This article provides an overview of primary chiropractic issues as they relate to public health. This collaborative summary documents the chiropractic profession's current involvement in public health, reflects on past barriers that may have prevented full participation within the public health movement, and summarizes the relationship of current chiropractic and public health topics. Topics discussed include how the chiropractic profession participates in preventive health services, health promotion, immunization, geriatrics, health care in a military environment, and interdisciplinary care.

J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2008 Jul-Aug;31(6):397-410. Johnson C, Baird R, Dougherty PE, Globe G, Green BN, Haneline M, Hawk C, Injeyan HS, Killinger L, Kopansky-Giles D, Lisi AJ, Mior SA, Smith M.

The influence, if any, of emotional arousal on memory is a controversial topic in the literature. Much of the research on memory for emotionally arousing events has focused on a few specific issues (e.g., differences in types of details recalled in emotionally arousing and neutral events; increasing ecological validity). Although gaining more recent attention, a neglected area in the literature has been memory for instances of repeated, emotionally arousing events. This issue has important implications for understanding children's ability to recall events in a forensic setting. We review existing findings on memory for emotionally arousing events in general and particularly in children, children's memory for events that occur repeatedly, and then discuss the scarce research on repeated emotionally arousing events and the need for further research in this area. We conclude that although it is clear that children are capable of accurately reporting arousing and repeated experiences, it is also apparent that circumstances both within and outside the control of investigative interviewers influence this ability.

Int J Law Psychiatry. 2008 Aug-Sep;31(4):337-46. Price HL, Connolly DA. Department of Psychology, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK, Canada S4S 0A2. Heather.Price@uregina.ca

Dr. Veronica Gutierrez, a 1963 graduate of Palmer College, has been a member of the World Chiropractic Alliance since 1991, a contributing editor to The Chiropractic Journal, chair of the WCA Health Care Reform Committee and recipient of the WCA's 1994 "Outstanding Service Award."

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This study explores satisfaction and changes in well-being in cancer patients following mindfulness-based stress reduction training.

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Homeopathic medications and treatments are becoming increasingly popular in this day of modem medicine. Patients are often unable to tell us if they are taking homeopathic or herbal therapy, or they don't think such treatments are important to mention. The continued growth and use of alternative medications indicates a strong need to ensure that patients include these treatments and medications in their responses during the SAMPLE history assessment. EMS providers must look at the whole scene for clues indicating a response to alternative medication. Being familiar with homeopathic medicine and herbal medications, as well as asking specific questions regarding use of alternative medicine, ensures a complete and comprehensive patient assessment followed by appropriate interventions in the prehospital setting.

EMS Mag. 2008 Oct;37(10):78, 80-5. Scadden J. Sac County Ambulance, USA.

A Hebrew version of the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A (HGSHS:A) was administered to 283 subjects. Results were compared with those obtained for the English original administered in the United States, Canada, and Australia, as well as with versions translated into Swedish, Romanian, Italian, Finnish, Danish, Spanish, and German. Mean scores were similar to the Canadian and Australian, though lower than the others. No differences were found between males and females. Pass rates for individual items were similar or lower than elsewhere. Item reliability was similar to the other non-English versions. The author speculates that the slightly lower scores obtained may be due to the larger group of subjects present in each session. Overall, the Israeli data are congruent with the reference samples.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2008 Oct;56(4):384-93. Lichtenberg P. S Herzog Memorial Hospital, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel. licht@cc.huji.ac.il

by Jack Elias,

Developing mindfulness and awareness can be like riding a rapids. It is easy to talk about, but actually to do it requires inner strength, stamina. The way to develop inner strength is to take every opportunity to practice it, bit by bit. Opportunities continually present themselves. Constantly practice breaking state and acting independently of the urge of habitual thought and behavior.

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Matthew B. James is one of the most highly-sought after trainers and educators in the world today. He is the president of The Empowerment Partnership, the leader in Neuro Linguistic Programming and Hypnosis education.

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By Prof Tam Llewellyn-Edwards

This article is controversial – and is intended to be so. However, it is not written simply to cause controversy but rather to stimulate thought and to draw practitioners, whatever their preferred therapeutic modality, to re-consider their treatment of patients, and the system they use to apply that treatment. Read it through fully and think about it before condemning it.

