The Science
Hypnotherapy and IBS
This meta-analysis demonstrated that hypnosis is safe. It’s also been shown to provide long term relief in 54% of patients with IBS.
This study states that hypnotherapy is a natural and non-invasive method for the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). hypnotherapy in refractory IBS is an effective treatment option with long-lasting effects.
Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, Volume 47, 2012, Issue 4, p. 414-421
Hypnotherapy and pain management
Elkins, Jensen and Patterson conclude that hypnosis interventions consistently produce significant decreases in pain associated with a variety of chronic pain problems. Furthermore, hypnosis was generally found to be more effective than non-hypnotic interventions such as attention, physical therapy and education.
Elkins, Jensen and Patterson: Hypnotherapy for the Management of Chronic Pain, International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, Volume 55, 2007 - Issue 3: Evidence-Based Practice in Clinical Hypnosis—Part II, p. 275-287
These studies state that hypnosis produces a significant decrease in pain and is an efficacious treatment of chronic pain conditions such as cancer, lower back pain, arthritis and sickle-cell disease.
https://juniperpublishers.com/ctcmi/CTCMI.MS.ID.555602.php
Hypnotherapy and sleep insomnia
Scientific studies on hypnosis support that it has a positive influence on slow wave sleep (deep sleep). This plays a critical role in the optimal functioning of our immune system, our metabolism and our brain. Cordi, Schlarb & Rasch concluded that hypnotic suggestions are an efficient tool to deepen sleep. Furthermore, they strongly indicate that hypnotic suggestions might prove an efficient non-pharmacological tool. It has a lower risk of adverse side effects than pharmacological treatments and it can deepen sleep in patients with sleep disturbances or in the elderly, thereby improving health and well-being.
https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/37/6/1143/2416924?login=false

In this study it was found that the use of hypnosis appears to facilitate efficient therapy for insomnia in school-age children.
https://bmcpediatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2431-6-23
Hypnotherapy and anxiety disorders
Holdevici and Craciun concluded in their study that hypnosis plays an important part in the treatment of anxiety disorders. This is due to the fact that it allows patients to reach a lower level of anxiety symptoms. This decrease of anxiety, depression and level of dysfunctional mood was statistically significant compared to the results obtained in their control group. They furthermore state, that CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and Hypnosis combined can lead to a strong reduction of the symptomatology. Therefore, they conclude that the combined cognitive-behavioral and hypnotherapy model is a highly viable treatment in the case of anxiety disorders.
Hypnotherapy and migraines
A review study concluded that hypnosis not only qualifies as a well-established and efficacious treatment of headaches and migraines but also a treatment that is relatively brief and cost effective. In addition, it has been found to be virtually free of the side effects, risks of adverse reactions, and the ongoing expense associated with widely used medication treatments.
Hammond: Review of the Efficacy of Clinical Hypnosis with Headaches and Migraines, International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 55(2): 1–13, 2007
Hypnotherapy in treating depression
According to this study hypnosis serves to empower the client. It strengthens the client and helps to discover and develop new resources, and empowers the client to evolve a flexibility in living that encourages shifting directions when a path is temporarily blocked or adversity encountered. Hypnosis strengthens people by showing them a path of self-discovery and self-growth, providing them with a comfortable context for developing the best and most adaptive parts of themselves.
https://yapko.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/IJCEH-Yapko-Guest-Editorial-June-2010.pdf
Hypnotherapy and confidence
According to a study performed at Stanton in 1995 on the use of hypnosis to boost confidence, 100% of the 22 participants demonstrated improved levels of confidence following the treatment. Six months later those confidence levels had been sustained by all the participants.
Stanton, H.E. (1995). Lecturer confidence building: The use of age progression and ego enhancement. Higher Education Research and Development, 14(1), 121-127.
Hypnotherapy and cancer
This study established that the use of hypnosis prior to breast cancer surgery reduced the amount of anesthesia administered during the operation. Hypnosis furthermore reduced the level of pain reported afterwards, and the time and cost of the procedure. In addition, patients in the hypnosis group also reported less nausea, fatigue, discomfort, and emotional upset after surgery.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070828175450.htm
Hypnotherapy and cancer
Research has firmly established that hypnosis can be effective in addressing acute and chronic pain associated with cancer. It can furthermore be effective in addressing the side effects of cancer treatment. Side effects range from, pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, distress, fatigue, to hot flashes.
Kravits, K.: Hypnosis: Adjunct Therapy for Cancer Pain Management, J Adv Pract Oncol. 2013 Mar-Apr; 4(2): 83–88
Hypnotherapy and breastfeeding (lactation)
Hypnotherapy is more effective than acupressure in the production of prolactin hormone and breast milk among women having given birth by cesarean section. Thus, hypnotherapy can be the alternative in support of successful breast feeding.
Anuhgera, D., Kuncoro, T., Sumarni, S., Mardiyono, M., & Suwondo, A. (2017).
Hypnotherapy is more effective than acupressure in the production of prolactin hormone and breast milk among women having given birth with cesarean section. Medicine and Clinical Science.
Hypnotherapy and postpartum depression (PPD)

