Medical Community |
Since 1958, the American Medical Association has certified complementary and alternative techniques as legitimate treatment tools. The National Institutes of Health recognized focusing techniques as an effective intervention in 1996. In universities and hospitals across the country, complementary and alternative treatments are the subject of active research and are fast becoming mainstream in medical and behavior arenas. "…through focused concentration, the mind can have a potent effect not only on mental well-being, but also on the acceleration of bodily healing itself." The results of these efforts have been extremely impressive. Today, close to 15,000 doctors combine these techniques with standard medical treatments an estimated 94% of these patients benefitting. As cited by a 1995 consensus statement from the National Institutes of Health, strong evidence confirms that these interventions can reduce chronic pain associated with cancer and other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and tension headaches. The Mayo Clinic website reports that 80% of patient visits to their doctors are stress related, with almost 60% of all employee absences from work related to stress - a global epidemic. Complementary medical focusing techniques are used to treat stress which is a contributing factor in arthritis, Fibromyalgia, insomnia, migraines, and chronic pain. As for weight loss, studies clearly indicate the potential benefits of hypnosis. A 1996 meta-analysis study conducted at the University of Connecticut and published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology found people using hypnosis were able to lose on average almost 2.5 times as much weight as those not using hypnosis. Further the study found "…that the benefits of hypnosis increased substantially over time." |