The article makes the hypothesis that the method and modality used in treatment is not of great importance, and may not even be relevant. Rather, it is suggested that the success of any particular treatment rests not on the treatment given, but in part (if not entirely) on the intent of the therapist.

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To investigate pain perception and the potential analgesic effects of mindful states in experienced Zen meditators. Methods: Highly trained Zen meditators (n = 13; >1000 hours of practice) and age/gender-matched control volunteers (n = 13) received individually adjusted thermal stimuli to elicit moderate pain on the calf.

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Hypnotist perceptions of participant cues and behaviors were investigated in an in-depth phenomenological study focusing on the influence of participant hypnotizability and hypnotist style. Two hypnotists and 124 participants (63 hypnotizable and 61 nonhypnotizable) took part. Two modifications of the Experiential Analysis Technique (EAT) were employed. One version involved a new modification where both hypnotist and participant took part together in the EAT session. The second version involved the EAT with the hypnotist alone as per an existing modification of the technique. Results extend earlier work pointing to the active, sentient nature of hypnotist involvement and highlight the particular importance of first impressions in shaping hypnotists' perceptions of participant hypnotizability. Results point to difficulties inherent in the hypnotist role. Findings overall support devoting increased attention to the nature of hypnotists' involvement and its implications for understanding relational processes in hypnosis.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2008 Oct;56(4):394-424. Whitehead S, Noller P, Sheehan PW. University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. prgordon@bigpond.net.au

Three articles of special interest to the hypnosis community recently appeared in the general scientific and medical literatures. The first paper is a thoughtful review of the clinical applications of hypnosis in pediatric settings. The second article reports the findings of a randomized, controlled trial of hypnosis for burn-wound care, carried out at the University of Washington Medical School. The third article describes an innovative EEG laboratory case study tracking the cortex functional connectivity of a highly hypnotizable subject across various baseline and experimental conditions. These three articles are sturdy examples of how hypnosis illuminates (and is illuminated by) medical and psychological science.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2008 Oct;56(4):463-9. Nash MR, Levy JJ, Tasso A, Perez N. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-0900, USA. mnash@utk.edu

This pilot study examined the effects of a manualized meditation intervention (called Inner Resources) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety symptoms among 20 African American and Caucasian mental health workers in New Orleans beginning 10 weeks after Hurricane Katrina. They participated in a 4-hour workshop followed by an 8-week home study program. Complete follow-up data were available for 15 participants. Results of intention-to-treat analyses indicated that participants' PTSD and anxiety symptoms significantly decreased over the 8 weeks of the intervention; these improvements were significantly correlated with the total number of minutes of daily meditation practice. The majority of participants reported good treatment adherence and improvements in well-being. These findings suggest that meditation may be a feasible, acceptable, and effective postdisaster intervention.

J Trauma Stress. 2008 Oct;21(5):497-500. Waelde LC, Uddo M, Marquett R, Ropelato M, Freightman S, Pardo A, Salazar J. Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, Redwood City, CA 94063, USA. lwaelde@pgsp.edu

Miranda Castro,FSHom, CCH, RSHom is a British homeopath who has been practicing homeopathy since 1983. She is author of three books: The Complete Homeopathy Handbook; Homeopathy for Pregnancy, Birth and Your Baby's First Years; and A Homeopathic Guide to Stress. She believes passionately that homeopathy is "medicine for the people," and her books make it spectacularly accessible to the lay person and health care professionals alike. She moved to the US in 1994 and currently lives in Gainesville, Florida where she is practicing, writing, teaching--and planting an edible, sub-tropical garden!

For more information visit: www.MirandaCastro.com.

Electrical recordings from the surface of the skull have a wide range of rhythmic components. A major task of analysis of this EEG is to determine their source and functional significance. The hippocampal "theta rhythm" has been extensively studied in rats and its rhythmicity has recently been shown to be functionally significant, per se. Here, we use relevant aspects of the hippocampal literature to provide perspective on one of the most studied human EEG rhythms: frontal-midline theta.

