Contemplative education includes practices that aim to help a person cultivate conscious awareness, especially internal self-awareness and awareness of one's connection to the world. Such practices include meditation, movement, and the contemplation of nature. Exploration is under way to determine if these practices might assist young people in their development, as they do in adulthood.

Jennings PA. Initiative on Contemplation and Education at the Garrison Institute and San Francisco State University. New Dir Youth Dev. 2008 Summer;(118):101-5.

The effects of implementation intentions and posthypnotic suggestion were investigated in 2 studies. In Experiment 1, participants with high levels of hypnotic suggestibility were instructed to take placebo pills as part of an investigation of how to best enhance compliance with medical instruction. In Experiment 2, participants with high, medium, and low levels of hypnotic suggestibility were asked to run in place, take their pulse rate before, and send an e-mail report to the experimenter each day. Experiment 1 revealed enhanced adherence as a function of both implementation intentions and posthypnotic suggestion. Experiment 2 failed to find any significant main effects but found a significant interaction between suggestibility and the effects of posthypnotic suggestion. Posthypnotic suggestion enhanced adherence among high suggestible participants but lowered it among low suggestibles.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2008 Apr;56(2):143-55. Carvalho C, Mazzoni G, Kirsch I, Meo M, Santandrea M. Higher Institute of Applied Psychology, Lisbon, Portugal. Claudia.carvalho@ispa.pt

A defensive dominant was created in rabbits using rhythmic electrocutaneous stimulation of the left forelimb at a frequency of 0.5 Hz. After stimulation ended, the latent excitation state was tested using sound stimuli. Animals responded either with increases in non-rhythmic paw muscle activity or with rhythmic twitching of the paw at a frequency close to that of the electrocutaneous stimulation. After hypnotization, the incidence of rhythmic responses to the stimulation testing the dominant focus increased, while the incidence of non-rhythmic responses decreased.

Neurosci Behav Physiol. 2008 Jan;38(1):23-30. Galashina AG, Kulikov MA, Bogdanov AV. Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow.

This article summarizes the search for efficacious hypnotic treatments. Eighteen major meta analyses were reviewed and the results evaluated using the criteria of Chambless & Hollon, (1998). The analysis identified 32 disorders for which hypnosis can be considered a possible treatment, 5 for which it seems effective, and 2 for which it appears specific. If clinicians use hypnosis in the situations where it seems to be efficacious, and systematically expand the list of conditions where it will be helpful, the results will be even more impressive for the 100th anniversary of this Journal.

Am J Clin Hypn. 2008 Jul;51(1):29-36. Wark DM. University of Minnesota, USA. wark@umn.edu

AIM: This paper is a report of a systematic review to evaluate the efficacy of reflexology in any condition. BACKGROUND: Anecdotal evidence has shown potential benefits of reflexology in a variety of health conditions. However, the efficacy of reflexology has yet to be determined. DATA SOURCES: Cochrane library, PubMed, MEDLINE, EBM review, ProQuest Medical Bundle and SCOPUS databases were searched using the following medical subject headings or key words: reflexology, foot reflexotherapy, reflexological treatment, foot massage and zone therapy. Chinese articles were searched through the Chinese electronic periodical services and Wangfane database. The publication date was limited from 1996 to 2007. REVIEW METHODS: Studies were selected if they were written in English or Chinese, used a controlled clinical trial design, used reflexology as a stand-alone modality, and reported such outcomes as symptoms relief, quality of life and patients' perceptions of reflexology. Study quality was reviewed based on the evidence rating system of the United States Preventive Services Task Force, and studies with the evidence rating of II-2 fair or above were included in this review. RESULTS: Among the five studies suitable for review, there was only one report of a statistically significant treatment effect. Among the 12 outcome variables examined, the treatment effect size for urinary symptoms was large, whereas the effect size for other conditions was negligible. CONCLUSION: There is no evidence for any specific effect of reflexology in any conditions, with the exception of urinary symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis. Routine provision of reflexology is therefore not recommended.

Wang MY, Tsai PS, Lee PH, Chang WY, Yang CM. Graduate Institute of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. J Adv Nurs. 2008 Jun;62(5):512-20.

