Hypnosis has been used extensively for medical purposes, such as:

• modifying and reducing pain, whether its origin is a physical disorder or emotional trauma

• managing conditions that are exacerbated by stress, such as IBS, high blood pressure, headaches

• relaxing muscles that hurt because of spasm

• improving immune response

• coping with the side effects of chemotherapy

The use of hypnosis for medical conditions was pioneered by Milton Erickson, M.D., who developed techniques to cope with the pain he suffered as a result of polio-induced paralysis. Read his fascinating story. A detailed exploration of the using guided imagery for medical conditions, including immune and autoimmune conditions, cancer, cardiovascular, pulmonary and neurological disorders, can be found in Imagery for Getting Well: Clinical Applications of Behavioral Medicine, by Deirdre Davis Brigham.

Please inform your doctor about your work with hypnosis because it may affect your use of medication. For example, if you overeat and are diabetic, you may need to use less insulin as you adopt more normal eating patterns. I will remind you that I am neither a medical doctor nor a psychotherapist, and I do not diagnose or treat disease. Hypnotherapy is supportive of conventional treatment, it is NOT a substitute for it.