The unique effects of hypnosis on the brain suggest that it can be a powerful way to relieve pain—and might even be an alternative to opioids, one expert believes When Dr. David Spiegel emerged from a three-hour shoulder surgery in 1972, he didn’t use any pain meds to recover. Instead, he hypnotized himself. It worked—to the surprise of everyone but Dr. Spiegel, who has studied hypnosis, a state of highly focused attention and intense concentration, for 45 years. Patien

Could hypnosis help to reduce the psychological trauma associated with "awake craniotomy" for brain cancers? A new "hypnosedation" technique offers a new alternative for patients undergoing awake surgery for gliomas, suggests a study in the January issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. Initial evaluation shows a high rate of successful hypnosis in patients undergoing "awake craniotomy" for brain cancer (glioma), report Dr. Ilye

Quite often I am asked, “What’s the difference between meditation and hypnosis?” While meditation and hypnosis can be similar in terms of the process utilized to achieve a relaxed state of mind and body, they differ in terms of the outcome. Meditation is used to quiet the mind while hypnosis is used to program the mind. Meditation seeks to quiet the mind and helps create a blank slate where you can release all of your cares and concerns. Meditation helps you recharge an