International research suggests complementary therapy usage is common in women with breast cancer. Comparable data do not exist for Australia. A self-completed questionnaire was used to survey Australian women with breast cancer about their usage of complementary therapies. The survey was mailed to members of two breast cancer consumer advocacy groups, and assessed type of therapy used, reasons for use, and sources of information about complementary therapies. Of 367 respondents with breast cancer, 87.5% had used complementary therapies, with many using four or more therapies. Most commonly used were vitamin supplements (54.2%), support groups (49.8%), massage (41.4%) and meditation (38.7%). Common reasons for use included improving physical (86.3%) and emotional (83.2%) wellbeing and boosting the immune system (68.8%). Women sought information about complementary therapies from a variety of sources. The range of therapies used and the diverse reasons for use emphasise the need for reliable, evidence-based information about complementary therapies for women and clinicians.

Kremser T, Evans A, Moore A, Luxford K, Begbie S, Bensoussan A, Marigliani R, Zorbas H. National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre, Locked Bag 3, Strawberry Hills, NSW 2012, Australia. Breast. 2008 Jun 3.

This paper presents, for the first time, a comprehensive scholarly examination of the history and principles of major traditions of esoteric healing. After a brief conceptual overview of esoteric religion and healing, summaries are provided of eight major esoteric traditions, including descriptions of beliefs and practices related to health, healing, and medicine. These include what are termed the kabbalistic tradition, the mystery school tradition, the gnostic tradition, the brotherhoods tradition, the Eastern mystical tradition, the Western mystical tradition, the shamanic tradition, and the new age tradition. Next, commonalities across these traditions are summarized with respect to beliefs and practices related to anatomy and physiology; nosology and etiology; pathophysiology; and therapeutic modalities. Finally, the implications of this survey of esoteric healing are discussed for clinicians, biomedical researchers, and medical educators.

Levin J. Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA. Explore (NY). 2008 Mar-Apr;4(2):101-12.

Complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies are commonly used by parents for their children who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism spectrum disorders. The use of these therapies is well documented, yet the evidence of the safety and efficacy of these treatments in children is limited. This article describes the current evidence-based CAM therapies for ADHD and autism, focusing on nutritional interventions; natural health products, including essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and other health supplements; biofeedback; and reducing environmental toxins. The CAM evidence in ADHD is addressed, as is the CAM literature in autism.

Weber W, Newmark S. School of Naturopathic Medicine, Bastyr University, 14500 Juanita Drive NE, Kenmore, WA 98021, USA. wendyw@bastyr.edu Pediatr Clin North Am. 2007 Dec;54(6):983-1006; xii.

OBJECTIVE: High suggestibility is widely regarded as an important feature of patients with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS), particularly those with multiple MUS [i.e. somatization disorder (SD)], although there are few empirical data attesting to this assumption. A study was therefore conducted to compare levels of non-hypnotic suggestibility in patients with SD and medical controls. METHOD: A modified version of the Barber Suggestibility Scale was administered to 19 patients with SD and 17 controls with an established organic dystonia. RESULTS: Patients with SD were no more suggestible than control patients. Dystonia controls were more likely to deliberately comply with suggestions than the SD patients. CONCLUSION: Contrary to popular belief, high suggestibility is not necessarily a feature of SD.

Brown RJ, Schrag A, Krishnamoorthy E, Trimble MR. Academic Division of Clinical Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. richard.james.brown@manchester.ac.uk Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2008 Mar;117(3):232-5.

by Annette Janover

Your subconscious mind speaks to you through a phenomenon called Reverse Speech, enabling you to unravel the obstacles to your progress.

Have you ever felt like giving up? Are you experiencing being held back by a pattern that keeps repeating in your life or some sort of block or obstacle? Is success and happiness still passing you by even after years of effort reading various books on self growth and attending many mind/body workshops?

