Medical hypnosis draws on the mind's potential to surpass its usual functioning. Pushing through its routine boundaries, the mind can be guided to reach ever deeper into the wealth of its own dimensions. At the same time, hypnosis can channel energy far into the body's nervous system, establishing healing connections to all the organs it activates.

The experience of hypnosis provides the framework for accelerating self-development. In hypnosis, via imagery and meditative suggestions, the mind can be selectively reprogrammed to accelerate the progression of its growth.

Talent for hypnosis can be developed by motivation and openness. Self-hypnosis is the ability to induce a hypnotic state by oneself. Hypnosis--and self-hypnosis--can be applied to most anything that the mind has the capacity to change.

Relaxation training/Stress reduction. Hypnosis is the ultimate relaxant. Relaxation training is useful in ridding the mind, and the body, of tension and anxiety. The ability to relax is essential to well-being and quality of life. Hypnotic relaxation has also shown itself to be beneficial in several cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension and angina.

Public speaking/Performance mastery. Today, the capacity for dynamic public speaking is central to many professions. Hypnosis is capable of transforming the tension commonly experienced in public speaking to confident energy, relaxation and self-control. Performing artists including actors, dancers, musicians and singers can benefit from mindsets resonating with excellence. Hypnotic training develops mental reflexes that trigger during performance. In the theater arts, hypnosis assists imagery in the task of fully expressing the character in the role, allowing the performer to stay in the moment.

Intuition and Creativity. Hypnosis training develops intuition and creativity. Intuition implies access to the immense knowledge base of the subconscious mind. With intuitive assistance, decisions are apt to be made with greater speed and accuracy. Good business decisions are often predicated on fast intuitive connections. Creativity relies on a similar process, applied to personal expression. Hypnosis opens gateways to tapping the mind's creative reserves. In addition, it can assist in the dissolution of creative blocks.

Test taking/Exam performance. Written and oral examinations require clear memory, focus, concentration, intuition and stamina. The appeasement of pre-exam anxiety is addressed by hypnosis, thus facilitating learning. During testing, relaxation paired with mental activation promotes successful outcomes.

Athletic performance. Sports, unlike anything else, demand ultimate mind-body articulation to ensure bodily mastery in the context of action. Hypnotic sports training sharpens concentration, focus, and neuromuscular integration. Research has shown that hypnotic reinforcement can enhance muscular strength.

Weight control. Hypnosis cannot replace a diet/exercise regimen but can augment and reinforce it. Hypnotic affirmations have a cumulative therapeutic effect in the unconscious mind, capable of promoting a positive body image. The hypnotic mission centers on controlling urges, delaying gratification, and increasing motivation geared for success.

Smoking. Lungs abhor all smoke, dust, exhaust fumes, and cigarettes. Hypnosis is capable of taking this idea far into the unconscious mind. Once this truth is accepted, behavior is destined to be transformed. Full success comes when someone says -- and really means, "I'm now a non-smoker."

Sleep health. Sleep is vital for optimal brain and body function. Yet, the prevalence of insomnia, in its myriad forms, is increasing in our busy society. Fatigue from sleep deprivation impairs cognition and motor performance. Drugs are problematic in themselves. Hypnosis is capable of resetting sleep clocks thus restoring energy, and encouraging dreams that are both satisfying and constructive.

Self-esteem.Negative notions and feelings about oneself are learned, usually the products of long-forgotten life incidents and circumstances, to the detriment of liberated selfhood. Hypnosis clears negativity. Simultaneously, hypnosis can connect to those core forces within us, which are universally positive.

Phobias. Strong specific fears - from fear of flying to a terror of spiders - are mental reflexes that can be weakened - then abolished - by hypnosis, via progressively linking deep relaxation with imagery. In time, the feared stimulus or environment becomes mentally neutral. Mastery of fears bolsters self-confidence.

Anger management. Reacting to life stressors with irritation or aggression is both physically unhealthy and socially counter-productive. Hypnosis can assist in finding other pathways of response that are consonant with building goodwill to others.

Pain control. Pain can be remarkably modulated by hypnosis. To illustrate its power, in a small percentage of patients, pain can be hypnotically voided to the point of allowing for major surgery. In other cases, from back problems to cancer, hypnosis can beneficially change the very perception of pain, making daily living a more tolerable experience.

Preparing for operations and other medical procedures. Hypnosis can assist patients undergoing medical/surgical and other treatment regimens including chemotherapy and radiation. Pre-surgical relaxation allows for storing vital energy; it also fortifies states of mind that prime for positive outcomes. During surgery, even while under chemical anesthesia, stored hypnotic affirmations have been shown to stabilize blood pressure and respiration. Post-surgery, hypnosis accelerates tissue healing and convalescence.

Management of chronic illness. It is well recognized that optimism and feelings of personal strength can counter the progression of medical conditions, acute and chronic. Hypnotically-assisted mood enhancement has a positive impact on the body. Psychoneuroimmunology teaches that the mind is welded to the nervous system, which in turn activates the immune system. Immune functions are stressed in most illnesses. Hypnosis is capable of activating those mental processes that are likely to exert beneficial action on immunity.

Training in Self-Hypnosis. Self-hypnosis is most easily mastered by preliminary guidance into hypnosis. This coaching process is best done by an experienced hypnotherapist. Once self-hypnosis is learned, it can be applied to the task of specific self-change, and to attaining universal human goals, namely self-realization, happiness and health.