The earliest recorded evidence of hypnosis can be traced back over 4000 years ago, with hypnosis being utilized in ancient Egyptian sleep temples. In modern western history, hypnotherapy is one of the oldest forms of psychotherapy. Though, some of its benefits were muddled by images of Svengali and stage hypnotism, which made many people wrongly believe that hypnosis is out of our control.

As modern medicine and psychology evolved, so did hypnotherapy. The American Medical Association recognized hypnosis as a medical procedure in 1956, finding it appropriate for use during surgery and medical treatments and procedures.

Listed below are four notable references, followed by over 300 scholarly articles:

1) Dr. David Spiegel, Chair of Psychiatry at Stanford University has devoted his career researching over 7,000 patients using fMRI’s to explore how well hypnosis works. He found hypnosis gave way to significant changes in brain activity from muscle function, awareness, pain receptivity. Dr. Spiegel’s main focus is on the success of replacing opioids with hypnosis for pain management. 

2) 18 study meta-analysis on weight loss and Hypnosis concluded the subjects who used Hypnosis lost twice as much weight as those who did not and kept it off years after treatment ended.

3) Time Magazine’s take on studies showing the scientific validity in using  hypnosis for smoking cessation, modulating anxiety, pain, weight loss and PTSD. 

4) Dr. Cornelie Schweizer, Dr. Kristina Fuhr, Dr.  Christoph Meisner and Dr. Anil Batra research study showing the efficacy of using hypnotherapy compared to cognitive-behavioral therapy for mild-to-moderate depression.

Academic Performance  (see also: Stress & Anxiety) 

• The Effect of Hypnotic Training Programs on the Academic Performance of Students

• Effects of Hypnosis on the Academic Self-Efficacy of First Generation College Students

• Using Hypnosis to Enhance Learning Second Language Vocabulary

• The Effectiveness of Hypnosis to Increase Confidence and Academic Performance

Addiction

• Replacing Opioids with Hypnosis for Pain Treatment (video)

• Pathological Gambling

• Hypnosis For Cocaine Addiction Documented Case Study

• A Comparative Study of Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy in the Treatment of Methadone Addicts

• Intensive Therapy: Utilizing Hypnosis in the Treatment of Substance Abuse Disorders

• Self-Hypnosis for Drug and Alcohol Abuse

• Refraining of an Addiction via Hypnotherapy: A Case Presentation

• The Use of Hypnosis with an Injecting Heroin User

• Hypnotherapy to Decrease Depression of Patients at Addiction Recovery Centers

Agoraphobia

• Hypnotherapy for Panic Attacks

• The Place of Hypnosis in Psychiatry: It’s Application to the Treatment of Agoraphobia and Social Phobia

• Hypnotherapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome Induced Agoraphobia

• Counteracting Resistance In Agoraphobia Using Hypnosis

• Awake-Alert Hypnosis in the Treatment of Panic Disorder

Allergies

• Effect of Hypnosis on Allergic Skin Responses in Asthma and Hay-fever

• Hypnosis for Food Allergy

• Self-Hypnosis for Hay Fever

• Hypnotically Induced Analgesia on Flare Reaction of the Cutaneous Histamine Prick Test

• Increase and Decrease of Delayed Cutaneous Reactions Obtained By Hypnotic Suggestions During Sensitization Studies

• Skin Reactions to Histamine of Healthy Subjects After Hypnotically Induced Emotions Of Sadness, Anger, and Happiness

Athletics (see Sports Performance)

Alzheimers & Dementia

• Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy Can Reduce Dementia

Anti-Aging

• Self-Hypnosis Can Lower Stress-Related Hormones and Increase Anti-Aging Hormone

Bruxism (Teeth Grinding)

• Nocturnal Bruxism and Hypnotherapy

• Five-Year Follow-Up of Brief Hypnotic Treatment of Chronic Bruxism

• Suggestive Hypnotherapy for Nocturnal Bruxism

• Hypnosis for Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)