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The effects of implementation intentions and posthypnotic suggestion were investigated in 2 studies. In Experiment 1, participants with high levels of hypnotic suggestibility were instructed to take placebo pills as part of an investigation of how to best enhance compliance with medical instruction. In Experiment 2, participants with high, medium, and low levels of hypnotic suggestibility were asked to run in place, take their pulse rate before, and send an e-mail report to the experimenter each day. Experiment 1 revealed enhanced adherence as a function of both implementation intentions and posthypnotic suggestion. Experiment 2 failed to find any significant main effects but found a significant interaction between suggestibility and the effects of posthypnotic suggestion. Posthypnotic suggestion enhanced adherence among high suggestible participants but lowered it among low suggestibles.

Carvalho C, Mazzoni G, Kirsch I, Meo M, Santandrea M. Higher Institute of Applied Psychology, Lisbon, Portugal. Claudia.carvalho@ispa.pt Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2008 Apr;56(2):143-55.

Content on integrative healthcare and complementary and alternative medicine is being taught in hundreds of educational programs across the country. Nursing, medical, osteopathic, chiropractic, acupuncture, naturopathic, and other programs are finding creative and innovative ways to include these approaches in new models of education and practice. This column spotlights such innovations in integrative healthcare and CAM education and presents readers with specific educational interventions they can adapt into new or ongoing educational efforts at their institution or programs. We invite readers to submit brief descriptions of efforts in their institutions that reflect the creativity, diversity, and interdisciplinary nature of the field. Please submit to Dr Sierpina at vssierpi@utmb.edu or Dr Kreitzer at kreit003@umn.edu. Submissions should be no more than 500 to 1500 words. Please include any Web site or other resource that is relevant, as well as contact information.

Kreitzer MJ, Sierpina V, Maiers M, Delagran L, Baldwin L, Evans R, Chase M. Explore (NY). 2008 Jul-Aug;4(4):278-81.

OBJECTIVE: Half of the adults in the United States use complementary and alternative medicine with mind-body therapy being the most commonly used form. Neurology patients often turn to their physicians for insight into the effectiveness of the therapies and resources to integrate them into their care. The objective of this article is to give a clinical overview of mind-body interventions and their applications in neurology. METHODS: Medline and PsychInfo were searched on mind-body therapies and neurologic disease search terms for clinical trials and reviews and published evidence was graded. RESULTS: Meditation, relaxation, and breathing techniques, yoga, tai chi, and qigong, hypnosis, and biofeedback are described. Mind-body therapy application to general pain, back and neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, muscular dysfunction, stroke, aging, Parkinson disease, stroke, and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder are reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: There are several conditions where the evidence for mind-body therapies is quite strong such as migraine headache. Mind-body therapies for other neurology applications have limited evidence due mostly to small clinical trials and inadequate control groups.

Wahbeh H, Elsas SM, Oken BS. Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Mail Code CR120, Portland, OR 97239, USA. Neurology. 2008 Jun 10;70(24):2321-8.

Complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies are commonly used by parents for their children who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism spectrum disorders. The use of these therapies is well documented, yet the evidence of the safety and efficacy of these treatments in children is limited. This article describes the current evidence-based CAM therapies for ADHD and autism, focusing on nutritional interventions; natural health products, including essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and other health supplements; biofeedback; and reducing environmental toxins. The CAM evidence in ADHD is addressed, as is the CAM literature in autism.

Pediatr Clin North Am. 2007 Dec;54(6):983-1006; xii. Weber W, Newmark S. School of Naturopathic Medicine, Bastyr University, 14500 Juanita Drive NE, Kenmore, WA 98021, USA. wendyw@bastyr.edu Naturopathic care for chronic low back pain: a randomized trial. PLoS ONE. 2007 Sep 19;2(9):e919. Szczurko O, Cooley K, Busse JW, Seely D, Bernhardt B, Guyatt GH, Zhou Q, Mills EJ.

In a 2006 article in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, Herman et al argued cogently that adopting a health services research (HSR) paradigm would help resolve some of the issues that the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) community and those researching CAM face with randomized controlled trials. Although the article makes a strong case for HSR and CAM, it fails to discuss some of the work in HSR that is uniquely relevant to CAM or to provide a critique of the view one gets from HSR about CAM. There is within the studies of chiropractic a sufficient body of HSR, which can help to assess what the contribution of HSR has been in the past and also what its limitations are today. It provides a cautionary tale for CAM. This article looks at HSR in relationship to evidence-based practice and will discuss the limitations and dangers of the view of CAM from the perspective of HSR using chiropractic studies as an exemplar.

