The Power of Hypnotherapy on Surgical Patients

Wednesday, September 24, 2008 by: Steve G. Jones, Ed.S.
Tags: hypnotherapy, health news, Natural News

(NewsTarget) Undergoing surgery is a very common occurrence. In the United States, it is estimated that 15 million people undergo surgery each year. People have an operation to fix a medical problem or sometimes to diagnose a problem. Surgeries are performed to improve or enhance someone's way of life.

One of the most common complications with surgery is pain. It can be a long road to recovery after a surgical procedure. Other risk factors associated with an operation include infection and bleeding.

In 2002, a study appeared in the journal Anesthesia & Analgesia. The purpose of the study was to see whether hypnotherapy played a role in the side effects of surgical patients. The article talks about how many studies in the past focusing on hypnosis and surgery have only focused on the outcome in relation to pain. This study not only wanted to look at the outcome in relation to pain, but also look at how the hypnotherapy was administered and to see if it helps with other side effects.

The researchers analyzed the results from 20 controlled studies in which hypnosis was used with surgical patients.

These three key aspects were looked at:

1. Effectiveness of the hypnotherapy on post-surgical symptoms.

2. Whether hypnosis is more beneficial to certain outcomes.

3. Whether one-on-one or pre-recorded hypnosis sessions are more effective.

The study determined that hypnotherapy was highly effective with treating post-surgical symptoms. In fact, it found that out of all the 20 studies that were analyzed, those who received hypnotherapy had a better post-surgical outcome than 89% of those in the control group (who did not receive hypnotherapy).

The study also determined that there was no significant difference between certain outcomes and there was no significant difference in delivery of the hypnotherapy (personal or pre-recorded).

This meta-analysis concluded that hypnotherapy is very beneficial to post-surgical healing. The researchers "strongly support the use of hypnosis with surgical patients."

Source:

Anesthesia & Analgesia. 2002; 94:1639-1645.

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/