Better Homes & Gardens, March 2004
Wendy Goldenthal specializes in a hypnosis technique called HypnoBirthing that
teaches pregnant women to take advantage of their body's natural anesthetic
abilities in order to make childbirth a less painful, more positive experience.
Andrea, 31, was won over.
"I would have to say what HypnoBirthing gave me was a greater sense of my
inner strength, and it empowered me through my labor," says Andrea, who lives
near Philadelphia with her husband and I year-old daughter, Siena. If the word
"hypnosis" conjures up memories of a high school stage act where some of
your classmates ended up ducking like chickens, then you should know that
there's much more to this age old art than merely a paycheck for a parlor
magician.
Today, hypnosis--or hypnotherapy--is becoming a respected alternative for an
array of conditions. It has long been used to help people quit smoking and
overcome fears, such as the fear of public
speaking, but now the practice is branching out into new areas.
"For the vast majority of people, hypnosis can be an invaluable tool," says Dr.
Ran D. Anbar, who uses it in his practice as a pediatric pulmonologist at State
University of New York's Upstate Medical University in Syracuse.
For example, he helps many children control their allergies and asthma through
hypnotherapy. He does so, in part, by training them in self-hypnosis techniques.
"One of the beauties of hypnosis is that it's easy to teach, it can often work
quickly and, for most people, it is a positive addition to their treatment," Anbar
says.
Other doctors and hypnotherapists use it for such conditions as chronic pain,
irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, insomnia, and migraine
headaches--afflictions that modern medicine struggles to treat effectively. These
types of disorders often have a strong mental component, says Anbar, which
plays into the strengths of hypnosis. "It's exactly the patient who doesn't respond
to medical therapy who is likely to respond to hypnotherapy," he says.
Hypnotherapy's effectiveness lies in the complex connection between the mind
and the body. It's well-understood today that illness can affect your emotional
state and, conversely, that your
emotional state can affect your physical state. Two examples: Stress, an
emotional reaction, can make heart disease worse, and heart disease, a
physical condition, can cause depression.
Hypnosis carries this connection to the next logical step by using the power of
the mind to bring about change in the body.
No one is quite sure how hypnosis works, but thanks to more sophisticated
imaging techniques, that's changing. For instance, researchers at Virginia
Polytechnic Institute found that during a hypnotic state aimed at bringing about
pain control, the prefrontal cortex of the brain (which controls concentration)
directed other areas of the brain to reduce or eliminate their awareness of pain.
That's important, because if your brain doesn't pay attention to pain, it doesn't
matter if it's there or not. It's similar to the mechanism you use when you tune
out the sound of your arguing children. But, as you know, sometimes you can
ignore noisy kids and sometimes you can't--therein also lies the limitations of
hypnosis.
Some people see great success with hypnosis and some don't. And it's
impossible to know who will find relief from it without actually trying it. "It isn't a
magic wand," cautions hypnotherapist Carol Ginandes, Ph.D., an instructor at
Harvard Medical School who also practices in Watertown, Massachusetts. "I'm
not saying I can hypnotize every patient to have no pain or have their asthma
disappear. But used as an ancillary treatment, it's been shown to be effective."
Ginandes is also looking at how hypnotherapy can help people heal faster. In a
small study last year, she and a colleague took 18 women who were having
breast reduction surgery and put each of them in one of three groups.One group
received standard surgery care. Another group got the same care and also
received psychological support. The third group underwent hypnosis before and
after surgery in addition to standard care. Those who had undergone hypnosis
healed faster, felt less discomfort, and had fewer complications. "What's exciting
about this research is that it provides promising evidence of using hypnosis to
actually accelerate the physical healing process of the body," says Ginandes.
Despite its usefulness, most physicians know very little about hypnosis and few
medical schools teach it--even though the American Medical Association has
approved of its use since 1958.
In fact, Anbar's colleagues warned him not to call what he does "hypnosis"
because people might think he's little more than a voodoo doctor. That kind of
thinking may be why hypnosis is not used for more patients, he says.
HYPNOSIS AT HOME
Here's a simple self-hypnosis technique from Dr. Ran Anbar, professor of
pediatrics at State University of New York's Upstate Medical University in
Syracuse. It's a great way to unwind from a stressful day.
Close your eyes and imagine yourself in a place where you would feel relaxed.
Maybe it's a tropical beach or a quiet forest glade. No matter the scene you
choose, pay close attention to what you might see, hear, smell, and taste there.
Notice that, as you focus on these sensations, you become more and more
relaxed and more content. Allow yourself to be enveloped by your peaceful
surroundings. Once you're successfully in this light trance, stress seems to slip
away. You can remain in this state as long as you want in your mind-an hour or
a day or a year-all in just a few moments of real time. When you're ready to
leave, give yourself a suggestion, such as, "I'll feel claim for the rest of the day."
Make sure you phrase your suggestion in the positive rather than the negative.
Then slowly bring yourself back and open your eyes.
Don't get discouraged if this doesn't seem to work right away, says Anbar. "It
improves with practice," he says. Just try again another day.
Better Homes & Gardens
COPYRIGHT 2004 Meredith Corporation in association with The Gale Group
and LookSmart.
teaches pregnant women to take advantage of their body's natural anesthetic
abilities in order to make childbirth a less painful, more positive experience.
Andrea, 31, was won over.