• Teeth Grinding (nocturnal bruxism) Hypnotherapy in Glasgow

Burns

• Hypnosis for Burn Pain

• Hypnosis for Treating Painful Burns

• Hypnosis to Reduce Anxiety Before and During Dressing Changes of Burn Patients

• Hypnosis and Pain in Patients with Severe Burns

• Medical Hypnosis for Pain and Psychological Distress During Burn Wound Debridement

• Hypnosis for Burn-Related Pain: Case studies and a review of the literature

• Hypnosis for Pediatric Burn Wound Healing and Pain Reduction

Cancer

• Hypnosis for cancer care: Over 200 years young

• Hypnosis for Enhancing Comfort of Women Undergoing Radiation Therapy for Early Stage Breast Cancer

• Hypnosis in Cancer Care

• Guided Imagery Helps Anxiety of Cancer Patients

• Self-Hypnosis for Pain and Anxiety During Biopsy Outpatient Procedures

• Brief Presurgery Hypnosis Reduces Distress and Pain in Excisional Breast Biopsy Patients

• A Randomized Trial of Hypnosis for Relief of Pain and Anxiety in Adult Cancer Patients Undergoing Bone Marrow Procedures

• Hypnosis Versus Local Analgesic Cream to Relieve Lumbar Puncture Induced Pain and Anxiety in Cancer Patients Aged 6 - 16

• Hypnosis to Manage Anxiety and Pain Associated with Colonoscopy for Colorectal Cancer Screening

• Guided Imagery for Thyroid Cancer Patients’ Stress and Fatigue

• Guided Imagery and Story-Telling for Nausea and Vomiting of Children Undergoing Chemotherapy

• Hypnosis for Chemotherapy Related Nausea and Vomiting

• Hypnosis for Breast Cancer – Effect on Amount of Analgesics/Sedatives Required, Pain, Nausea, Fatigue, Discomfort, Upset, and Reduced Surgical Time

• Self-Hypnosis for Percutaneous Tumor Treatment – Pain and Anxiety

• Hypnosis for Venipuncture for Blood Sampling of Cancer Patients

• Hypnosis Intervention for Treatment of Hot Flashes Among Breast Cancer Survivors

• Use of Hypnosis for Terminally Ill Hospice Cancer Patients

• Hypnosis to Treat Hot Flashes after Prostate Cancer Surgery

• Hypnosis in Breast Cancer Care

• Clinical Hypnosis for Symptom Management of Cancer Patients in Palliative Care

• Hypnosis for Anticipatory Nausea and Vomiting- Case Study

• Hypnosis as an Adjunct for Managing Pain in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Post Radiotherapy

• Hypnosis Before, During and After Breast Cancer Surgery

• The Effect of Hypnosis on Anxiety in Patients With Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Cataracts

• Interest of Hypnosis in Cataract Surgery

• A Role for Hypnosis in Cataract Surgery

Child Birth or HypnoBirthing: (See Motherhood) 

Diabetes

• Hypnosis as an Adjunct Therapy in the Management of Diabetes

• A Hypnotherapeutic Approach to the Improvement of Compliance in Adolescent Diabetics

• Hypnosis for Diabetic Children, Adolescents and Adults

• Hypnosis for Adolescents with Diabetes to Address Sleep Problems

Erectile Dysfunction

• Hypnosis Better Than Placebo or Testosterone for Male Sexual Dysfunction

• The Hypnotherapeutic Treatment of Impotence

• Hypnosis for Erectile Dysfunction

Fears & Phobias (for Agoraphobia, see above)

• Hypnotherapy and Stage Fright Stress

• Hypnosis for Aquaphobia

• Claustrophobia: Hypnosis and Claustrophobia in Magnetic Resonance Imaging

• Claustrophobia: Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Improved Patient Tolerance Utilizing Medical Hypnosis

• Claustrophobia: Increase Magnetic Resonance Imaging Tolerance with a Claustrophobic Patient

• Fear of Dentist: Functional Changes in Brain Activity After Hypnosis in Patients with Dental Phobia

