How Hypnosis Can Reduce or Eliminate Pain

Hypnosis has a long history of being a powerful remedy to relieve pain across cultures and millennia. There are reports of its use even in ancient societies, and in the 19th century, it was used as an anesthetic.

In the 20th and 21st centuries, multiple studies have found that it can be used to treat pain caused by a variety of conditions, including cancer, fibromyalgia, dental work, childbirth and burns. The use of hypnosis for pain relief is one of the most widely studied applications of hypnotherapy, and the news for pain sufferers is good.

Hypnosis for pain management can be an effective way to control your pain levels and improve your overall quality of life.

Hypnotherapy for Pain Relief Shows Widespread Success

It is not clear how hypnotherapy is effective against pain although research into brain imaging has found that certain types of hypnotherapy affect certain parts of the brain associated with pain. It also seems clear that hypnotherapy greatly affects how a majority of people experience pain, diminishing not just the physical effects of pain but also the psychological effects, which can lead to depression, cognitive distortions and other issues.

One overview of 18 studies conducted in 2002 found that for three-quarters of people, hypnotherapy led to a substantial reduction in pain. Other research since has continued to support these findings for treatment of both chronic and acute pain.

Improved Quality of Life With Hypnotherapy for Pain

Both chronic pain and medication used to treat pain can significantly impact a person’s quality of life, with pain medication potentially causing a number of side effects, including addiction. These risks of side effects and addiction can exist when medication is taken for a fairly short-term period of time to treat pain as well.

In contrast, hypnosis for pain does not have these negative, quality-of-life diminishing elements to it. In fact, the use of hypnosis for pain relief has been shown to be more effective than many other methods, including physical therapy, in certain cases.

Chronic pain in particular often intensifies based on emotional, psychological and other factors, and hypnosis for pain management may sometimes better manage these elements than other remedies. You have probably had the experience at some point in your life of being in pain and then having that pain exacerbated by stress. Hypnosis for pain in these situations might work not just by addressing the physical pain but also by providing emotional calm.

Long-Term Benefits of Hypnotherapy for Pain

Sessions of hypnosis for pain can be effective for months at a time for some patients. This suggests that at least for some people, periodic sessions of hypnotherapy would be sufficient to manage pain. The positive effects of hypnosis for pain management go beyond simply relieving that pain, with studies indicating that the brain may function differently after hypnotherapy.

People whose pain has been treated with hypnotherapy also report higher levels of satisfaction with their treatment compared to other approaches. Higher energy levels and greater relaxation have also been reported by many participants in clinical trials.

Living with pain, whether for only a short time or as a chronic condition, can be devastating, and modern medicine has yet to come up with effective long-term solutions that do not carry the potential for harm in other ways.

For more information on hypnosis for pain relief and to schedule an in-person session with a certified hypnotherapist, visit Renewed-Edge.com today to find out how hypnotherapy can help you. Renewed Edge offers counselling, and hypnotherapy sessions and the best hypnotherapy courses.