"I would have to say what HypnoBirthing gave me was a greater sense of my
inner strength, and it empowered me through my labor," says Andrea, who lives
near Philadelphia with her husband and I year-old daughter, Siena. If the word
"hypnosis" conjures up memories of a high school stage act where some of
your classmates ended up ducking like chickens, then you should know that
there's much more to this age old art than merely a paycheck for a parlor
magician.
Today, hypnosis--or hypnotherapy--is becoming a respected alternative for an
array of conditions. It has long been used to help people quit smoking and
overcome fears, such as the fear of public
speaking, but now the practice is branching out into new areas.
"For the vast majority of people, hypnosis can be an invaluable tool," says Dr.
Ran D. Anbar, who uses it in his practice as a pediatric pulmonologist at State
University of New York's Upstate Medical University in Syracuse.
For example, he helps many children control their allergies and asthma through
hypnotherapy. He does so, in part, by training them in self-hypnosis techniques.
"One of the beauties of hypnosis is that it's easy to teach, it can often work
quickly and, for most people, it is a positive addition to their treatment," Anbar
says.
Other doctors and hypnotherapists use it for such conditions as chronic pain,
irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, insomnia, and migraine
headaches--afflictions that modern medicine struggles to treat effectively. These
types of disorders often have a strong mental component, says Anbar, which
plays into the strengths of hypnosis. "It's exactly the patient who doesn't respond
to medical therapy who is likely to respond to hypnotherapy," he says.
Hypnotherapy's effectiveness lies in the complex connection between the mind
and the body. It's well-understood today that illness can affect your emotional
state and, conversely, that your
emotional state can affect your physical state. Two examples: Stress, an
emotional reaction, can make heart disease worse, and heart disease, a
physical condition, can cause depression.
Hypnosis carries this connection to the next logical step by using the power of
the mind to bring about change in the body.
No one is quite sure how hypnosis works, but thanks to more sophisticated
imaging techniques, that's changing. For instance, researchers at Virginia
Polytechnic Institute found that during a hypnotic state aimed at bringing about
pain control, the prefrontal cortex of the brain (which controls concentration)
directed other areas of the brain to reduce or eliminate their awareness of pain.
That's important, because if your brain doesn't pay attention to pain, it doesn't
matter if it's there or not. It's similar to the mechanism you use when you tune
out the sound of your arguing children. But, as you know, sometimes you can
ignore noisy kids and sometimes you can't--therein also lies the limitations of
hypnosis.
Some people see great success with hypnosis and some don't. And it's
impossible to know who will find relief from it without actually trying it. "It isn't a
magic wand," cautions hypnotherapist Carol Ginandes, Ph.D., an instructor at
Harvard Medical School who also practices in Watertown, Massachusetts. "I'm
not saying I can hypnotize every patient to have no pain or have their asthma
disappear. But used as an ancillary treatment, it's been shown to be effective."
Ginandes is also looking at how hypnotherapy can help people heal faster. In a
small study last year, she and a colleague took 18 women who were having
breast reduction surgery and put each of them in one of three groups.One group
received standard surgery care. Another group got the same care and also
received psychological support. The third group underwent hypnosis before and
after surgery in addition to standard care. Those who had undergone hypnosis
healed faster, felt less discomfort, and had fewer complications. "What's exciting
about this research is that it provides promising evidence of using hypnosis to
actually accelerate the physical healing process of the body," says Ginandes.
Despite its usefulness, most physicians know very little about hypnosis and few
medical schools teach it--even though the American Medical Association has
approved of its use since 1958.
In fact, Anbar's colleagues warned him not to call what he does "hypnosis"
because people might think he's little more than a voodoo doctor. That kind of
thinking may be why hypnosis is not used for more patients, he says.
HYPNOSIS AT HOME
Here's a simple self-hypnosis technique from Dr. Ran Anbar, professor of
pediatrics at State University of New York's Upstate Medical University in
Syracuse. It's a great way to unwind from a stressful day.
Close your eyes and imagine yourself in a place where you would feel relaxed.
Maybe it's a tropical beach or a quiet forest glade. No matter the scene you
choose, pay close attention to what you might see, hear, smell, and taste there.
Notice that, as you focus on these sensations, you become more and more
relaxed and more content. Allow yourself to be enveloped by your peaceful
surroundings. Once you're successfully in this light trance, stress seems to slip
away. You can remain in this state as long as you want in your mind-an hour or
a day or a year-all in just a few moments of real time. When you're ready to
leave, give yourself a suggestion, such as, "I'll feel claim for the rest of the day."
Make sure you phrase your suggestion in the positive rather than the negative.
Then slowly bring yourself back and open your eyes.
Don't get discouraged if this doesn't seem to work right away, says Anbar. "It
improves with practice," he says. Just try again another day.
Better Homes & Gardens
COPYRIGHT 2004 Meredith Corporation in association with The Gale Group
and LookSmart.
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to a new, trimmer, slimmer YOU.
Start today!
MP3 Immediate Download
$17.95
to a new, trimmer, slimmer YOU.
Start today!
MP3 Immediate Download
$17.95
or
Order your CD here $17.95
S/H 3.50
Order your CD here $17.95
S/H 3.50
NEW! CD and MP3
Lose Weight easily
Lose Weight easily
Buy with credit card or
PayPal
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NEW! CD and MP3
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"Hypnosis works when willpower fails." Wendy Merron, CHt. |
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"Hypnosis works when willpower fails." Wendy Merron, CHt. |