Hypnosis, also referred to as hypnotherapy or hypnotic suggestion, is a trance-like state of mind. It is usually achieved with the help of a hypnotherapist and is different from your everyday awareness. When you're under hypnosis your attention is more focused, you're deeply relaxed and calm, you're more open to suggestions, and less critical or disbelieving. The purpose of hypnosis is to help you gain more control over your behavior, emotions or physical well-being.

Hypnotherapy has the potential to help relieve the symptoms of a wide variety of diseases and conditions. It can be used independently or along with other treatments. For example, it's one of several relaxation methods for treating chronic pain that has been approved by an independent panel convened by the National Institutes of Health.

According to preliminary studies, hypnotherapy may be used to:

• Change negative behaviors, such as smoking, bed-wetting and overeating

• Reduce or eliminate fears, stress and anxiety

• Treat pain during childbirth and reduce labor time

• Control pain during dental and surgical procedures

• Relieve symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

• Lower blood pressure

• Control nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy

• Reduce the intensity or frequency of headaches, including migraines

• Treat and ease the symptoms of asthma

• Hasten the healing of some skin diseases, including warts, psoriasis and dermatitis

Although hypnosis may have the potential to help with a wide variety of conditions, it's typically used as one part of a broader treatment plan rather than as a stand-alone therapy. Like any other therapy, hypnosis can be helpful to some people but not to others. It seems to work best when you're highly motivated and your therapist is well trained. Hypnosis conducted under the care of a trained therapist is considered a safe complementary and alternative medicine treatment.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hypnosis/SA00084