Coulter ID, Khorsan R. University of California, Los Angeles, USA. Altern Ther Health Med. 2008 Jul-Aug;14(4):40-5.

Two adolescents were hospitalized with incapacitating symptoms: one with headache, back pain, and an inability to walk, while the other had headache, musculoskeletal pain, nausea, and emesis. Medical evaluation did not reveal an etiology for the symptoms of either patient. Consultation with child psychiatry services yielded recommendations that both patients might benefit from counseling. Both demonstrated an immediate improvement of their symptoms with instruction in self-hypnosis-induced relaxation techniques that included favorite place imagery and progressive relaxation. The patients were told that while in hypnosis their "subconscious" might be able to characterize psychological issues that underlay their symptoms through the medium of automatic word processing (AWP). The information identified through AWP helped guide their subsequent therapy. Thus, instruction in self-hypnosis, as well as helping adolescents develop awareness about the cause of their debilitating symptoms can be associated with rapid improvement of their symptoms.

Am J Clin Hypn. 2008 Apr;50(4):323-34. Anbar RD. Department of Pediatrics State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse 13210, USA. anbarr@upstate.edu

by Tim Brunson DCH

Often when speaking to groups I refer to guided imagery as "consensual hallucinations." With 70% of the brain's neurons somehow serving the visual system, one cannot help but appreciate the enormous influence of vision on our mental and physical well-being. Therapists who use any form of guided imagery are taking advantage of these facts in their efforts to re-sculpt the inner workings of the mind and brain.

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For the past 20 years, the magnitude of the "placebo effect" in double-blind, medical experiments has strongly increased. This paper asks why and how. Starting with the human "psychophysiologic principle," two unconscious and one conscious biofeedback examples are given to demonstrate how malleable we humans are to our expectations and our intentions and how strong our psychoenergetic forces can be relative to conventional chemical forces. Ending with several experimental examples wherein a therapeutically processed device and an unprocessed device are critically compared, one finds strong evidence to propose that an information entanglement process is converting the unprocessed device to a functional replica of the processed device in that its therapeutic efficacy is comparable to that of the treatment device. Furthermore, arguments are provided to indicate that a practitioner's biofield is capable of expanding the range of diagnostic capability of commercial measurement instruments so that the practitioner/device hybrid system becomes a potent psychoenergetic instrument for diagnostic and treatment purposes. In between, a theoretical model is provided, based on the author's extensive experimental psychoenergetic research on long-range interconnectivity between objects, between humans and between humans and objects, to show how long-range, quantitative coupling can occur between our normal atom/molecule level of physical reality and a second, unique level of physical reality whose physics can be modulated by psychoenergetic forces. It is the material qualities of this duplex physical reality that convert a seemingly inert object/device (placebo) into a synergistically active element in double-blind placebo experiments.

J Altern Complement Med. 2006 Dec;12(10) Tiller WA. The William A. Tiller Foundation for New Science, Payson, AZ 85541-5731, USA. bill@tiller.org

Subjects with high (Highs) and low (Lows) susceptibility to hypnosis show differences in the sensory-motor integration for postural control and in the cardiovascular response to stress and experimental pain. Aim of the experiment was to assess whether the cardiac response to gravity-related stimulation depending on changes in the body position were different in the two groups. Thus, heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) were evaluated in sitting and upright position in Highs and Lows. Position-related HRV changes were studied in the time (statistical indexes, Poincaré Plot) and frequency (spectral analysis) domain. Results indicated that upright stance was associated with similar changes in heart rate and different modulation of HRV in the two groups. The association of time and frequency domain analyses allowed hypothesizing different control mechanisms as responsible for the cardiac response to upright stance in Highs and Lows, likely due to a different role of the Very Low Frequency (VLF) spectral component of HRV in the two groups. The results are in line with previous findings indicating a natural protection of Highs against cardiovascular events and suggest that the Highs' cardiac function might be less impaired by microgravity than the Lows' one.

Brain Res Bull. 2008 Mar 28;75(5):692-7. Epub 2007 Dec 18.Related Articles, Links Santarcangelo EL, Balocchi R, Scattina E, Manzoni D, Bruschini L, Ghelarducci B, Varanini M.

