Cancer Care Complementary Hypnosis
April 13, 2010 by Jane Ann Covington
Filed under Cancer, Cancer & Pain Management, Hypnotherapy, Pain Control, Pain Relief
Hypnosis a Powerful Tool in Complementary Cancer Care
Complementary therapies, while not given the attention that more traditional cancer therapies may receive, are perhaps equally important while undergoing treatment for certain types of cancer. Patients diagnosed with difficult to treat malignancies will often use these types of therapies in conjunction with traditional surgical, chemotherapeutic, or radiology techniques to form a more comprehensive and effective treatment regimen. Among the most important and effective alternative therapies utilized by those diagnosed with cancer is hypnotherapy.
Hypnotherapy has been used for many years in clinical settings. Hypnotherapy’s role in cancer management however, is relatively new and indications are that its utilization has not been fully maximized yet. Effective cancer treatment often depends on the patient’s ability to not only defeat the cancer through treatments but also to maintain their health and mental spirit throughout the painful side effects of cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation.
Often, the symptoms and effects of the cancer itself on the body are negligible compared to the pain and other side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. This is where acupuncture has been said to be most effective. Cancers such as mesothelioma, which are often unable to be removed by surgical means, are often treated with some combination of chemotherapy and radiation. While these potent therapies can be effective in eliminating some of the tumor mass and growth, they also profoundly affect the health of the surrounding tissue. Symptoms of these effects including fever, nausea, and general pain have been dramatically reduced through the utilization of hypnosis. Patients, who are able to withstand these symptoms and recover quickly, will often be able to be more aggressively treated, increasing the efficacy of the treatment regimen as a whole. Some specific hypnotherapy techniques utilized in pain management include altering the neurophysical configuration of pain, control of anticipatory anxiety, and targeted imagery.
Hypnotherapy techniques may not be appropriate for all patient’s pain and individual symptoms but it’s certainly worth exploring as it can do very little harm in experimenting with integrative therapies. The goal with alternative therapies, as with traditional mesothelioma treatments, is always to increase the effectiveness of treatment as a whole. If hypnotherapy can assist in any way in helping patients recover or manage symptoms of chemotherapy or radiation, then it will have contributed to the treatment regimens overall efficacy and should certainly be utilized.
References
Erickson MH: Hypnosis in painful terminal illness, in Haley J (ed): Advanced Techniques of Hypnosis and Therapy: Selected Papers of Milton Erickson, MD. New York, Crune & Stratton, 1967.
Sunnen, Gerard M.D. , Hypnotic Approaches in the Cancer Patient Ozonics International, LLC
Popularity: 5% [?]
PAIN CONTROL WITH HYPNOSIS
September 6, 2009 by jacovington
Filed under Intention & the Subconscious, Pain Relief, Self-Hypnosis Course
Pain has been shown to have a HUGE mental component. If you have pain, hypnosis can most likely help you gain relief. How do I know? I am very allergic to all currently prescribed pain medications. As I sit with two new permanent “pins” in my left inner ankle, I say, “Oh, well!”, and deal with pain on my own. Thank God, I know self hypnosis, how to use my mind to feel better without pain meds. [When people ask "what happened?," it was a paintball accident in the Catskill Mountains (NY).] But, my Mind is a Powerful Tool I choose to use to help myself feel comfortable and heal faster.
Another good technique to control pain is to concentrate on a relaxing subject that gives you enjoyment and engages you. For me it is birding. Here is a relaxing birding log.
Popularity: 23% [?]
Jane Ann Covington, Founder and Director of Center for Developing Mastery since 1987, offers one-on-one attention to individuals providing education, coaching, hypnosis and hypnotherapy to develop mastery in the area(s) of your choice.