Hypnosis

Excerpts from the entry on Hypnosis in Relieving Pain Naturally by Dr. Sylvia Goldfarb and Roberta W. Waddell. For full entries on all 37 conditions and 27 treatments, order the book.

The term hypnosis is derived from the Greek word hypnos, which means sleep. It refers to a trance-like state resembling, but not the same as, sleep, and it can either be self-induced or induced by a hypnotherapist. Hypnosis is an altered state of awareness, in which you are susceptible to suggestions (some consider both guided meditation and guided imagery and visualization to be forms of hypnosis). In 1958, the American Medical Association accepted clinical hypnosis as an adjunct to standard medical care in the United States.

Also in this entry:

• The History of Hypnosis
• How Hypnosis Works
• Painful Conditions that Respond Well to Hypnosis
• Advantages of Hypnosis
• How Hypnosis Is Used
• Cautions
• Clinical Studies

See below for full list of all conditions and treatments in the book. Or, download a complete Condition entry or Treatment entry for free.