Tim Brunson DCH

Welcome to The International Hypnosis Research Institute Web site. Our intention is to support and promote the further worldwide integration of comprehensive evidence-based research and clinical hypnotherapy with mainstream mental health, medicine, and coaching. We do so by disseminating, supporting, and conducting research, providing professional level education, advocating increased level of practitioner competency, and supporting the viability and success of clinical practitioners. Although currently over 80% of our membership is comprised of mental health practitioners, we fully recognize the role, support, involvement, and needs of those in the medical and coaching fields. This site is not intended as a source of medical or psychological advice. Tim Brunson, PhD

The effect of lavender oil on stress, bispectral index values, and needle insertion pain...



Full Title: The effect of lavender oil on stress, bispectral index values, and needle insertion pain in volunteers.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether lavender oil aromatherapy can reduce the bispectral index (BIS) values and stress and decrease the pain of needle insertion in 30 volunteers. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty (30) healthy volunteers were randomly allocated to 2 groups: the experimental group received oxygen with a face mask coated with lavender oil for 5 minutes, and the control group received oxygen through a face mask with no lavender oil for 5 minutes. The stress level (0=no stress, 10=maximum stress), BIS value, and pain intensity of needle insertion (0=no pain, 10=worst pain imaginable) were measured. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, sex, height, and weight between the two groups. Stress level, BIS value, and pain intensity of needle insertion before aromatherapy were similar between the two groups. However, the stress values (p<0.001) and BIS value (p<0.001) after aromatherapy were significantly reduced compared with the control. In addition, the pain intensity of needle insertion was significantly decreased after aromatherapy compared with the control (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Lavender aromatherapy in volunteers provided a significant decrease in the stress levels and in the BIS values. In addition, it significantly reduced the pain intensity of needle insertion.

J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Sep;17(9):823-6. Kim S, Kim HJ, Yeo JS, Hong SJ, Lee JM, Jeon Y. Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.

Hypnosis and Mindfulness: The Power of Suggestion to Transform Experience



A book review by Tim Brunson, PhD

If hypnosis is viewed as a process, which enhances selective thinking, and mindfulness regarded as a here-and-now space/time orientation, then their relationship needs little further intellectual consideration. However, if you follow the line of reasoning that hypnosis is a state characterized by focused awareness, dissociation, or trance while keeping the opinion that mindfulness is also a state, there is indeed an obvious opportunity to contrast the two. Contrary to my frequent comments maintaining that the initial view is the more scientifically supported and the most operational, 30 year veteran psychologist Michael D. Yapko, PhD, uses his new book Hypnosis and Mindfulness: The Power of Suggestion to Transform Experience as an exhaustive exercise to accomplish the latter. In his introduction he sets forth that his purpose is to "show the relevance of hypnosis to the effective utilization" of what he calls guided mindfulness meditation – for which he creates the acronym "GMM." After carefully reading this book, I don't feel that his objective was met. Somehow I was left with the impression that this book serves little productive purpose.

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