Department of Human Physiology, University of Pisa, Via San Zeno 31, Pisa, Italy. enricals@dfb.unipi.it

by Edward J Longo – ABH CCH RBT

Words Can Inspire Transformation. Words portray thoughts, feelings, emotions, ideas and ever so much more. They bridge the gap between the conscious and the subconscious, and always provide infinite possibilities. Yet this Secret Weapon that is freely available to all is way too often underestimated, or misunderstood. Normally, people love to be engulfed, surrounded, and entertained by words used in stories, speaking, and tales expressed in books. That's why advertising and the media are such a booming industries. That's why people read newspapers... it's why people love reading about stories they've experienced themselves. And the more the person can become a confident story teller, the more people will become attracted to that voice, that personality, that therapist, or that entertainer.

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Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) are frequently used for the treatment of sleep disorders, but in many cases patients do not discuss these therapies directly with their health care provider. There is a growing body of well-designed clinical trials using CAM that have shown the following: (1) Melatonin is an effective agent for the treatment of circadian phase disorders that affect sleep; however, the role of melatonin in the treatment of primary or secondary insomnia is less well established. (2) Valerian has shown a benefit in some, but not all clinical trials. (3) Several other modalities, such as Tai Chi, acupuncture, acupressure, yoga, and meditation have improved sleep parameters in a limited number of early trials. Future work examining CAM has the potential to significantly add to our treatment options for sleep disorders in older adults.

Clin Geriatr Med. 2008 Feb;24(1):121-38, viii. Gooneratne NS. Division of Geriatric Medicine, Center for Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. ngoonera@mail.med.upenn.edu

by Marilyn Gordon, BCH, CI

So think as if your every thought were to be etched in fire upon the sky. For so, in truth, it is.
So speak as if the entire world were but a single ear intent on hearing what you say.
And so, in truth, it is.
Mikhail Naimy*

Language is so instinctual that we often don't stop to think about it. And yet it is so powerful that it affects our lives to the very core. In hypnosis, this is particularly significant. Every hypnosis word we use has meaning. The words we choose and how we say them reveal our thoughts and our intentions and affect others profoundly. Hypnosis is a verbal art form, and it's important for us to take a good look at our canvas.

It's well known that when we describe something to a person in hypnosis, that description can become a deep suggestion: "Your hand is becoming very light, floating in the air like a balloon." Other suggestions are powerful, "You feel very peaceful." or "Your body is healing perfectly." But this kind of well-known verbal skill is just the tip of the iceberg with hypnosis. Let's dive even deeper. Let's take a look at authoritarian vs. permissive language; at the use of negativities; at regional language differences; at the use of only visual language, and more.

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by Paul Flak, Ph.D.

In my exploration of thought processes it has become apparent to me that the way we structure our thinking makes huge differences to how we think and what we are capable of. While this may seem like a subtle or unnecessary thing to think about as we process information it becomes more influential when we consider the route of efficacy.

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This paper integrates some Buddhist moral values, attitudes and self-cultivation techniques into a discussion of the ethics of cognitive enhancement technologies - in particular, pharmaceutical enhancements. Many Buddhists utilize meditation techniques that are both integral to their practice and are believed to enhance the cognitive and affective states of experienced practitioners. Additionally, Mah?y?na Buddhism's teaching on skillful means permits a liberal use of methods or techniques in Buddhist practice that yield insight into our selfnature or aid in alleviating or eliminating duhkha (i.e. dissatisfaction). These features of many, if not most, Buddhist traditions will inform much of the Buddhist assessment of pharmaceutical enhancements offered in this paper. Some Buddhist concerns about the effects and context of the use of pharmaceutical enhancements will be canvassed in the discussion. Also, the author will consider Buddhist views of the possible harms that may befall human and nonhuman research subjects, interference with a recipient's karma, the artificiality of pharmaceutical enhancements, and the possible motivations or intentions of healthy individuals pursuing pharmacological enhancement. Perhaps surprisingly, none of these concerns will adequately ground a reflective Buddhist opposition to the further development and continued use of pharmaceutical enhancements, either in principle or in practice. The author argues that Buddhists, from at least certain traditions - particularly Mah?y?na Buddhist traditions - should advocate the development or use of pharmaceutical enhancements if a consequence of their use is further insight into our self-nature or the reduction or alleviation of duhkha.