• Fear of Dentist: Hypnosis in Pediatric Dental Treatment

• Fear of Dentist: Effects of Hypnosis as an Adjunct to Intravenous Sedation for Third Molar Extraction

• Fear of Dentist: Use of Imagery to Make Easier Injection of Anesthesia for Dental Work

• Fear of Dentist: Hypnosis as Adjunct Intervention for Anxiety About Tooth Removal

• Fear of Dentist: Self-Hypnosis for Dental Pain

• Fear of Swallowing: A Case Study of Hypnosis for Phagophobia

• Flying Phobia: 178 Flying Phobia Treated with Single 45 min Hypnosis Session

• Needle Phobia: Hypnosis for Needle Phobia of Child

• Needle Phobia: Hypnosis Effective for Needle Phobia in Dental Patients

• Needle Phobia: Meta-Analysis of Distraction and Hypnosis for Needle-Related Pain and Distress in Children and Adolescents

• Snake Phobia: 36 Female Snake Phobia & Hypnosis Study

Flow State

• The Effects of Hypnosis on Flow States and Performance

Glaucoma

• The Effects of Hypnosis on Intraocular Pressure in Normal and Glaucomatous Subjects

• Hypnosis and Intraocular Pressure, Ocular Perfusion and Overall Mental State

Healing (see pain)

• Harvard Medical Hypnosis and Healing

Headaches

• Efficacy of Hypnotherapy in the Treatment of Migraine

• Review of the Efficacy of Clinical Hypnosis with Headaches and Migraines

• Treatment of Chronic Tension-Type Headache with Hypnotherapy: A single-blind time controlled study

• Clinical Hypnotherapy/Self-Hypnosis for Chronic and Episodic Headaches in Children and Adolescents

• Self-Hypnosis and Recurrent Headaches: Children and Adolescents

• Hypnosis in the Treatment of Headache: Is Hypnotherapy Beneficial?

• Long-Term Follow-Up of Self-Hypnosis Training for Recurrent Headaches: What the Children Say

• Hypnosis in the Treatment of Headache Pain: A Methodological Review

• The Use of Hypnosis in the Treatment of Migraine Headache: A Case Study

Hemophilia

• Hypnotic Control of Upper Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage

• Hypnosis to Reduce Blood Loss in Surgery

• Hypnosis Helps Hemophiliacs Avoid Transfusions, Decreases Risk of Other Health Problems, and Increases Quality of Life

• The Use of Hypnosis in Hemophilia Dental Care

• Hypnosis to Reduce Blood Loss in Maxillofacial Surgery

HIV

• Effects of Hypnosis On The Immune Response: B-Cells, T-Cells, Helper and Suppressor Cells

• Hypnosis for Treatment of HIV Neuropathic Pain

• Hypnosis for HIV-Related Anxiety, Fear and Pain

• Hypnosis for the Control of HIV/AIDS Related Pain

• Hypnotherapy as an Effective Modulation for Enhancing Subjective Vitality of People living with HIV/AIDS and Dermatitis

HPV

• Twelve-Week Follow-Up: Hypnosis to Reduce and Clear HPV Lesions

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

• Effectiveness of Hypnosis in Reducing Mild Essential Hypertension

• Hypnosis Helps Lower Blood Pressure and Reduces Need for Blood Pressure Medicine Following Hospitalization

• The use of Hypnosis and Biofeedback Procedures for Essential Hypertension

• Hypnosis in Reducing Essential and Secondary Hypertension

• Guided Imagery Therapy on Blood Pressure among Hypertensive Geriatric Group

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

• Hypnosis for IBS – Study of 1,000 IBS Patients

• Controlled Trial of Hypnotherapy in the Treatment of Severe Refractory Irritable-Bowel Syndrome

• 5 Years Later: Benefits of Hypnotherapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

• Hypnosis for Severe Irritable Bowel Syndrome

• Hypnosis for IBS Helps both Diarrhea-Predominant IBS and Constipation-Predominant IBS

