Troubling statistics regarding the risks and complications during and after surgery continue to rise and so I was interested to read of a study from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York that found surgery patients who received medical hypnosis an hour before their operation saw a number of positive benefits. Medical hypnosis, the truth.
The study concluded:
- Patients required less anaesthesia
- Patients spent less time in the operating theatre
- Patients suffered less pain and discomfort in recovery
This particular study randomised 200 women facing lumpectomy or biopsy surgery for breast cancer. Each woman met with a psychologist for 15 minutes in the hour prior to surgery. Half received non-directed empathetic listening and the other half received hypnosis with relaxation and suggestions for guided visualisation. In hypnosis the women were given suggestions that they would have less pain, nausea and fatigue. The anaesthetist monitored the patients without having been made aware which women had been hypnotised.
Patients who received hypnotherapy required lower amounts of anaesthesia during the procedure and they spent nearly 11 fewer minutes in the operating theatre. Post-surgery the women reported less intense pain, less nausea, less fatigue less discomfort and less emotional distress.
The study’s author Dr Montgomery stated that the connection between anxiety and pain is well documented. When people are less anxious they report having less pain. He adds that the expectations people carry into surgery are also important in how they respond. With the expectation that the experience would be tolerable, as was suggested to the women while in hypnosis, the better the outcome.
The role of medical hypnosis in pain relief is becoming more mainstream. But it’s as old as the hills, so to speak. Franz Mesmer first used hypno-surgery in the 19th century.
Hypnotherapy has been shown in other clinical trials to aid individuals with pain relief and it has been shown to help relieve pain in patients with cancer and burn victims. Hypnotherapy has also been shown to dramatically reduce pain in childbirth and in dental patients undergoing dental procedures.
In dentistry, medical hypnosis helps patients overcome anxiety, relax and stay calm during treatment which of course paves the way for a more pleasant experience all round. This is especially useful for patients who have medical conditions or a medical history that rules out the use of sedation or general aesthetic.
To date some 200+ clinical studies have been completed researching the mind-body connection where surgery is concerned, providing compelling evidence for more positive patient outcomes before, during and after surgery including:
- 79% less anxiety
- 76% less emotional upset
- 54% less pain and discomfort
- 74% less nausea after surgery
- 50% less medication required
- 37% faster recovery times
- 82% sleep improvement
- 50% less anaesthesia required
Clinical Hypnotherapy and other mind-body methods used prior to surgery and medical intervention has been shown to help patients mind and body to be in a more relaxed and prepared state for surgery, creating a better mental and physical environment at the time of the procedure itself.
Conclusion: A happier more relaxed patient makes for fewer complications, a reduction in pain, a faster recovery and better healing.
Get in touch today for further information and to schedule an appointment.
You can buy the book Health Wealth & Hypnosis on Amazon and all good book stores
