What does it work for? Hypnosis has been found to be effective for a variety of problems that hinge on the emotions and habitual behaviour, even in cases involving the body's involuntary responses. While it will not cure underlying physical disorders such as cancer, heart disease or infection, it can be used to help boost the immune system and re-programme our attitudes towards illness. Medical uses Hypnosis can be used to relieve virtually all types of pain. It is used to treat chronic pain caused by arthritis and back problems, for example, and almost unbelievably as a natural alternative to anaesthesia during operative surgery. Hypnosis can be used to ease symptoms, reducing the effects of chronic problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) asthma, and eczema. Dentists also use hypnosis to calm a fearful patient or ease the discomfort of dental surgery. Psychological uses Hypnosis can be helpful against anxiety, tension, depression, phobias, and compulsions, and can help to break an addiction to smoking, alcohol, or drugs. By giving suggestions, therapists can build up positive feelings about being a non-smoker and a revulsion for the taste and smell of cigarettes. For phobias, hypnosis can be used to reduce the overmastering anxiety so that the patient can learn normal adjustment. This may be done by engendering a vivid image of the phobic situation in which the person is relaxed, helping them to adjust their reaction to the feared situation habitually into a normal, calm response. Hypnosis can be used to take people back in time to undo a trauma, by providing an opportunity to reframe events. Creative uses Hypnotism has many creative and performance-enhancing uses. It can be used to refine athletic performance, providing strong focus and increasing muscular endurance. In areas such as the performing arts, hypnotic techniques can also be used to release blocked potential They may also help students to retain facts for academic examinations.