Hypnosis for Burn Injury

 

Hypnosis is not only effective for the pain, but when hypnotic anesthesia and feelings of coolness are created in the first few hours after a significant burn, it appears that it also reduces inflammation and promotes healing. ÒWe believe that a second degree burn can often be kept from going third degree if hypnosis is used soon after the injury.Ó

 

The astounding research done by Dabney Ewin, MD with burn patients exemplifies how the body can change or alter a catastrophic event. No matter how devastating a burn is, it begins as a 2nd degree burn. It becomes a 3rd degree burn when the body begins a process of trying to cool it down by flooding it with fluids. With the use of hypnosis upon admission to the hospital, the body can be tricked into believing that the burn site is perfectly cool and, thus, the body will not flood it with fluids. The burn remains more easily treatable that heals much more rapidly with much less scarring.  Burns that would normally take 16 weeks to heal, take only 6 weeks with hypnosis.

 

Dr. Dabney Ewin, M.D., a physician with the Occupational Health Center in New Orleans, and President of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, is one of the world's most respected researchers in the use of hypnosis for burn victims. Dr. Ewin shortens the healing time of his burn patients by up to 2/3 the normal period.

 

From the International Handbook of Clinical Hypnosis