• Hypnosis for IBS Symptoms, Quality of Life and Anxiety

• Hypnotherapy for Children With Functional Abdominal Pain or Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Hypnosis for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: The Empirical Evidence of Therapeutic Effects

• Hypnosis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Review of Efficacy and Mechanism of Action

• Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy in the Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

• Nurse-Administered Hypnosis for IBS

Memory

• Improving Memory in Brain-Injured Patients Using Hypnotherapy

Motherhood, Fertility and Childbirth (‘Hypno-Birthing’)

• Fertility: Infertility and Pregnancy Loss: Hypnotic Interventions for Reproductive Challenges(book link)

• Fertility: Using Hypnosis to Enhance Fertility of Women Experiencing Infertility

• Fertility: Impact of Hypnosis During Embryo Transfer on the Outcome of In Vitro Fertilization-Embryo Transfer

• Pregnancy: Guided Imagery for Stress in Pregnant African American Women

• Pregnancy: Effects of a Guided Imagery Intervention on Stress in Hospitalized Pregnant Women

• Childbirth: Hypnosis for Childbirth Pain: Less Anesthesia Use

• Childbirth: Hypnosis to Shorten Labor, Reduce Medication, Control Pain or Lengthen Pregnancy if Expectant Mother Goes into Labor too Early

• Childbirth: Self-Hypnosis for Labor and Childbirth

• Childbirth: The Effects of Hypnosis on the Labor Processes and Birth Outcomes of Pregnant Adolescents

• Childbirth: Hypnosis to Facilitate Uncomplicated Birth

• Childbirth: The Effect of Hypnosis on Pain Relief During Labor and Childbirth in Pregnant Women

• Motherhood: Hypnosis for Maternal Stress

Multiple Sclerosis

• Efficacy of Self-Hypnosis in Pain Management in Female Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

• Use of Self-Hypnosis to Manage Chronic Pain in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis

• Self-Hypnosis Training for Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis and Chronic Pain

• Case Study Explores Hypnosis as Potential Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms

Overactive Bladder

• Hypnotherapy for treatment of overactive bladder: a randomized controlled trial pilot study

Pain

• Replacing Opioids with Hypnosis for Pain Treatment

• Hypnotic Approaches for Chronic Pain Management: clinical implications of recent research findings

• Guided Imagery Helps Children with Abdominal Pain

• A Meta-Analysis of Hypnotically Induced Analgesia

• Hypnosedation: a valuable alternative to traditional anaesthetic techniques

• Clinical Trial of a Brief Hypnosis Intervention to Control Venepuncture-Related Pain of Pediatric Cancer Patients

• Hypnosis for Pain During Plastic Surgery

• Use of Hypnosis Before and During Angioplasty

• Reason Why Hypnosis Alleviates Pain isn’t Because of Endorphins

• Guided Imagery for Pain of Children with Sickle Cell Disease

• Fibromyalgia

• Hypnosis for Fibromyalgia Chronic Pain

• Review of Research on Hypnosis and Fibromyalgia

• Hypnotherapy in the Treatment of Refractory Fibromyalgia

• Hypnosis When Added to Conventional Medical Treatment for Fibromyalgia

• Fibromyalgia Pain and its Modulation by Hypnotic and Non-Hypnotic Suggestion

• Hypnosis to Reduce Key Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

• Self-Hypnosis for Pain & Anxiety During Biopsy Outpatient Procedures

• Reduction of Phantom Limb Pain

• Hypnosis for Chronic Low Back Pain

• A Meta-Analysis of Hypnosis for Chronic Pain

• Hypnosis for Hospitalized Older Patients Pain Reduction

Panic Attack

• Hypnotherapy for Panic Attacks

Parkinson’s Disease

• Feasibility of Clinical Hypnosis for Parkinson’s Disease

• Guided Imagery for Parkinson’s Tremors

• Hypnosis on a Parkinsonian Tremor

Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD)

• Hypnotherapy for Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder

PTSD

• Combat-Related PTSD and Hypnotherapy

• PTSD & Children (Death of close relative)