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Children are more easily hypnotized than adults, and hypnotherapy as a method responds to the general developmental needs of children by addressing their ability for fantasy and imagination. Hypnotherapy and self-hypnosis are tools with which to assess and develop protective factors, and enhance positive adjustment. Meta-analyses and overviews have demonstrated the effect of hypnotherapy in paediatric disorders like asthma, chronic and acute pain, and in procedure-related distress in cancer patients. We wanted to examine the use and benefits of hypnotherapy when applied to child psychiatric disorders. A review of a literature search from PubMed, PsychINFO and the Cochrane databases revealed 60 publications, mostly case reports based on 2-60 cases, addressing the use of hypnotherapy in various child psychiatric conditions. Findings indicate that hypnotherapy may be useful for a wide range of disorders and problems, and may be particularly valuable in the treatment of anxiety disorders and trauma-related conditions. In conclusion, knowledge of hypnosis is useful in clinical practice and hypnotherapy may play an important role as an adjunctive therapy in cognitive-behavioural treatment and family therapy. Additional qualitative and quantitative studies are needed to assess the place for hypnosis/hypnotherapy in child psychiatry.

Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2008 Jul;13(3):377-93. Huynh ME, Vandvik IH, Diseth TH. Section for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. huynh.melanie@gmail.com

by Annette Bergstein, CHt

Is there something that you want to do or accomplish but think of every reason not to get started? You know you have the skill, ability and desire but something stops you from moving forward. A little voice in your head says "I can't do that!", "I'm not good enough!" or "I could fail and make a fool of myself!" Yes – it's self-sabotage at work; sub-conscious self-destruction. Your state of internal affairs!

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Dr. Tramont received his M.D. at New York Medical College in 1962, and went on to enjoy a fruitful and successful career of thirty-two years in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Northeastern Ohio. In addition to his prominent medical career, Dr. Tramont also achieved the rank of Colonel in the United States Air Force, serving in the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm.

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Extensive practice involving sustained attention can lead to changes in brain structure. Here, we report evidence of structural differences in the lower brainstem of participants engaged in the long-term practice of meditation. Using magnetic resonance imaging, we observed higher gray matter density in lower brain stem regions of experienced meditators compared with age-matched nonmeditators. Our findings show that long-term practitioners of meditation have structural differences in brainstem regions concerned with cardiorespiratory control. This could account for some of the cardiorespiratory parasympathetic effects and traits, as well as the cognitive, emotional, and immunoreactive impact reported in several studies of different meditation practices.

Neuroreport. 2008 Dec 19. Vestergaard-Poulsen P, van Beek M, Skewes J, Bjarkam CR, Stubberup M, Bertelsen J, Roepstorff A. Center for Functionally Integrative Neuroscience Institute of Anatomy cInstitute of Anthropology, Archaeology and Linguistics, Aarhus University

dVaekstcenteret, Nr. Snede, Denmark.

This pilot study explored the experience of participating in a Therapeutic Touch practice group. A qualitative descriptive-exploratory method was used, involving 12 members of practice groups in Ontario and British Columbia, Canada. Analysis of the data using an extraction-synthesis process yielded four themes: (a) learning with others through sharing and hands-on experience is valued; (b) connecting with a network of supportive relationships that sustain self and Therapeutic Touch practice; (c) comfort-discomfort arising with self, others, or ideas; and (d) meaningful changes emerge while experiencing group energy and Therapeutic Touch. The findings expand current knowledge about the positive aspects of participating in practice groups and provide a beginning understanding of member discomfort, which had not been previously reported. This knowledge will be useful to Therapeutic Touch organizations, practice group leaders, and group members. It will also guide health care agencies and practitioners of other healing modalities who may be considering establishing practice groups.

J Holist Nurs. 2008 Sep;26(3):161-8; discussion 169-72. Moore T, Ting B, Rossiter-Thornton M. The Centre for Movement Disorders, Markham, Ontario. tmooremscn@rogers.com

The tonic immobility state (TIS) in rabbit has great potential as an animal model of hypnosis in humans, due to the strong similarities between TIS and hypnosis. It is additionally the only mammalian model available for studying mechanisms of hypnosis. However, its ability to modulate pain perception has yet to be clearly determined. The present experiment examined the effect of nociceptive conditioning in normal, TIS and lidocaine-treated rabbits. This involved three separate phases. In phase one all animals were trained on a continuous performance test (CPT). In the second phase animals were given Pavlovian conditioning to an auditory CS paired with a nociceptive US. In the third phase the animals are given a sensory recognition test. The control group were conditioned during a normal state, the TIS group were conditioned during TIS, the pain control animals were conditioned after lidocaine injection in the skin area stimulated by the nociceptive US. All animals in the normal group showed the greatest amount of pain conditioning, with an average disruption time (dt) of 175s. Animals in the lidocaine group showed little signs of conditioning with an average dt of 16s. Animals conditioned during TIS had an average dt of 42s. These results show that TIS can modulate pain perception similar to animals that did not experience a pain CS. They additionally argue that tonic immobility can produce attenuation of pain perception similar to hypnosis in humans.

