January 2024

This review looked at 20 years of research on hypnosis and included many studies of people with mental and physical health problems. The researchers found that hypnosis helped improve a wide range of health outcomes. 

​The strongest benefits were seen in people dealing with pain, patients having medical procedures, and children and teenagers.

​Hypnosis was shown to help reduce discomfort, improve emotional well-being, and make medical experiences less stressful.

These findings suggest that hypnosis can be a safe and effective tool to support both mental and physical health in many different types of patients.
​

October 2020

This study looked at cancer patients who took part in a group program that combined self-hypnosis and self-care techniques after treatment.

The participants who used self-hypnosis reported higher self-esteem, less emotional distress, and healthier ways of managing difficult emotions.
​

 These participants became more mindful and aware of their thoughts & feelings. This increase in mindfulness explained the improvement in confidence and emotional well-being.
​

 Self-hypnosis and self-care helped cancer survivors feel calmer, more emotionally balanced, and more confident as they recover after treatment.

​

June 2022

This study looked at adults with obesity who struggled with impulsive eating and loss of control around food. The researchers compared standard nutrition education alone with nutrition education combined with hypnosis and self-hypnosis training.

After eight months, the people who used hypnosis showed much greater improvement in controlling emotional and impulsive eating behaviors. Many participants reported feeling less hungry and showed modest improvements in weight and BMI compared to the control group.​

 In the management of adults with obesity and impulsive eating, hypnosis and self-hypnosis can significantly improve the deep mechanisms of eating behaviors & seem to have a beneficial effect on weight loss.
​

January 2021

This review examined research studies on hypnotherapy for weight loss and obesity treatment. The researchers found that hypnotherapy, especially when combined with healthy eating and lifestyle changes, helped many people lose weight and improve their eating habits.

Some participants continued losing weight even after treatment ended, with some people losing between one and ten kilograms during follow-up periods. One study also found that people who used hypnosis became more physically active.

Hypnotherapy may be a helpful tool for supporting weight loss, healthier behaviors, and improved quality of life in people struggling with obesity and overweight problems.​

November 2020 
​

This study looked at whether hypnotherapy could help people with obesity lose weight and improve health markers in the body. 

Thirty-two adults took part in weekly hypnotherapy sessions for 10 weeks to help them develop healthier eating habits and a balanced diet.

By the end of the study, the participants had lower body weight and lower BMI scores. Blood tests also showed healthier changes in hormones linked to weight, appetite, and metabolism.

The researchers concluded hypnotherapy is easy to apply, cheap, and effective; has no potential for side effects; and can be applied both alone and in combination with other treatments.

​

January 2026

 This review looked at 142 studies involving more than 9,000 people, including both adults and children. The researchers found that people who used hypnosis before a medical procedure had less pain and felt less worried afterward.

When hypnosis was used during a procedure, people felt less pain at the time and had lower anxiety later. They were also less likely to feel sick to their stomach or vomit after surgery.

This study suggests that hypnosis can help patients feel calmer, more comfortable, and recover more easily during and after medical procedures.

​

May 2003

In this study, 18 women having breast surgery were divided into three groups. All of the women received the same medical care from the same doctors. One group received standard care, another group received extra attention and support from a psychologist, and the third group received hypnosis before and after surgery.

The women who used hypnosis healed much faster than the women in the other groups.

This study suggests that not only can hypnosis help the body recover more quickly after surgery, it improves healing, and that hypnosis can be a helpful party of the surgical, medical, and recovery team.
​

April 2000

Hypnosis had more pronounced effects on pain and anxiety reduction, and is superior, in that it also improves hemodynamic stability.

People felt calmer and more comfortable during invasive medical procedures

In addition to reducing pain and fear, those who received hypnosis maintained heart rate & blood pressure control during invasive medical procedures.
​

February 2021

This study was done to see if hypnosis could help medical students with severe test anxiety. Researchers followed 625 medical students and gave one hour of hypnosis to students with the highest anxiety levels before an important oral exam.

Students who received hypnosis showed less fear, less emotional stress, and more confidence over time compared to students who did not receive hypnosis.

Hypnosis helped students feel calmer and more in control during stressful exams. They reported lower anxiety, fewer distracting thoughts, and greater self-confidence.

Researchers concluded that hypnosis can be an effective  tool for reducing test anxiety and supporting emotional well-being in students.

August 2023

Agoraphobia is an intense fear of being in places where escape might be difficult which often leads to only feeling safe at home and refusing to leave the home.

This study looked at whether hypnotherapy could help people with agoraphobia. The researchers compared people who received hypnotherapy with people who were placed on a waiting list and did not receive treatment right away.

The people who received hypnotherapy showed a strong reduction in their symptoms after hypnosis.

These results suggest that hypnotherapy may be an effective way to help people feel less fear and anxiety and improve their daily lives.
​

July 2024

Review of the evidence suggests that hypnosis and hypnotherapy are effective in treating anxiety and stress.

The evidence also suggests hypnosis and hypnotherapy can positively affect the heart and the cardiovascular system because they reduce sympathetic activation (fight or flight stress) and increase parasympathetic tone (rest and digest) so that cardiovasular disease is potentially prevented.

Researchers conclude the healthier heart function and improved overall well-being may help lower the risk of heart disease linked to long-term stress and anxiety.
​

September 2022

This study included 50 cognitively impaired elderly patients scheduled for a lumbar puncture. The researchers found that patients who used hypnosis had less anxiety and less pain compared to those who did not use hypnosis.

The patients and caregivers also reported that hypnosis was safe, easy to use, and well accepted. Most participants said the experience was better than they expected.

The researchers concluded that hypnosis may be a helpful way to reduce fear, stress, and discomfort during medical procedures for older adults with cognitive impairment.

January 2018

Patients who received hypnosis along with their medical care had less pain and less anxiety than patients who did not receive hypnosis. They were also less likely to need stronger pain medicines over the next one to two years.

Hypnosis is a helpful for people with cancer and other serious chronic illnesses receiving palliative care. These results suggest that hypnosis can improve comfort, reduce suffering, and support long-term emotional and physical well-being.
​

January 2016

Two groups of older hospitalized patients with chronic pain & compared hypnosis to massage therapy. Both groups had less pain after treatment sessions, but the patients who received hypnosis showed greater improvement in pain levels during their hospital stay.

Patients in the hypnosis group also showed improvement in depression scores over time, while the massage group did not. The researchers concluded that hypnosis is a safe and valuable tool for helping older adults manage chronic pain and emotional distress.

September 2018

This study explored the use of hypnosis to help people stop smoking and avoid relapse. Participants attended hypnosis sessions that focused on relaxation, changing unhealthy thought patterns, strengthening confidence, and learning self-hypnosis techniques.

16 out of 20 participants successfully quit smoking during the program because the researchers found that hypnosis helped change the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors connected to smoking so that it was easier to quit more comfortably and confidently.

January 2014

This study compared hypnotherapy and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to help people stop smoking after being hospitalized for heart or lung illness. 

The results showed that hypnotherapy patients were more than three times as likely to stay smoke-free after six months compared to patients using only nicotine replacement therapy.

People who used hypnosis, with or without nicotine replacement, had much higher long-term quit rates.

May 2008

This study compared hypnosis with standard behavioral counseling to help smokers quit while both groups also used nicotine patches.

Researchers found that the hypnosis group had higher quit-smoking rates at both 6 months and 12 months compared to the counseling group.

The benefits of hypnosis were especially strong for people with a history of depression, who showed significantly better long-term quit rates than those receiving standard treatment alone.
​