Just this morning I read a local news paper article about Dr John Butler helping a man through surgery using hypnotic anaesthesia, i.e. anaesthesia created using only hypnosis. Dr John Butler also featured on the superb television delight on More4 a while back entitled Hypno-Surgery and it showed a man receiving hypno-surgery. That is, he had a hernia operation without any anaesthesia other than by using hypnosis.

Hypnotic anaesthesia really excites me. It is an area that more and more research supports and potentially suggests hypnosis could well find its way into more conventional healthcare for this application.

Of course, it is a sensation because it is on television or in newspapers, however, these operations have been done for years. There are lots of filmed studies and masses of research that has been done using hypnosis alone when performing surgery.

Many ways have been used to alleviate pain over the years and I have experienced many myself and found hypnosis accompanied with a range of mind skills and tools to be by far the best way of overcoming and altering my response to it.

Can you remember a time when you had a paper cut and you did not realise that you had it until later on that day when you saw it with your own eyes? It was not until you saw it that it hurt and thought “oooh that smarts a bit.” I remember I had been helping my father in the garden when I was young, I had been weeding (great jobs that Dads give you!) and my hands were covered in earth and when I washed them off later on in the day when I came into the house, I noticed that I had grazed my hand and having seen it, it began to sting a bit; it had not done so until then. These examples are of naturally occurring anaesthesia, the capacity of which exists within us all.

There was a military doctor called James Esdaille who is mentioned in many hypnosis text books and he would use hypnosis and auto suggestion with fellow soldiers for all manner of different ailments, he even carried out amputations with no anaesthesia other than that of the suggestions that he was delivering to his patient. (Though some of his written findings have been disputed by many since)

One of the most basic methods for using your mind to create hypnotic anaesthesia is called the glove anaesthesia method and today I want to share it with you for you to use as and when you like.

Important point here : And you know that you must only use this pain-control technique when you know the cause. You will also consult a doctor if the condition persists.

Step One: Find a comfortable place where you will not be disturbed. Induce hypnosis.

You can do so by any means you desire or know of. You can use the process in my Science of self-hypnosis book, use the free audio we give away on this website to practice or have a look at the following articles as and when you need them; they are basic processes to help you simply open the door of your mind:

Heavy Arm Self-Hypnosis Induction Method
Using Eye Fixation for Self-Hypnosis
The Chiasson Self-Hypnosis Method
Hand to Face Self-Hypnosis Induction
Using Magnetic Hands for Self-Hypnosis
The Coin Drop Self-Hypnosis Induction

However, with this process, an induction is potentially too much activity, so I teach my clients how to adopt a hypnotic mindset and simply have a mindset that is positive and expectant. Again, to really understand the cognitive set of the hypnotic mindset, go grab a copy of my Science of self-hypnosis book where it is explained in simple but comprehensive terms.

Deepen sufficiently before moving on to the next step.

Step Two: Develop a strong sense of purpose right now. Using your internal dialogue, remind yourself and tell yourself that you have the power and ability to be in control of any sensations in your body and mind. Because you really do. Tell yourself that You accept that you are in control of your own mind. Focus on and imagine the unlimited power of your mind, tell yourself that you can send numbing sensations into any part of your body. Develop a sense of belief in yourself and in the power of your own mind. Really encourage and empower yourself.

Imagine that these words of personal power and belief that you say to yourself are being delivered to the deepest depths of your mind. Imagine that they’ve been accepted on every level of your body and mind.

In cognitive behavioural terms, behave as if this is going to be accomplished, communicate with yourself in the way that you would when you believe you are going to do this simply.

Step Three: Now we begin to invoke the glove anaesthesia. Begin by concentrating upon your dominant hand, really focus on it to the exclusion of all else. Notice the tiniest of sensations within it. Begin to imagine that using your attention, your dominant hand is free of all feeling. This needs some time and concentration.

Maybe you can use your imagination to imagine that your hand is encased in ice. Truly imagine those feelings. I imagine placing my hand slowly into a bucket of iced water and the water slowly turns to solid ice and encases my hand.

When I do this as a demonstration with a student on my courses (video footage of me doing this is in the members area) I can see the difference in the colour with the student I am working with, and you can tell the difference in the temperature of the skin when you touch the hand. When done correctly, this can become very real for the individual.

Separate your hand, in your mind, from the rest of your physical body. Think of it as detached from your physical being. Continue to focus your attention upon your hand and allow it to lose all feeling.

