Aspects of Pain

Many cultures have used hypnosis for pain control. While most of this information is shrouded in magic and mysticism, one country that provides many examples of this use of hypnosis is India where yogis have traditionally placed themselves into hypnotic states as preparatory to such painful events as walking over hot coals, and sticking needles through body parts.

In Europe, the use of hypnosis for pain was due to people such as Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815) who used it in a flamboyant manner and claimed it as a cure for various illnesses, and Johann Joseph Gassner (1717-1799) who used it as a method of exorcism. While the work of both of these men was less than scientific, their efforts succeeded in generating interest in hypnosis throughout the world.

In America Phineas Parkhurst Quimby (1802-1866) used hypnosis to cure Mary Baker Eddy who, at that time, was a bedridden invalid; possibly this "miraculous" cure might have in part inspired her to found the religion of Christian Science.

During these early years, the primary use of hypnosis in relation to pain was in the area of surgery. As early as 1846, English surgeon, John Elliotson, reported using hypnosis for purposes of surgical anesthesia on many patients. After the discovery of chemical ane

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educe or eliminate the pain. In the case of chronic debilitating pain, all that can be done usually has been done. In the case of psychological origin pain, there is no debilitated physical condition to correct. Pain in which the diagnosis is not an issue can be recognized using different methods, one of which is the collection of medical and pain history data. The collection of this data can allow for an assessment of whether someone is suffering from chronic debilitating pain or psychosomatic pain. For example, many people with debilitating chronic pain have histories of inability to work or function in normal social relationships. Often these patients have been bedridden a good portion of their lives; further, many have histories of two or more surgeries for pain relief with minimal or no success. In some cases, medical and pain history data can be used to discover pain of a psychological origin. If pain levels exceed those which are attributable to known physical conditions, or if an organic source of pain is uncertain or speculative, the patient's pain may be due to psychological rather than physical origins. Some therapists recognize pain in which the diagnosis is not an issue by working with a diagnostic team tha
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Approximate Word count = 4879
Approximate Pages = 20 (250 words per page)

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