In New Orleans, hypnosis is being used increasingly to ease the pains of childbirth.
It is also proving effective in severe cases of "morning sickness."
Some New Orleans doctors are hypnotizing their obese patients. Others are employing hypnosis to cure migraine headache.
Dr. Daniel Goldman, who is clinical associate professor of ob-stretics and gynecology at the Louisiana State University Medical school, said hypnosis is no longer limited to the psychiatrist.
**It is being used in. obstetrical practice," ne explained. "It is being used by the internist, the dermatologist, the general practitioner."
Dr. Goldman said several New Orleans obstetricians are employing hypnosis to ease labor pains, RELAXATION TAUGHT
*This doesn't imply that every pregnant woman is a suitable candidate for hypnosis or that the method is always successful," added the physician, "Actually it is employed only on a selected number of patients."
How doe's the obstetrician decide which patient to hypnotize?
Dr. Goldman said the woman who exhibits undue fear of labor is usually a good candidate. So is the expectant mother who is interested in hypnosis and requests its use, he added.
The L.S.U. professor said one of the chief advantages of hypnosis in pregnancy is that it helps alleviate the pains and anxieties connected with labor.
"Under hypnosis," he explained, "the physician teaches the pregnant woman relaxation. Complete muscle and mental relaxation allows her to complete the process of labor with minimal discomfort."
Dr. Goldman said, under hypnosis, a completely painless labor is possible, particularly when the patient is a good subject.
AREA ANESTHESIA USED
"But most physicians never j promise this," he added. "With; relaxation, any discomfort or pain will be so mild the patient will hardly notice it. Although most of the patients receive some anaesthesia at the time of delivery, it is possible, through hypnosis, to produce area anesthesia.; This is very useful when the ob-j stetrician has to make an inci-j Rion."
Dr. Goldman said in some sec tions of the country, hypnosis ii being employed in hysterectomiei and Caesarian sections.
"Another area where it is prov ing effective is in the treatmen of morning sickness of preg nancy," added the L.S.U, profes sor, "In cases where the nause* and vomiting is severe hypnosi: is used to get rid of it."
Dr, Goldman said when the ob stetrician uses hypnosis his ap ! proach is different from that o the psychiatrist.
"The psychiatrist is concerns with deep seated emotional prob lems," he explained, "He use; hypnosis at times to quickly ge at the root of these problems, a; an adjunct to analysis and psy cotherapy."
SUGGESTION EFFECTIVE
The LSU professor said the ob stetrician uses direct suggestioi under hypnosis, plus post-hypnotii suggestion,
"After a patient with seven nausea and vomiting of pregnanc: is hypnotized, she is given a ra tional explanation of . the symp toms and is then given direct sug gestions to affect a cure. She ii told that her physical conditioi is excellent, that the pregnanc: is progressing normally and tha the nausea and vomiting repre sent an adjustment of the body t( ia new physiologic process."
"After that," the physician add ed, "a variety of suggestions maj be given to control the symptoms You may tell her, for instance that the nausea will pass awaj if she lies down or rests for s few minutes. A simple suggestior of this sort can be amazingly ef £ective when given under hypno^ sis."
Dr. Goldman said hypnosis is Used in severe cases of nausea only when medicine proves ineffective. Sometimes, he added, the nausea is caused by the fact thai the woman didn't want to be pregnant in the first place. Even in these cases, with appropriate suggestions, the patient can be helped to accept the pregnancy and stop vomiting as well.
The physician said hypnosis is proving an increasing boon to persons suffering from migraine headaches.
HEADACHES DIMINISH
"It is a generally accepted fact," he explained, "that migraine headaches stem from emotional strain. With hypnosis, periods of body and mind relaxation are taught and suggestions given regarding alleviation of stress and tension, Headaches frequently. diminish in frequency and severity and disappear completely in many cases,"
Dr. Goldman said when hypnosis is used to treat obesity, it is employed only in cases where the patient can't lose weight on her own,
1 'Sometimes,'1 he explained, "a patient will say to me 'Doctor I've tried everything. Nothing works. I've tried diets. I've tried appetite depressants. And I don't lose a pound. I'm getting desperate'." . The physician said, "with the elimination of medical reasons for
the obesity, the importance of a sensible reduction diet is explained, She is told that obesity \s unhealthy; that it places an extra burden on her heart and other organs of her body; that an obese person neither looks nor feels her ,best."
Following this, he added, hypnosis is induced then suggestions are given.
The patient is told: "You are not going to have any difficulty following your diet. You are going to think in terms of calories every time you put any food into your mouth. Your will-power will become stronger each day. You will not be unhappy while you're on the diet. As you lose weight you will feel and look better."
HELPS STOP SMOKING When the smoking habit is adversely affecting a woman's health, said the LSU professor, hypnosis may be utilized to help ! break the habit. As with other ! habits, the stronger the patient's motive the easier it is to help her. The physician added.
Dr. Goldman said the preparation of the pregnant woman for hypnosis is started about the sixth month. After that suggestions are I reinforced at frequent intervals. | Regarding the use of hypnosis in major surgery, the physician said "the patients selected must bei most co-operative and of necessity excellent hypnotic subjects. Deep hypnosis must be obtained. A phy-
sician-anesthetist is generally best qualified to conduct and control the hypnosis in these cases."
Dr. Goldman said hypnosis should not be used in any patient with marked emotional instability or one exhibiting excessive psy-choneurotic symptoms.
"If there is any doubt in a physician's mind about the mental
stability of a patient, hypnosis is never offered as a method of treatment,"
Dr. Goldman said New Orleans physicians using hypnosis in their practice have recently formed a study group to discuss and evaluate the use of hypnosis in all phases of medical treatment.