• “Complex Trauma” PTSD

• Hypnosis for PTSD in Immigrants who Escaped to America After Being Tortured

• Hypnosis for PTSD After Kidnapping and Rape

• PTSD managed successfully with hypnosis: Obstetric Patients

• Hypnosis for PTSD: Evidence Based Placebo-Controlled Studies

• A Case Study in PTSD

Sleep

• Hypnosis for Improving Sleep Quality

• Hypnosis and Sleep Onset Insomnia

• Hypnosis for Adult Insomnia

• Chronic Insomnia: Outcome of Hypnotherapeutic Intervention in Six Cases

• Hypnosis As Effective Or Better Than Ambien For All Sleep Variables for Combat-Related PTSD Insomnia

• Sleep-terror disorder in children: the role of self-hypnosis in management

• Sleep Walking & Sleep Terrors

• The Treatment of Parasomnias with Hypnosis: a 5-Year Follow-Up Study (ages 6-71)

• Hypnosis for Older Adult Addicted to Sleeping Pills for Insomnia

• Snoring

• The Effectiveness of Self Hypnosis to Overcome Insomnia: A Case Study

• Hypnosis Extends Restorative Slow-Wave Sleep

• Adult Insomnia: Increasing Relaxation and Reducing Anxious-Depressive Symptoms

Smoking Cessation

• Clinical Hypnosis for Smoking Cessation

• Smoking and Hypnosis: Single Session with Self-Hypnosis

• Hypnotic Methods to Facilitate Smoking Cessation

• The Use of Hypnosis in Controlling Cigarette Smoking

• Hypnosis to Quit Smoking in One Session (Compared to Placebo and No Treatment)

• Hypnotherapy For Smoking Cessation Sees Strong Results

• Hypnosis and Smoking Cessation in the Workplace – Hypnotherapy Accompanying a Smoke-Free Work Policy

• Hypnotic Suggestion During General Anaesthesia on Postoperative Smoking Habits

• Hypnotherapy on Smoking Cessation of Secondary School Students

• Hypnotherapy is more effective than nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation: results of a randomized controlled trial

Sports Performance

• Hypnosis, The Brain and Sports

• Hypnosis Enhances Useful Imagery for Athletes

• Review of Studies on Hypnosis for Sports Performance

• Basketball and Hypnosis

• Hypnosis to Improve Performance of College Basketball Players

• The Effects of Hypnosis on Flow States and Three-Point Shooting Performance in Bastketball Players

• Hypnosis and Alpine Mountain Climbing: Injury Recovery and Performance Enhancement

• Effects of Hypnosis on Flow States and Golf Performance

• Hypnosis and Archery: Shooting Performance

• Sports imagery and hypnosis: A potent mix

• Hypnosis and Fencing

• Hypnosis to Increase Throwing Accuracy and Motor Skill Learning

• Hypnosis for an Senior Golfer

• Hypnosis for Sports Performers’ Self-Efficacy

Stress & Anxiety

• Hypnosis Audio Recorded Hypnosis for Stress, Burnout and Well-Being

• Effects of Anxiety-Reducing Hypnotic Training on Learning and Reading-Comprehension Tasks

• School Anxiety

• Hypnosis and Medical Student Exam Stress

• Hypnosis and Test Anxiety

• Self-Hypnosis for Artist Anxiety

• A Trial of Virtual Hypnosis to Reduce Stress and Test Anxiety in Family Medicine Residents

• Impact of Hypnotherapy on Examination Anxiety and Scholastic Performance Among School Children

• Hypnotherapy and Test Anxiety: Two cognitive-behavioral constructs: The effects of hypnosis in reducing test anxiety and improving academic achievement in college students

• Self‐hypnosis and Exam Stress: comparing immune and relaxation‐related imagery for influences on immunity, health and mood

Strokes

• Hypnosis and Strokes – To Improve Motor Function, Range of Motion, Increased Grip Strength, Etc.

