由 home-healthhaven 
To someone new to the concept, hypnosis might seem like magic from Hogwarts, making people act like animals or fall asleep on stage. While it has a gimmicky history, hypnosis actually has a lot of potential when it comes to medical benefits.
Despite its rocky reputation, hypnosis is gaining respect in the medical world. The American Psychological Association recognizes its benefits for treating pain, anxiety, depression, and addictions. In fact, the American Medical Association has approved hypnosis as a medical treatment since 1958.
Hypnosis is more accessible now than ever. You can find plenty of audiobooks that teach self-hypnosis, and there are apps on iTunes and Google Play that use hypnosis to help people relax and find inner peace. Apps like the Attention Shifting Hypnosis app can even help you overcome personal tragedies, release troubling thoughts, and focus on your life goals.
Deciding if hypnosis is right for you should be left to a medical professional. However, these four scientifically-backed health benefits might convince you of hypnotherapy’s effectiveness:
1. **Achieves Deep Sleep**
Researchers at the University of Zurich found that hypnosis could help improve sleep. They studied the brain activity of participants who listened to a hypnosis tape designed to encourage deep sleep. Those who listened to the tapes enjoyed deeper sleep, and unlike sleep-inducing drugs, hypnosis had no side effects.
2. **Reduces Hot Flashes**
A study by Dr. Gary R. Elkins looked at the impact of hypnotherapy on hot flashes in post-menopausal women. In the trial, 187 women were split into two groups: one received clinical hypnosis while the other got a placebo treatment. The women in the hypnotherapy group reported a 74.16% reduction in hot flashes, compared to a 17.13% reduction in the control group. This clearly demonstrated that hypnotherapy can help reduce hot flashes.
3. **Helps with PTSD**
Research at Washington State University found that hypnosis could help people with PTSD. They tested 60 PTSD patients, splitting them into two groups of 30. One group received hypnotherapy sessions, while the other got a placebo treatment. The hypnotherapy group showed significant improvement, and the positive effects lasted longer.
4. **Manages Pain**
Numerous studies have shown that hypnotherapy can be effective in managing pain caused by various conditions, including arthritis and cancer. Studies from 2000 and 2009 both concluded that hypnotherapy can help reduce pain.
So, while hypnosis might still seem a bit magical, its benefits in the medical field are very real and supported by science.