Behav Brain Res. 2009 Jan 30;197(1):198-204. Castiglioni JA, Russell MI, Setlow B, Young KA, Welsh JC, Steele-Russell I. Sensory Neuroscience Laboratory, TAMUS HSC and S&W Hospital, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.

Hypnosis can be defined as a procedure during which changes in sensations, perceptions, thoughts, feelings or behaviour are suggested. Hypnosis can be used to amplify whatever it is about therapy that makes it therapeutic. It permits a wide range of choices regarding where and how to intervene in the patient's problems. In this paper, we set out to examine the rationale of using hypnotherapy to manage various types of sleep disorders, and to explore the techniques, strategies and hypnotic scripts employed by various hypnotherapists. We also examine the research data available on the efficacy of hypnosis in the treatment of sleep disorders. Acute and chronic insomnia often respond to relaxation and hypnotherapy approaches, along with sleep hygiene instructions. Hypnotherapy has also helped with nightmares and sleep terrors. There are several reports of successful use of hypnotherapy for parasomnias, specifically for head and body rocking, bedwetting and sleepwalking. Hypnosis is a specialised technique, not a therapy itself, and should be used as an adjunctive intervention within a complete psychological and medical treatment package. Most of the literature is limited to case reports or studies with such a small sample that at times it is very difficult to interpret the results. There is a major placebo effect, so uncontrolled trials are of limited value. It is hard to perform a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial to evaluate hypnotherapy given that cooperation and rapport between patient and therapist is needed to achieve a receptive trance state.

Ann Acad Med Singapore. 2008 Aug;37(8):683-8. Ng BY, Lee TS. Department of Psychiatry, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore. ng.beng.yeong@sgh.com.sg

Many tinnitus sufferers believe that their tinnitus has an organic basis and thus seek medical rather than psychological treatments. Tinnitus has been found to be associated with negative appraisal, dysfunctional attention shift, and heightened psychophysiological arousal, so cognitive-behavioral interventions and biofeedback are commonly suggested as treatments. This study developed and investigated the efficacy of a biofeedback-based cognitive-behavioral treatment for tinnitus.

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This study systematically reviewed the published evidence regarding chiropractic care, including spinal manipulation, for pregnancy-related low back pain (LBP). METHODS: A multimodal search strategy was conducted, including multiple database searches along with reference and journal hand searching. Studies were limited to those published in English and in a peer-reviewed journal or conference proceeding between January 1982 and July 2007. All study designs were considered except single case reports, personal narratives, and qualitative designs. Retrieved articles that met the inclusion criteria were rated for quality by using a validated and reliable checklist. RESULTS: Six studies met the review's inclusion criteria in the form of 1 quasi-experimental single-group pretest-posttest design, 4 case series, and 1 cross-sectional case series study; their quality scores ranged from 5 to 14 of 27. All of the included studies reported positive results for chiropractic care of LBP during pregnancy. Outcome measure use between the studies was inconsistent as were descriptions of patients, treatments, and treatment schedules. CONCLUSIONS: Results from the 6 included studies showed that chiropractic care is associated with improved outcomes in pregnancy-related LBP. However, the low-to-moderate quality of evidence of the included studies preclude any definitive statement as to the efficacy of such care because all studies lacked both randomization and control groups. Given the relatively common use of chiropractic care during pregnancy, there is need for higher quality observational studies and controlled trials to determine efficacy.

J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2008 Jul-Aug;31(6):447-54. Stuber KJ, Smith DL. School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK. kjstuber@hotmail.com

Dr. Terry A. Rondberg is a leading figure in the chiropractic profession. A graduate of Logan College of Chiropractic, he began publishing The Chiropractic Journal in 1986. He is president of the World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA), which he founded in 1989.