This article is a report of a single case in which hypnotherapy was successfully utilized in the treatment of postpartum depression by attending to the specific problems presented by the client and developing client skills to resolve existing problems and prevent their recurrence.
Yexley, M. J. (2007). Treating postpartum depression with hypnosis: Addressing specific symptoms presented by the client. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 49(3), 219-223.
Hypnotherapy and shorter labor
Forty-five clients who used hypnosis for childbirth (first time mothers) had an average of 4.5 hours for the active labor. This was a significant reduction compared to the usual 9 hours compared to the control group. Furthermore, the women under hypnosis had lower depression scores after birth than women in the control group. Thirty-eight out of forty-five mothers under hypnosis, delivered spontaneously without the use of cesarean, forceps or ventouse. This rate of 84% is higher than the average rate of normal birth for the general population of first time mothers.
Harmon, T. M., Hynan, M. T., & Tyre, T. E. (1990). Improved obstetric outcomes using hypnotic analgesia and skill mastery combined with childbirth education. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 58(5), 525.
Another study using hypnosis, whereby hypnosis can reduce the length of active labor by three hours from the usual nine hours.
Jenkins, M. W., & Pritchard, M. H. (1993). Hypnosis: practical applications and theoretical considerations in normal labor. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 100(3), 221-226.
Hypnotherapy and breech babies

One hundred pregnant women whose fetuses were in a breech position at 37-40 weeks’ gestation and a matched control group. 81% of breech babies were successful conversions to a vertex position compared with 48% in the control group. The success was thought to be down to psycho physiological factors which may influence the breech position.
Mehl, L. E. (1994). Hypnosis and conversion of the breech to the vertex presentation. Archives of family medicine, 3(10), 881.
Studies show that chiropractic, acupuncture and hypnotherapy can safely turn many breech babies. These alternative treatments can be tried at 28 to 34 weeks gestation before a medical external version is an option and without the associated risks. Brill, J. (2004). Effective Alternative Treatments For Breech Presentation. Special Delivery, 27(4), 5.
The impact of Hypnotherapy on embryo transfer

This study suggests that the use of hypnosis during ET may significantly improve the IVF/ET cycle outcome in terms of increased implantation and clinical pregnancy rates. Furthermore, it seems that the patients’ attitude to the treatment was more favorable http://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(06)00077-X/fulltext
Hypnotherapy, fertility and stress
Hypnosis can effectively double the success of IVF treatments. In the study of 185 woman, it was found that 28% of the women who were hypnotized for the IVF treatment became pregnant, compared to 14% of the women in the control group.
Stress can be the main contributor to an inability to conceive and have a successful birth. The study demonstrated that the stress of the IVF procedure created small contractions of the uterus that prevented the successful implantation of the fertilized egg. With the group that received hypnosis, this was not the case. The study concluded that nothing worked as well as hypnosis for implantation of the fertilized egg.