea, suggested there was even tentative evidence that hypnosis prolonged the lives of cancer patients."     ... read more

The BBC report - Health Section - 'Why I chose hypnobirthing'

"Pia Goodman was terrified at the thought of giving birth, but she astonished midwives by having her first baby in just over three hours at home without any painkillers."  "when she was about 22 weeks pregnant she decided to try a pioneering new technique called hypnobirthing."     ... read more

The National Academies Press book report - Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States (2005)

"Cancer treatment centers also frequently use CAM therapies.  Three such programs are briefly described here.  The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center has developed an Integrative Medicine Service that offers inpatients music therapy, massage therapies and reflexology, and mind-body therapies.  Outpatient services include “massage, acupuncture, reflexology, meditation, self-hypnosis and other mind-body therapies"     ... read more

The National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine.

The following are excerpts from: A Mind/Body Medicine Update: What every practitioner needs to know by Ruth Buczynski, PhD, Licensed Psychologist, President, NICABM.  (Available as a free download at the NICABM website)

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