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Homeopathy is a highly debated but often used medical treatment. With this cohort we aimed to evaluate health status changes under homeopathic treatment in routine care. Here we extend former results, now presenting data of an 8-year follow-up.

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by Jack Elias

I had a powerful dream this month. In my dream a "person" was approaching me with great hostility. His face was cut out revealing a sharp-toothed reptilian face with hate-filled eyes inside what now was clearly just a human body-suit hiding this monster. I held my ground, faced it and felt its rage, but it clearly was not in a mood to work anything out.

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Kim-Marie Redman, PhD(c), MNLP, MTLT, MCHt is the Visionary and Founder of Creatrix Transformational Solutions, is a Personal Transformation Specialist, and is the Creator of the Journey of Truth™ Program.

Kim-Marie's personal mission is to transform the planet through empowering the individual. Her commitment to quantum transformation recently led to Creatrix Transformational Solutions becoming a Certified Educational Institute in the top technologies for quantum change and development: Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), Time Line Therapy®, Hypnotherapy and Coaching. Additionally, Kim is certified as an international trainer and master practitioner of these technologies, and enrolled in the master trainers program.

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A Web-based survey was conducted to study the religious and health practices, medical history and psychological characteristics among Buddhist practitioners. This report describes the development, advertisement, administration and preliminary results of the survey. Over 1200 Buddhist practitioners responded.

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This paper presents a highly edited version of a videotape made in 1980 by Marion Moore, M.D., showing Milton H. Erickson and Moore demonstrating novel, activity-dependent approaches to hand-levitation and therapeutic hypnosis on their subject, Ernest Rossi. Erickson's naturalistic and utilization approach is described in his very direct and surprising induction in a trance challenged patient. These novel, and surprising inductions are examples of how Erickson was prescient in developing activity-dependent approaches to therapeutic hypnosis and psychotherapy several generations before modern neuroscience documented the activity-dependent molecular-genomic mechanisms of memory, learning, and behavior change. Erickson describes a case where he utilized what he called, "The General Waking Trance" when he "dared" not use an obvious hypnotic induction. It is proposed that the states of intense mental absorption and response attentiveness that are facilitated by the general waking trance are functionally related to the three conditions neuroscientists have identified as novelty, enrichment, and exercise (both mental and physical), which can turn on activity-dependent gene expression and activity-dependent brain plasticity, that are the molecular-genomic and neural basis ofmemory, learning, consciousness, and behavior change. We recommend that the next step in investigating the efficacy of therapeutic hypnosis will be in partnering with neuroscientists to explore the possibilities and limitations of utilizing the activity-dependent approaches to hypnotic induction and the general waking trance in facilitating activity-dependent gene expression and brain plasticity.

Am J Clin Hypn. 2008 Oct;51(2):185-200. Rossi E, Erickson-Klein R, Rossi K. Ernest@ErnestRossi.com

by Tim Brunson DCH

The combination of the collapse of the US housing and credit market, and rapidly rising unemployment has collectively triggered an unhealthy reaction within the masses and our appointed and elected officials. At a time when our higher brain functions should prevail - individually in our leaders and collectively in our populace - we are experiencing an unfortunate tendency to react using our most primitive and inappropriate tendencies.

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PURPOSE: Adverse effects of chemotherapy can be severe and can have a significant impact on a person's quality of life. With chemotherapy treatment increasingly administered in the ambulatory setting, there is a need for patients to be informed about effective self-care strategies to manage treatment adverse effects. Advice for patients needs to be based on evidence. This systematic review provides an overview of the intervention research in this area as well as an effectiveness review of nonpharmacologic (self-care) strategies evaluated in high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: An extensive literature search was conducted to identify RCTs relating to self-care strategies for reducing nausea/vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, hair loss, or mucositis. Relevant studies published in peer-reviewed journals between 1980 and August 2007 were included. Study characteristics, results and methodologic quality were examined. High-quality RCTs were further analyzed to establish the effectiveness of specific self-care strategies. RESULTS: The search identified 77 RCTs. Findings from RCTs of reasonable quality provide limited support for cognitive distraction, exercise, hypnosis, relaxation, and systematic desensitization to reduce nausea and vomiting, psycho-education for fatigue, and scalp cooling to reduce hair loss. CONCLUSION: Although some strategies seem promising, the quality of the RCTs was generally quite low, making it difficult to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of self-care strategies. Future studies require better design and reporting of methodologic issues to establish evidence-based self-care recommendations for people receiving chemotherapy.

