Current Research and Findings

For over 4000 years, hypnosis has been a natural part of the art of medicine and healing. We know that it helps against pain, heals fears and cures many other ailments. For several decades now, science has also been concerned with hypnosis. In the process, many physicians of earlier years initially set out to disprove its effectiveness. In fact, however, a number of recognized studies and test methods have now confirmed the positive effects of hypnosis.

Although in many cases it is still not possible to understand exactly how hypnosis works, comparative studies provide clear figures that hypnosis achieves positive effects in different areas of medicine and psychology. The most important studies in this regard are the Stanford Study on the Effect of Hypnosis on the Brain and the Meta-Analysis on the Effectiveness of Hypnotherapy by the University of Tübingen.
Learn more about how hypnosis works.

In 2003, a working group from the University of Tübingen, commissioned by the MEG (Milton Erickson Society for Clinical Hypnosis) and the German Hypnosis Society (DGH), compiled in an expert report 45 proofs of efficacy of hypnosis therapies, previously selected according to scientific criteria, and presented the neurobiological basis of hypnosis.
This expertise was intensively reviewed by the Scientific Advisory Board Psychotherapy and finally led to the recognition of hypnotherapy in 2006 according to § 11 PsychThG as a scientific treatment method in many areas of application.
Among the best researched and positively considered areas include in particular somatic disorders with psychological involvement. These include:

• Chronic pain, postoperative pain, migraine
• Addictive behaviors, especially tobacco addiction
• Phobias such as fear of flying, speech anxiety, social phobia needle phobia, agoraphobia
• and sleep disorders

In recent years, the effectiveness of hypnosis has been further extensively studied and finally scientifically proven.
This led to the fact that in addition to the recognition as a scientific method of treatment, the scope of hypnosis is becoming larger and larger:
Hypnosis is used in operations as a substitute for anesthesia, in the field of chronic diseases or pain and in psychotherapy and psychosomatic. However, not only the sick person benefits from the effect of hypnotherapy today.
Hypnosis also promotes personal development and helps to make important decisions and lead a free, self-determined life.

Paper - Hypnosis in Medicine is Effective. Evidence and efficiency

The fact that hypnosis is successfully used in medicine in numerous specialties is shown in this technical paper "Hypnosis in Medicine is Effective. Evidence and efficiency" by Jochen Hefner. You can download this article by clicking on the following link as a download from the MEG Foundation (a new tab will open and the MEG Foundation article will be downloaded at the same time):
Technical paper - Hypnosis in Medicine is Effective. Evidence and Efficiency.

Television contribution NDR - Hypnosis as an alternative to anesthesia

This TV feature is about the University Hospital of Jena, which performs operations on the brain while the patient is hypnotized - completely without anesthesia. The successes prove the doctors right! Click on the following link, a new tab will open:
Television report NDR - Hypnosis as an alternative to anesthesia.

Television contribution ARD - Healing with hypnosis - The power of inner images

This television report is about very practical cases in hypnotherapy, who visit Gunther Schmidt for hypnosis treatment. Gunther Schmidt is a German physician and psychotherapist and is considered a pioneer in linking systemic therapy and hypnotherapy according to Milton Erickson in Germany. This is an article absolutely worth watching, which shows how modern hypnotherapy works today. Click on the following link, a new tab will open:
TV feature NDR - Healing with Hypnosis - The Power of Inner Images.