Nexopia | Blog

Nexopia | Blog

Hypnosis Controls Chronic Headaches and Migraines

The effectiveness of hypnotic techniques in controlling chronic pain arising out of many diseases, some of which crippling in nature, has been attested through scientific experiments. Many clinical trials conducted on cancer patients taking up radio/chemo therapy, oral mucositis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and tension headaches have proved that hypnosis as an adjunctive therapy works in the best way in mitigating the severity of symptoms or relieving the patients from significant amount of pain. We have specifically focused on the utility of hypnosis in controlling the tension and migraine headaches.

In many of the individuals who suffer from chronic headache or migraine, it is usually the case that they wake up with this syndrome in the morning. To state otherwise, the chronic and pulsating pain affects with their sleep cycle and compels them to wake up. The reason for this is traced to the following conditions.

As we sleep our jaws remain tight throughout the night which is found to be responsible for producing a tightness and consequent tension. There is a tendency on your part to clench the jaws and the headache develops gradually in such a manner that when it reaches a bothering stage, it awakens you with a feeling of both tiredness and pain.

It is in these circumstances, self-hypnosis has proven its effectiveness. The subjects are supplied with a sell-hypnosis tape prepared by an expert hypnotist which when used at bed time helps to promote calming and inducing a deep relaxation. The key is repetitive suggestion which has the effect relaxing the jaws by relieving them from tension and tightness. During the process, you may have an inclination to clench and due to the positive effects produced by the hypnosis tape, you would clench a hand into a first thus reliving the jaw from such an act. These results in the jaw remaining loose limp and relaxed which promotes a sound sleep because the underlying causes that created the headache/migraine in the first place are removed.

In a number of clinical experiments the efficacy of hypnosis in the control of headaches/migraines has been established to be statistically significant and in some cases even superior when compared with other forms of commonly used medications or techniques as bio-feedback.  There is also a consensus among the clinical fraternity that hypnosis facilitates relaxation and the imagery techniques in themselves-meaning there is no need for multifaceted hypnotic techniques- have the effect of promoting well being by significantly reducing the dis-ease associated with such a pain.

It would then be appropriate for us to conclude this article by stating that not only there is conclusive pieces of evidence to show that hypnosis indeed helps in a scientific manner but also it does not need prolonged sessions in such cases as in helping to relieve the patients from suffering with nagging headaches whatever may be the nature of them.  It also in many cases dispenses away the need for taking pain killers which impairs the functioning of the kidneys over a longer period of time. When these vital organs are harmed they have the effect of affecting the functioning of other vital life giving organs as heart.  Hence, hypnosis merits for recognition in the health care delivery system and if this were to be achieved, we need to have more and more evidence based studies to secure it its rightful place. This means there is a need for more funding from national governments and international agencies.