J Clin Oncol. 2008 Dec 1;26(34):5618-29. Lotfi-Jam K, Carey M, Jefford M, Schofield P, Charleson C, Aranda S. Department of Nursing and Supportive Care Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 8006, Australia.

by Prof Tam Llewellyn-Edwards

In this short article we are to consider the methods a therapist could use to foster cognitive shifts in the client to encourage them to change their view on life without leading them into some preconceived view on life which may be the way of the therapist.

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The aim of this study was to determine the effects of alpha neurofeedback and EMG biofeedback protocols for improvement of musical performance in violinists. The sample consisted of 12 music students (10 violinists and 2 viola players) from the Faculty of Music, Skopje (3 males, mean age of 20 +/- 0 and 9 females, mean age = 20.89 +/- 2.98). Six of them had a low alpha peak frequency (APF) (< 10 Hz), and six a high APF (> 10 Hz). The sample was randomized in two groups.

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This synopsis provides an overview of the benign and serious risks associated with chiropractic care for subjects with neck or low-back pain. Most adverse events associated with spinal manipulation are benign and self-limiting. The incidence of severe complications following chiropractic care and manipulation is extremely low. The best evidence suggests that chiropractic care is a useful therapy for subjects with neck or low-back pain for which the risks of serious adverse events should be considered negligible.

J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2008 Jul-Aug;31(6):461-4. Rubinstein SM. Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, EMGO-Institute, VU University Medical Center, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands. sm.rubinstein@vumc.nl

India ranks third in the world in absolute burden of HIV. While increasing numbers of Government-sponsored clinics are providing free antiretroviral therapy (ART), its utility is limited by lack of affordability and acceptability and the requirement for lifelong administration.

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by Mary Llewellyn BA(Hons) psychology EFT Master

"Mary, I hear you are good a helping people to sleep. Can you help me?" This is a question we are frequently asked as therapists, part of our everyday experience. This lady we will call her Sarah had been experiencing poor sleep for over seventeen year.

On the phone, I asked her, was there any reason her mind felt that it was not safe to sleep. She said, "When you see me you will know why.". We booked an appointment and I looked forward to meeting her.

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Luc De Schepper, MD PhD, DIHom CHom LicAc is the author of fourteen books on homeopathy, acupuncture and holistic health, including Human condition: Critical, and Hahnemann Revisited, a Textbook for the Professional Homeopath; founder, teacher of the Renaissance Institue of Classical Homeopathy (RICH) in Boston, MA and Secaucus, NJ with over 120 current students; holds medical licenses in US and Belgium, acupuncture lisenses in US and Holland; lectures widely.

For more information visit: www.drluc.com.

Hypnosis is a well validated treatment for acute and chronic pain (Montgomery, DuHamel, & Redd, 2000). It has been found capable of reducing inflammation, altering blood flow, and producing beneficial effects when hypnotic suggestions are provided during and prior to surgery (Frederick, 2001) and other painful medical procedures. This paper quotes extensively from historical examples of the use of hypnosis (mesmerism) as the sole anesthesia for major surgeries in the 1800's. These historic examples by themselves provide powerful documentation of the ability of the mind to influence the body, but they are then followed by a review of contemporary literature and controlled research on the use in hypnosis in relation to surgery and prior to medical procedures.

Am J Clin Hypn. 2008 Oct;51(2):101-21. Hammond DC. University of Utah School of Medicine, PM&R, 30 No. 1900 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132-2119, USA. D.C.Hammond@utah.edu

Richard Habben, MS, DBC is the clinical coordinator of a boy's residential group home in Southern California. He has been doing brief therapy with at risk youth. He received his Master of Science in Counseling from Cal State Fullerton and Doctorate of Biblical Counseling from Bethel Christian College. He has a unique style of combining both psychology and spiritual concepts in his counseling practice. He is certified as a Master Practitioner in NLP and Time Line Therapy, hypnotherapy, Keirsey Temperament Certified Professional, TFT Therapy, and MetaMedicine Life Coand and Trainer.