ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

HYPNOTHERAPY

ESSAY
For fulfill a subject
English
majoring by Mrs. Dra. Astuti Triwahyuning, MBA

By
Naning Hikmatul I.

1201100039

Annisa Walidatus S.

1201100056

POLTEKKES KEMENKES MALANG

JURUSAN KEPERAWATAN
PRODI D III KEPERAWATAN MALANG
May 2013

1.1 Definition of Hypnotherapy

Hypnosis is a state of restful alertness during which a person uses deeply focused
concentration. The person can be relatively unaware of, but not completely blind to, his or her
surroundings, and he or she may be more open to suggestion. It is considered to be a type of
complementary therapy.
The term "hypnosis" comes from the Greek word hypnos, meaning "sleep." Hypnotherapists
use exercises that bring about deep relaxation and an altered state of consciousness, also known
as a trance. A person in a deeply focused state is unusually responsive to an idea or image, but
this does not mean that a hypnotist can control the person's mind and free will. On the contrary,
hypnosis can actually teach people how to master their own states of awareness. By doing so
they can affect their own bodily functions and psychological responses.
1.2 History of Hypnosis
Throughout history, trance states have been used by shamans and ancient peoples in rituals
and religious ceremonies. But hypnosis as we know it today was first associated with the work
of an Austrian physician named Franz Anton Mesmer. In the 1700s, Mesmer believed that
illnesses were caused by magnetic fluids in the body getting out of balance. He used magnets
and other hypnotic techniques (the word mesmerized comes from his name) to treat
people. But the medical community was not convinced. Mesmer was accused of fraud, and his
techniques were called unscientific.
Hypnotherapy regained popularity in the mid 1900s due to Milton H. Erickson (1901 1980), a successful psychiatrist who used hypnosis in his practice. In 1958, both the American
Medical Association and the American Psychological Association recognized hypnotherapy as a
valid medical procedure. Since 1995, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has recommended
hypnotherapy as a treatment for chronic pain.
Other conditions for which hypnotherapy is frequently used include anxiety and addiction.
1.3 Procedure of Hypnotherapy
When something happens to us, we remember it and learn a particular behavior in response
to what happened. Each time something similar happens, our physical and emotional reactions
attached to the memory are repeated. In some cases these reactions are unhealthy. In some forms
of hypnotherapy, a trained therapist guides you to remember the event that led to the first
reaction, separate the memory from the learned behavior, and replace unhealthy behaviors with
new, healthier ones.

During hypnosis, your body relaxes and your thoughts become more focused. Like other
relaxation techniques, hypnosis lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and changes certain types
of brain wave activity. In this relaxed state, you will feel at ease physically yet fully awake
mentally and may be highly responsive to suggestion. Your conscious mind becomes less alert
and your subconscious mind becomes more focused.Some people respond better to hypnotic
suggestion than others.
There are several stages of hypnosis:
Reframing the problem
Becoming relaxed, then absorbed (deeply engaged in the words or images presented by a
hypnotherapist)
Dissociating (letting go of critical thoughts)
Responding (complying with a hypnotherapist's suggestions)
Returning to usual awareness
Reflecting on the experience
1.4 Indicator for Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis is used in a variety of settings -- from emergency rooms to dental offices to
outpatient clinics. Clinical studies suggest that hypnosis may improve immune function,
increase relaxation, decrease stress, and ease pain and feelings of anxiety.
Hypnotherapy can reduce the fear and anxiety that some people feel before medical or
dental procedures. For example, studies show that dental patients who underwent hypnosis had
a significantly higher threshold for pain than those who were not hypnotized. Hypnosis may
also improve recovery time and reduce anxiety and pain following surgery. Clinical trials on
burn patients suggest that hypnosis decreases pain (enough to replace pain medication) and
speeds healing. Generally, clinical studies show that using hypnosis may reduce your need for
medication, improve your mental and physical condition before an operation, and reduce the
time it takes to recover. Dentists also use hypnotherapy to control gagging and bleeding.
A hypnotherapist can teach you self regulation skills. For instance, someone with arthritis
may learn to turn down pain like the volume on a radio. Hypnotherapy can also be used to help
manage chronic illness. Self hypnosis can enhance a sense of control, which is often lacking
when someone has a chronic illness.

Clinical studies on children in emergency treatment centers show that hypnotherapy reduces
fear, anxiety, and discomfort.
Other problems or conditions that may respond to hypnotherapy include:
Irritable bowel syndrome
Tension headaches
Alopecia areata
Asthma
Phobias
Insomnia
Addictions
Bedwetting
Fibromyalgia
Phobias
Labor and delivery
Skin disorders [such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema (atopic dermatitis)]
Stress
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Cancer related pain
Weight loss
Eating disorders
Warts
Indigestion (dyspepsia)

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