Role of Hypnosis in Surgical Recovery for Patients with Head and Neck Cancer

Sunday, November 23, 2008 by: Steve G. Jones, Ed.S.
Tags: hypnosis, health news, Natural News

(NewsTarget) Surgery is a very common occurrence in the United States. Surgeries are performed to diagnose and/or treat a condition. The three major concerns with any type of surgery are pain, bleeding, and infection. Taking small steps such as mandating hypnotherapy sessions for patients going through such tough procedures can have beneficial affects on both the patients' physical and mental well-being, along with their finances.

A study was performed in 1991 involving 36 patients who had head and neck cancer and were undergoing surgery to treat it. An article about the study appeared in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. The study was conducted to see whether hypnosis played a role in recovery after surgery for patients suffering from 2 particular types of cancers.

The study consisted of 36 participants who were diagnosed with head and neck cancer and were undergoing surgery. Twenty-one patients served as the control group and received no hypnosis. Fifteen patients received hypnotherapy. The researchers wanted to compare length of hospital stay, surgical complications, and blood loss between the hypnosis group and the control group.

Results from this study were significant between the two groups. Researchers found that those who received hypnotherapy had a much shorter hospital stay than the control group who received standard care.

Researchers also found some differences among the group that received hypnosis. Those who were more highly hypnotizable experienced fewer complications after the surgery. Also, the researchers found that those who were more hypnotizable also had less blood loss during the surgery.

The study concluded that hypnosis can help prevent postoperative complications. A reduction in complications after surgery also reduces the length of hospital stay after the operation. Fewer complications also suggest a quicker recovery time. A shorter hospital stay means lower medical bills.

Patients going through cancer treatment already experience a high level of stress and anxiety with rehabilitation. Hypnotherapy ensures that the healing time and treatment period is shorter and more easily dealt with. The procedure may not only show physical improvements, but emotional ones as well. By taking such a small step, doctors can now further help improve the lives of their patients. Financial, physical, and emotional strains may be lifted with the help of hypnotherapy.

Source:

Rapkin, D.A., Straubing, M. & Holroyd, J.C. (1991). Guided Imagery, Hypnosis and Recovery from Head and Neck Cancer Surgery: An Exploratory Study. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 39(4). 215-226.

About the author

Steve G. Jones, Ed.S. has been practicing hypnotherapy since the 1980s. He is the author of 22 books on Hypnotherapy. Steve is a member of the National Guild of Hypnotists, American Board of Hypnotherapy, president of the American Alliance of Hypnotists, on the board of directors of the Los Angeles chapter of the American Lung Association, and director of the Steve G. Jones School of Clinical Hypnotherapy.
Steve G. Jones, Ed.S. is a board certified Clinical Hypnotherapist. He has a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Florida (1994), a master's degree in education from Armstrong Atlantic State University (2007), and is currently working on a doctorate in education, Ed.D., at Georgia Southern University. Learn more at:
http://www.betterlivingwithhypnosis.com/