SLIMMER AND HEALTHIER CREATING A SLIM, HEALTHY BODY FOR LIFE

Princess Kate is a Fan continued … It’s a great endorsement for hypnotherapy. There is already wide acceptance of hypnotherapy treatment for ‘problems’ that are connected with thoughts and emotions. But the Duchess of Cambridge used hypnotherapy to deal with pain and sickness. That is quite remarkable! Not so remarkable when you know about the origins of hypnosis and pain control, in particular the work of James Esdaile who worked as a surgeon in India in the mid 19th century. He was interested in the work of Anton Mesmer but had never seen mesmerism himself, only read about it. In 1843, he first tried mesmerism on a patient. In those days, before the advent of chemical anaesthesia, it was routine for surgery to be dangerous. Pain control was nonexistent and shock from surgery often killed the patient. Post operative bleeding and infections could also be fatal. However, Esdaile’s methods were very successful. He wrote: “I beg to state, for the satisfaction of those who have not yet a practical knowledge of the subject, that I have seen no bad consequences whatever arise from persons being operated on when in the mesmeric trance. Cases have occurred in which no pain has been felt subsequent to the operation even; the wounds healing in a few days by the first intention; and in the rest, I have seen no indications of any injury being done to the constitution. On the contrary, it appears to me  …  that less constitutional disturbance has followed than under ordinary circumstances. There has not been a death among the cases operated on.”  Esdaile J. (1847). Mesmerism in India and its Practical Application in Surgery and Medicine. Esdaile developed and streamlined his methods and taught them to his staff who peformed the mesmeric procedure on surgical patients before Esdaile carried out the surgery. His successes brought criticism from the medical establishment. His work was constantly attacked in the Indian medical journals. It was suggested the natives of Bengal were feigning pain relief just to please Esdaile. Many operations that Esdaile carried out using mesmerism were considered so dangerous (without anaesthesia) that other surgeons would not attempt them. Dr Webb, his successor at The Mesmeric Hospital, says: “I cannot recall without astonishment the extirpation (removal) of a cancerous eye, while the man looked at me un- flinchingly with the other one. In another case, the patient looked dreamily on with half-closed eyes the whole time of the operation.” Milne Bramwell J. (1903). Hypnotism its History, Practice and Theory. Modern anaesthetics, which act quickly and can be easily replicated in patients soon became available for use in surgery. Research into mesmerism and hypnotic anaesthesia decined. However, hypnotherapists who have received the right training can utilise this natural feature of hypnotic trance to induce anaesthesias in clients today. The Duchess of Cambridge has spoken publicly about her hypnobirthing experiences but there are many valuable uses of hypnotic anaesthesias that could help people, especially those with chronic pain. I wrote in a previous blog about anasethesia being one of the natural side effects of hypnosis. Because anaesthesia occurs when you experience trance states, a well qualified hypnotherapist can build on the anaesthesia to induce effective pain control which isn’t dependent on medication. Going forward, the endorsement by the Duchess of Cambridge might open some of the closed minds in the medical establishment to the potential for hypnotherapy to be used as a safe alternative to long-term pain killers. James Esdaile gave his name to the Esdaile State which hypnotherapists would define as hypnotic coma. A mind state where you can undergo surgery without experiencing the pain. While he was working, he attracted ridicule from the medical establishment, but he wrote up and published his findings and his name lives on as long as hypnotherapists continue to revere his work and learn about his methods. What has this to do with slimming? I want you to understand how powerful hypnosis is to effect change in your life. This power already resides inside you, in your mind, your emotions and your spirit. Esdaile’s work shows what your mind is capable of - surgery without anaesthetic. Accounts of hypnobirthing tell a similar story. Therefore, I want you to know how powerful hypnosis can be. It will change your life in so many ways when you use it regularly and make it part of your own self- care routine.

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