Hypnosis in the Medical Setting

A new Mayo Clinic study shows that massage therapy decreases pain levels for patients after heart surgery. In the study were 58 patients who had undergone surgery and examined the effect of massage on pain after surgery. Of the 30 who received massage, the mean pain scores were less than 1 on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 as the most painful. Before the massage therapy, these patients rated their pain at an average of 3 on a 10-point scale. The control group (which consisted of 28) had their pain levels remaining the same over the same period, according to findings published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice.

In 2004, the Mayo Clinic's cardiovascular surgery group began looking at complementary therapies. According to surveys that were conducted the group started to hear from patients that tension, stress, pain and anxiety hampered their recovery.

There is now the "Healing Enhancement Program" for cardiac surgery patients. It offers massage, music and guided imagery. The program combines evidence-based conventional care and evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine.These therapies place are seen as an important addition in helping the patients.

The programs team of health professionals have created pilot studies and research protocols for massage therapy, music therapy and guided imagery for patients, as well as stress education classes for patients and family members.Currently a controlled trial for various music CD's is under way.

This complementary health method teaches patients to use their imaginations along with music to help guide them through recovery. The guided imagery is on CD's which are distributed to patients when they are informed of the need for surgery.

The Mayo Clinic Patient Education Center offers a pilot stress management skill classes to inpatients and their family members. The classes are conducted twice a week on the cardiac surgery units. The Mayo Clinic now has a full-time massage therapist available for patients after heart surgery because of this program.

Now is the time for Hypnotherapists to go out there and spread the word about the use of hypnosis in the medical setting.