• Hypnosis and Strokes – To Assist Recovery of Left Arm Function

• Hypnosis and Strokes: To Regain Function in Arm and Leg Movements as well as to Improve Facial Muscle Control

• Hypnosis and Strokes: To Assist Recovery of Arm Function Following Stroke and to Motivate Stroke Victims Who Manifest Negativism About Conventional Treatment

• Hypnosis and Hemorrhagic Strokes: To Promote Nerve Function Recovery, Reduce Anxiety and Enhance Quality of Life

• Hypnosis and Strokes: Descriptions of Improvements by Six Stroke Victims after Hypnosis(Book Link)

Stuttering

• Hypnosis for Stuttering and Speech Fluency

• Hypnosis and Self-Hypnosis for Mild and Severe Stutterers

• Hypnosis for Stuttering Caused by Trauma

• Hypnosis for Stuttering/Articulation Disorder for An 8-Year-Old

• Hypnosis as a Technique for the Treatment of Stuttering

• Hypnosis Combined with Diaphragmatic Exercises for Stuttering

Surgery and Speed Healing

• Can Medical Hypnosis Accelerate Post-Surgical Wound Healing? Results of a Clinical Trial

• Hypnosis With Conscious Sedation Instead of General Anaesthesia? Applications in Cervical Endocrine Surgery

• Hypnosis Helps Healing

• Hypnosis for Preoperative Stress

• Local Anesthesia Hypnosis Supplementation

• Hypnosis for Plastic Surgery: Morale, Drug Reduction, Hypnoanalgesia

• Self-hypnosis as Anesthesia for Liposuction Surgery

• Guided Imagery Helps with Cardiac Surgery

• Guided Imagery for Pain and Anxiety in Surgery Patients

• Using Hypnosis to Accelerate the Healing of Bone Fractures

• Hypnosis to Help Patients Heal After Surgery

Tinnitus

• Self-Hypnosis for Tinnitus

• Ericksonian Hypnosis for Tinnitus

• The Effectiveness of Hypnotherapy in the Treatment of Subjective Tinnitus

• Effectiveness of Ericksonian Hypnosis in Tinnitus Therapy

• Recorded Hypnotherapy for Tinnitus

• Hypnosis for Tinnitus Related Psychological Distress

• Hypnotic Induction Helps Tolerance of Tinnitus

Tourettes Syndrom / Tics

• Elucidating Tourette’s Syndrome: Perspectives from Hypnosis, Attention and Self-Regulation

• Self-Hypnosis for Children with Tourette’s Syndrome

• Hypnosis for Tics and Vocalizations – Case Study

• Children and Teens with Tourette Syndrome Find Relief with Self-Hypnosis

Trichotillomania

• Hypnosis And Trichotillomania – Children

• Hypnosis and Trichotillomania – Adolescents

• Hypnotherapy in Adolescents with Trichotillomania: Three Cases

• Hypnosis and Trichotillomania – Adults

Vomiting

• Psychogenic Vomiting

Warts

• Hypnosis in the Treatment of Warts

• Hypnotherapy for Warts (verruca vulgaris): 41 consecutive cases with 33 cures

• Hypnotherapy of a Child with Warts

• Wart Regression Most Successful using Hypnosis in comparison to Placebo, Topical Salicylic Acid, and No Treatment

• Hypnosis and Warts Resistant to Conventional Therapies

• Hypnosis and Warts in Immunodeficient Children

• Successful repeated hypnotic treatment of warts in the same individual: a case report

Weight Loss

• Hypnosis and Weight Loss – Hypnotized Subjects Lost Average of 17 Pounds Compared to 0.5 Pounds in the Control Group

• Effectiveness of Hypnosis as an Adjunct to Behavioral Weight Management

• Hypnotic Enhancement of Cognitive-Behavioral Weight Loss Treatments

• Weight Loss Through Hypnotherapy

• Hypnotherapy in Weight-Loss Treatment: Case Illustrations

• Hypnotherapy as an Adjunct to the Dietetic Management of Obese Patients

• Successful Hypnosis for Obesity

Other

• The Effects of Guided Imagery on Patients Being Weaned from Mechanical Ventilation

• Hypnosis for Selective Mutism – Case Study