The following summarizes several articles on the use of hypnosis in the management and elimination of pain.

February 21, 2000, the Boston Globe reports a study entitled "Gender, Genes Are Linked to Pain Response.  Studying pain at its most basic level, genes and proteins, using computerized imaging of the brain in action these studies reveal that methods such as hypnosis and distraction can be effective pain reducers.  During hypnosis, areas of the brain which are highly active when focusing directly on pain were significantly dampened when the person was distracted by a task. 

Catherine Bushness, research psychologist at McGill University, states "...we saw pain signals decreased before they ever got to a part of the brain were pain is perceived."  Bushnell reported at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science:  "You really can teach people to reduce their pain through distraction or hypnotic suggestion."

This article also discussed gender and genetic differences in the receptivity to intermittent as well as chronic pain.  (The Boston Globe, InteliHealth-On Line)  Original article can be found on Intelihealth.

The New York Times, February 26, 1996 issued a report "Hypnosis Gains Credence As Influence on the Body - It Helps Control Pain, Fear and Habits."  This article reports on the varied use of hypnosis to control and eliminate pain, from its use during routine dental work to the management of severe pain caused by cancer or treatments for cancer.  The article also summarizes its use in the treatment of children with cancer.

Improved Obstetric Outcomes Using Hypnotic Analgesia and Skill Mastery Combined with Childbirth Education.  Theresa M. Harmon and Michael T. Hynan, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.  Timothy E. Tyre, Pain Clinic, Waukesha Memorial Hospital Waukesha, Wisconsin. 

The Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology Association, Inc.  1990, Vol. 58, No. 5, 525-530, reports a significant study in  which 60 nulliparous women were divided into two groups according to high and low susceptibility to hypnosis.  Each received six session of childbirth education and skill mastery using an ischemic pain task. 

Half of these women in each group received a hypnotic induction at the beginning of each session while the remaining subjects received only relaxation and breathing exercises, the kind typically used in childbirth education.  The results showed that both groups of women, with high or low susceptibility to hypnosis reported reduced pain. 

In addition, the women who were prepared using hypnosis had shorter labor, received less medication and had more frequent spontaneous deliveries than the group that did not receive hypnotic training.  Another notable difference was that those who were highly susceptible and hypnotically treated had lower depression scores after birth than women in the other three groups.

Articles on HypnoBirthing and Natural Childbirth:

Research on Effects of HypnoBirthing on Labor & Delivery

Overcome the Fear and Pain of Childbirth Using Hypnosis

How to avoid Episiotomy

Potential Risks of Epidurals

What you should know about Cesarean section