Paul McKenna on Dr. Oz

Dr. Oz recently re-aired a segment on weight-loss and hypnosis. Paul McKenna, author of “I Can Make You Thin,” and “Quit Smoking Today Without Gaining Weight” appeared on the Dr. Oz show (much to my mother’s delight) to promote hypnosis as an aid in weight loss.

Watch the Segment on Dr. Oz's Website

New TV Show Necessary Roughness features a Hypnotherapist

USA Networks is airing a new show called Necessary Roughness which features a hypnotherapist as the main character, Dr. Dani. The basic premise is that one of her smoking cessation clients gets her to do hypnosis for sports performance on his football team. She gets hired by the team and soon she takes on high-profile clients like politicians and celebrities.  While practicing as a hypnotherapist she juggles her career and family as well.  Hopefully this show gives hypnosis a bit more positive light—it would be nice to have clients refer to this show instead of a fantasy or sci-fi show when they ask about hypnosis.

Watch the Pilot for Necessary Roughness

Hypnosis on the World-Wide Web

Huffing Post Runs an Article on Reliving Anxiety with Self-hypnosis.

This was a great little article by Valorie J. Wells, Ph.D. on reliving anxiety through self-hypnosis with a run-down of a self-hypnosis technique.

Hypnosis in Science and Medicine

Small Belgium Study Adds Evidence that Hypnosis Can Speed up Recovery Time When Used Instead of Generalized Anesthesia

A small study by two doctors in Belgium found that combining hypnosis and localized anesthesia instead of knocking the patients completely out with generalized anesthesia helped the patients recover faster. The study included 78 women receiving surgery for breast cancer with 18 of those women receiving hypnosis and localized anesthesia. It also included another set of 36 patients for thyroid surgery with 18 of those receiving hypnosis and localized anesthesia.

The doctors used an Ericksonian hypnotic modality including an eye fixation and a progressive relaxation on the operating table.

The study found that patients receiving hypnosis and localized anesthesia reported less nausea, had shorter hospital stays, and less wound drainage compared to the group that went under general anesthesia.

Sources: [UPI] and [About.com]