Using your internal dialogue again, tell yourself that your hand is becoming numb. No feeling at all. Inside your mind instruct your hand to go to sleep. Tell it to go to sleep. Be aware of all the unusual sensations that are in your hand as you focus upon it and keep all your focus and concentration upon it.

Tell yourself that every breath you take seems to cause your hand to become number, and number, until you just can’t feel your hand at all. You just can’t feel your hand at all because it is numb. No feeling. Numb. Tell yourself that with authority and belief. Embellish the feelings of cold, believe in it, use your cognitions and behaviour to behave as if it is all happening perfectly, then move on.

Step Four: Now, you’re going to transfer this lack of feeling to the part of your body that you desire to feel numb and have the anaesthesia in. So when you are sure that you have created the correct level of numbness in your hand you’re going to raise your hand and place it upon the part of your body you want to feel numb. I recommend you practice just doing it to the hand and arm to begin with. Imagining the ice numbness growing and spreading into the forearm, then testing it for short moments of time by touching, then pinching, and even asking someone else to forcibly pinch your arm to test the anaesthesia.

Once you have mastered that and practiced it over and over, you can practice transferring it elsewhere. When you do this, you’ll transfer this numbness to that part of your body. So then go ahead and raise your hand and touch the part of your body you want to become cool and numb. Maybe imagine the numbness as a colour that you are spreading into that area. maybe imagine that part of your body being filled with that colour and creating that numbness. Imagine all the sensations of numbness are being transferred into that part of your body. Release the numbness into that other part of your body.

Then spend some moments doing that properly and thoroughly now. As you do it, give yourself a time limit that this is going to last for. Naturally, you do not want that part of you to be numb forever. So make sure that you set yourself a time limit when your self induced anaesthesia will end.

Step Five: Now that you have transferred the calming, soothing, numbing coolness, and you’re physically feeling better and better in that area. Really enjoy the sensations and marvel at your own amazing self. Imagine coolness permeates the area. Imagine you experience wonderful relief in that area. Breathe deeply and relax completely.

Maybe even repeat a little mantra of support to your self at this point: “Calm, cool, soothing, numbing sensations permeates the area. Better and better. Numbness. Relief. Numbness. Use words that appeal to you the most.

Step Six: When you have maintained the state and are sure that you feel really good. You may wish to use a word, or a symbol in your imagination to serve as an anchor to use each time you want to reach this level of anaesthesia in a speedier time frame. often though, simply practicing will make that happen. if you do set an anchor, trust that each time you choose to use it in the future, it has a wonderful effect of enhancing and amplifying your control over your anaesthesia.

Step Seven: And it’s time to focus the incredible power of your imagination by imagining yourself doing this even better next time.  Imagine that you feel more and more in control of your own mind each time you do this.

Imagine yourself really feeling good about this and what you can do with the power of your own mind.

Spend a few moments quietly doing this, just telling yourself and suggesting to yourself that you can be better and better at creating anaesthesia for yourself.

Step Eight: When you have fully absorbed all you can from this wonderful experience, open your eyes and remember all that has been communicated.

Step Nine: Practice, practice, practice. Really practice over and over.

In the TV shows and media discussions, the doctors using hypno-anaesthesia spend many weeks, sometimes months with the client to ensure they get really good at doing this before they go into surgery. So practice over and over.

As I said previously. You may want to practice doing this on your arm. Prior to doing it, pinch your arm until it hurts to gauge what your pain tolerance level is in that arm. Then when you have it anaesthetised, test how different the sensations are.

Pretty cool eh?

Enjoy your weekend.

Have some of themes here resonated with you? Then have a read of these pages:

1. Do you need help or support in a particular area of your life?
Coaching with Adam Eason Or Hypnotherapy with Adam Eason
2. Would you like a satisfying and meaningful career as a hypnotherapist helping others? Are you a hypnotherapist looking for stimulating and career enhancing continued professional development and advanced studies?
Adam Eason’s Anglo European training college.
3. Are you a hypnotherapist looking to fulfil your ambitions or advance your career?
Hypnotherapist Mentoring with Adam Eason.

Likewise, if you’d like to learn more about self-hypnosis, understand the evidence based principles of it from a scientific perspective and learn how to apply it to many areas of your life while having fun and in a safe environment and have the opportunity to test everything you learn, then come and join me for my one day seminar which does all that and more, have a read here: The Science of Self-Hypnosis Seminar.