1. Collaboration with healthcare providers: Works alongside physicians and other medical professionals to complement traditional treatments.

2. Evidence-based approach: Grounded in scientific research and clinical studies demonstrating the efficacy of hypnosis in medical settings.

3. Symptom management: Helps patients manage pain, anxiety, nausea, and other symptoms associated with medical conditions or treatments.

4. Preparation for medical procedures: Used to reduce anxiety and improve patient cooperation before and during medical interventions.

5. Enhancing treatment efficacy: May improve the effectiveness of other medical treatments by promoting relaxation and positive expectations.

6. Mind-body connection: Utilizes the power of the mind to influence physical processes and promote healing.

7. Personalized interventions: Tailored to each patient's specific medical condition, needs, and treatment goals.

8. Empowerment: Teaches patients self-hypnosis techniques for ongoing symptom management and stress reduction.

Many medical issues are exacerbated by stress. A 2017 review article in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience states that “stress is the common risk factor of 75%–90% diseases, including the diseases which cause the foremost morbidity and mortality.” Hypnotherapy can help reduce stress levels, which in turn can alleviate symptoms and improve the body's ability to heal. Here's how hypnosis impacts the nervous system:

• Sympathetic Nervous System Relaxation: During hypnosis, the sympathetic nervous system, responsible for the "fight or flight" response, becomes relaxed. This relaxation reduces the production of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.

• Parasympathetic Nervous System Dominance: As the sympathetic system relaxes, the parasympathetic nervous system, known for "rest and digest" functions, engages. This shift promotes a state of calm and relaxation throughout the body.

• Balancing Body Functions: With the parasympathetic system in control, the body can focus on balancing its various functions. This includes improved digestion, enhanced immune function, and better hormonal balance.

• Promoting Healing: The relaxed state achieved through hypnosis allows the body to allocate more resources to healing and repair processes. This can accelerate recovery from injuries, reduce inflammation, and improve overall physical well-being.

• Long-term Benefits: Regular hypnosis practice can help retrain the nervous system to maintain a better balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic functions. This can lead to improved stress management skills and better overall health in the long term.

Pain Management: Hypnotherapy is often used to manage chronic pain conditions, such as arthritis, migraines, and fibromyalgia. It can help reduce the perception of pain and improve quality of life.

Changing Negative Patterns: Hypnotherapy can help address emotional and behavioral patterns that contribute to medical issues. For example, it can assist in quitting smoking, managing weight, and reducing anxiety, which can have positive effects on overall health.

Improving Sleep: Many medical conditions are linked to poor sleep. Hypnotherapy can help improve sleep quality, which is crucial for healing and overall health

The following are some of the specific areas medical support hypnotherapy has shown promise:

• Accelerated healing and pain control

• Pre-procedural anxiety reduction

• Increased patient compliance with prescribed medical treatment

• Shortened recovery time post-operatively

• Improved general well-being

• Shortened labor in childbirth

• Weight control (optimizing eating habits and improving fitness)

• Smoking cessation

• Anxiety & panic relief

• Fitness (motivation & performance)

• Migraine headaches

• Sleep pattern improvement

• Cancer treatment side-effects support

• Palliative care

• Overactive bladder management

The field of medical support hypnotherapy is supported by a growing body of research:

• A recent 4-year, $3 million NIH-funded study demonstrated the efficacy of hypnotherapy for the treatment of overactive bladder & urge urinary incontinence

• The National Library of Medicine's database contains over 12,500 publications related to hypnosis.

• Studies have shown strong evidence supporting the use of hypnotherapy for various conditions, including pain management, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and stress.

• Ongoing research continues to explore the mechanisms of hypnosis and its potential applications in medical settings.