Would you be surprised to learn that hypnosis is a powerful tool for healing? You may be Some people imagine being hypnotized makes them lose control. Instead, you will gain greater control over both your body and your mind. How can hypnosis help your health?
Origins of Hypnosis in Western Medicine:
Shamans and other indigenous healers may have used techniques similar to this for healing on a variety of occasions. Europeans first learned of this from Dr. Franz Mesmer, the 18th century physician and impresario who coined the term “animal magnetism”. Others would later call it “mesmerism,” which was the first medical proof of the healing power of hypnosis. Dr. Mesmer may have discovered it by accident, but he figured out how to use it.
Hypnosis may help your health:
Our guest, Dr. David Spiegel, is perhaps the country’s foremost authority on the medical use of hypnosis. He recounts one of his first experiences doing it as a medical student. A teenage girl had a severe asthma attack and was hospitalized with difficulty breathing. He was able to relax her and help slow her breathing, which made her breathe easier and her wheezing stopped.
There are many other conditions that respond well to this powerful approach. Hypnotized people can use this technique to reduce anxiety and manage stress. Many people use it to deal with pain. In addition, for some, it is an important part of any smoking cessation program or how to overcome insomnia.
Current state of hypnosis as a medical tool:
This approach is well-studied and found to be effective for many medical problems. However, medical professionals have not fully accepted it. Psychiatrists like Dr. Spiegel are likely more familiar with this practice than other professionals.
Are you susceptible to hypnosis?
Hypnosis can only help your health if you can be hypnotized. Fortunately, most people do, at least to some extent. Being hypnotized does not depend on your ability to visualize. It has nothing to do with intelligence. Dr. Spiegel and his colleagues created an app (Reverie) to allow people to test their own hypnotic abilities and practice their aptitude for this technique to improve their health.
How do I find an expert?
If you have a complicated health problem and want to try hypnosis to manage it, personal care by a medical professional is a good place to start. In less complex situations, the app itself may be sufficient. To find someone trained to use hypnosis to help your health, contact one of her two professional bodies that certify such professionals. They are, American Society of Clinical Hypnosis and the Clinical Experimental Hypnosis Society.
Guests of the week:
Dr. David Spiegel is Wilson Professor and Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine, Director of the Center for Stress and Health, and Medical Director of the Center for Integrative Medicine. Dr. Spiegel has over 40 years of clinical and research experience studying psycho-oncology, stress and wellness, pain management, sleep, hypnosis, the use of neuroimaging, conducting randomized clinical trials, and more. He has published his 13 books, 425 scientific journal articles, and 175 book chapters on hypnosis, psychosocial oncology, stress physiology, trauma, and psychotherapy. He is past president of the American Psychiatric Association, the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, and a member of the National Academy of Medicine. Dr. Spiegel Reveriean interactive hypnosis app: https://www.reveri.com/
Dr. David Spiegel, Stanford University School of Medicine
Referrals to specialized agencies include:
American Society of Clinical Hypnosis: ASCH. https://www.asch.net/aws/ASCH/pt/sp/find-member
Clinical Experimental Hypnosis Society
Listen to the podcast:
The show’s podcast will go live on Monday, September 4, 2023, after airing on September 2nd. You can stream shows and download podcasts for free from this site.
Download mp3.