Dev World Bioeth. 2008 Feb 28 Fenton A. Dalhousie University, Canada.

Conventional suggestion-based tests of hypnotizability have been criticized because they confound hypnotic and nonhypnotic suggestibility. One way around this might be to measure hypnotizability in terms of differences in suggestibility before and after hypnotic induction. However, analysis of data from a 1966 classic study by Hilgard and Tart confirms that difference scores are subject to statistical and methodological problems. Simple verbal hypnotic depth scales are presented as a useful alternative. They correlate well with conventional suggestion-based measures and enable the presence of hypnosis to be indexed independently of formal hypnotic induction procedures. Criticisms of depth scales are addressed, and normative data for the Long Stanford Scale of hypnotic depth are presented, along with data lending empirical support for the construct validity of depth reports.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2008 Apr;56(2):119-42. Wagstaff GF, Cole JC, Brunas-Wagstaff J. University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.

by Marilyn Gordon, BCH, CI

Sandra was getting fed up with her habit of buying lattes every day at the local coffee house chain. They were loaded with caffeine and sugar, and she went everyday like clockwork to get a large fix of the legal upper that coursed though her body like a speeding locomotive. She was gaining weight, and she was beginning to worry that she might not be able to let go of this stimulant that had a major hold on her.

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Objective: To examine published evidence on the effectiveness of mind-body interventions during pregnancy on perceived stress, mood, and perinatal outcomes. Data sources: Computerized searches of PubMed, Cinahl, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library. Study Selection: Twelve out of 64 published intervention studies between 1980 and February 2007 of healthy, adult pregnant women met criteria for review. Data extraction and synthesis: Studies were categorized by type of mind-body modality used. Progressive muscle relaxation was the most common intervention. Other studies used a multimodal psychoeducation approach or a yoga and meditation intervention. The research contained methodological problems, primarily absence of a randomized control group or failure to adequately control confounding variables. Nonetheless, there was modest evidence for the efficacy of mind-body modalities during pregnancy. Treatment group outcomes included higher birthweight, shorter length of labor, fewer instrument-assisted births, and reduced perceived stress and anxiety. Conclusions: There is evidence that pregnant women have health benefits from mind-body therapies used in conjunction with conventional prenatal care. Further research is necessary to build on these studies in order to predict characteristics of subgroups that might benefit from mind-body practices and examine cost effectiveness of these interventions on perinatal outcomes.

J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2008 Mar-Apr;37(2):165-75. Beddoe AE, Lee KA. School of Nursing, San Jose State University, CA, USA.

by Marilyn Gordon, BCH, CI

We're shifting out of our old ways of working with our difficulties. Something big is happening in the area of inner transformation, and it's big enough to be the force that can ultimately transform our world. We're experiencing an actual revolution in consciousness. We're shifting from our traditional psychological paradigms to a healing mindset. This is a big shift, a leap from "improving ourselves" into taking a giant leap into the eternal essence of ourselves. In this inner part of ourselves, all solutions lie, and this revolution in consciousness is taking us to a profound next step.

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Many case studies and several controlled clinical trials have indicated the effectiveness of hypnotherapy for some medical conditions. However, because of methodological inadequacies hypnotherapy is still criticized for not having strong scientific evidence to support its claims. While randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial is generally accepted as the gold standard study design, creating a credible placebo control for hypnotherapy is a major challenge. This paper recommends "neutral hypnosis" as a credible placebo control for hypnotherapy trials.

Complement Ther Med. 2008 Feb;16(1):52-4. Gholamrezaei A, Emami MH. Clinical Hypnotherapy Research Group, Medical Student Research Committee, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Poursina Hakim Research Institute, Isfahan, Iran.

by Marilyn Gordon, BCH, CI

There is an inner power of healing so great that it can shift matter and transform illness. The mind, together with the powers of higher consciousness, can shrink tumors, cause blood to pump faster or more slowly, and create great mind-body shifts. Here we'll look at how personal and creative inner imagery, metaphysical healing, connection with the healing power, and transformation of attitude--together with nutritional and other life changes--can heal life-threatening illnesses.

The mind is electromagnetic. It has magnetism and vibration, and it can magnetize or draw in healing events via healing thoughts. This is how it can shift matter. And because we all have creative capabilities, we don't need scripts or stock visualizations to heal. There is healing imagery in the imagination of each individual. This is personal, intrinsic healing, and it has great power.

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The relationship between metaphor and the practice of utilization in therapy and hypnosis can be seen as dependent on metaphor's role in structuring experience. The work of Gregory Bateson and others is used to illustrate how metaphor functions. Bateson's comparison of two forms of syllogistic logic provides a background for distinguishing between the experiential effects of metaphor in contrast to the categorical thinking inherent in simile and analogy. Clinical examples are given to demonstrate how utilization is structured by metaphor, particularly as Bateson has described it in his analysis of the Syllogism in Grass.

Am J Clin Hypn. 2008 Jan;50(3):247-57.Links Roffman AE. New York University, Child Study Center, 577 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA. roffma01@med.nyu.edu

Hypnosis is attempting to come to grips with the EST (Empirically Supported Therapy) revolution in mental health practice. However, there are ways to account for outcome outside of simple empirical validation of treatment models. In this light, strategic eclecticism as a broader research-based consideration is used to illustrate empirical principles within Eriksonian hypnotherapeutic approaches.

Am J Clin Hypn. 2008 Jan;50(3):233-45.Links Amundson JK, Nuttgens SA. Amundson & Associates, 1614 8th Avenue NW, Calgary. aapsych@telus.net

The aim of this investigation was to explore the effectiveness of search strategies developed to identify trials of specific complementary therapies in a range of clinical conditions. DESIGN: All primary studies included in a series of systematic reviews were identified. An analysis of the original source of the study and search term(s) by means of which the study had originally been retrieved was carried out. Each study was then searched for in each of 6 databases (AMED, Cochrane CENTRAL, MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO). The proportion of studies located on each database was assessed and the indexing terms identified for each therapy were compared against the original search strategies. RESULTS: A total of 127 primary studies were identified from 35 systematic reviews. The number of studies on each therapy varied, but Cochrane CENTRAL listed the highest proportion for all therapies. No database listed all studies, and at least one unique study was listed on all databases except MEDLINE, whereas several studies were not found on any of the databases. Index terms were effective in locating studies on acupuncture, individual herbs, hypnosis, massage, and yoga. For the remaining therapies, use of text word search terms was important and particularly so for homeopathy, meditation, and reflexology. Variation in terminology for most of the therapies was encountered. CONCLUSIONS: The small numbers of studies preclude firm recommendations, but several potential challenges in searching for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) trials are highlighted. The findings suggest that a range of different sources is required for identifying relevant studies, particularly for certain therapies. The development of an optimum generic search strategy for each therapy is hampered by the variation in indexing of CAM studies. Possible optimum strategies are presented as a basis for discussion, and further testing of the effectiveness of these strategies is now a priority.

J Altern Complement Med. 2007 May;13(4):451-9. Pilkington K. School of Integrated Health, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom. k.pilkington@wmin.ac.uk

This paper briefly surveys the trend of and controversy surrounding empirical validation in psychotherapy. Empirical validation of hypnotherapy has paralleled the practice of validation in psychotherapy and the professionalization of clinical psychology, in general. This evolution in determining what counts as evidence for bona fide clinical practice has gone from theory-driven clinical approaches in the 1960s and 1970s through critical attempts at categorization of empirically supported therapies in the 1990s on to the concept of evidence-based practice in 2006. Implications of this progression in professional psychology are discussed in the light of hypnosis's current quest for validation and empirical accreditation.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2007 Apr;55(2):115-30. Alladin A, Sabatini L, Amundson JK. University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta. Canada. assen.alladin@calgaryhealthregion.ca

The author uses literary plagues as a model for thinking psychoanalytically about the basic anxieties activated among perpetrators of sanctioned massacres. The model of the plague allows abstracting an underlying primitive psychological organization characterized by syncretism and a powerful anxiety of de-differentiation and confusion, leading characteristically to imitative behavior within the in-group as well as to the disavowal of the out-group members similarities to oneself, i.e. the disavowal of the other's humanity. Recognizing the historical and social foundations of discrimination and genocide, the author analyzes the interaction between group and individual processes that allow ordinary people to join daily acts of immoral violence. She dramatizes the model of the plague through a psychoanalytic reading of three literary plagues: Thebes' plague according to Sophocles, Camus's chronicle of the plague in Oran, and Saramago's meditation on the plague of white blindness.

Int J Psychoanal. 2007 Dec;88(Pt 6):1457-72. Priel B. Behavioral Sciences Department, Ben-Gurion University, Beer sheva, Israel. bpriel@bgu.ac.il

A study was undertaken to examine whether empathy could be related to absorption and incongruence (repressive coping). The participants were 71 graduate students who completed measures of empathy, absorption, and incongruence (repressive coping). The results confirmed a previous finding that empathy appears positively related to absorption (r = .42, p < .001). The results also suggest that affective components of empathy are inversely related to repressive coping (r = -.29, p < .05) while cognitive components are positively related to the social desirability aspects of incongruence (r = .31, p < .01). The findings are collectively discussed in terms of the Empathic Involvement Hypothesis of Hypnosis (Wickramasekera II, 2001), the Four-factor theory of Repressive Coping (Eysenck, 1997), Incongruence (Rogers, 1957), and the High Risk Model of Threat Perception (I. E. Wickramasekera I, 1998).

Am J Clin Hypn. 2007 Jul;50(1):59-69. Wickramasekera IE 2nd. Adler School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, IL 60601, USA. Rigdzen@hotmail.com

This Rogerian study examined how traditional and Ericksonian hypnotherapeutic support groups facilitated self-defined health-promoting goals and power as knowing participation in change for 49 participants with chronic physical illness. The participants were randomly assigned to either a traditional support group or an Ericksonian hypnotherapeutic support group. Measurements of power and self-defined health-promoting goals were obtained seven times over a 10-week period. The results indicated that both the traditional support groups and the Ericksonian hypnotherapeutic support groups experienced significantly enhanced power and progressed significantly toward their health-promoting goals. Correlations for the self-defined health-promoting goals and power progressively and significantly increased through time. This study supports Barrett's claim that power relates to health.

Nurs Sci Q. 2007 Oct;20(4):357-69. Larkin DM. The College of New Rochelle, School of Nursing, New Rochelle, New York, USA.

by Anne Spencer, Ph.D.

One of the most unexpected events in my life was to be doing a regression for weight reduction and find myself involved in an exorcism.

It happened this way. I was asked to work with a national author and speaker who had a weight problem. We'll call her Rose. I first met rose via telephone as I had written her to say how much her book had helped me understand myself and some of my clients. Rose called to thank me and said she would be in my city a few months hence. We met for lunch and the friendship began.

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The recognition and utilization of trance phenomena in clinical pediatrics can energize the practitioner and be therapeutically beneficial for the child. The aim of this paper is to characterize and promote the purposeful inclusion of trance and suggestion in the routine pediatric examination. This includes, but goes beyond, the child-oriented examination skills customarily associated with being a "good," child-friendly pediatrician. While this paper highlights trance recognition from a clinician's perspective, emphasis is placed on utilizing spontaneous hypnotic moments whenever they occur to further the agenda of the encounter, diminish doctor visit anxiety, enhance self empowerment, and improve the milieu for pediatric care.

Am J Clin Hypn. 2007 Oct;50(2):121-9. Berberich FR. Pediatric Medical Group, Berkeley, CA 94705, USA. rberb@sbcglobal.net

In Experiment 1, 6- and 9-year-old children and adults were asked to imagine various types of objects. The experimenter then attempted to change the image of those objects in participants' minds by either suggesting that the objects may change against the participants' will, or by asking participants to change the objects as a favor to the experimenter. Two types of suggestive causation were employed: Magical-suggestion (a magic spell was cast with the aim of changing the imagined objects) and ordinary-suggestion (participants were told that the objects in their minds could alter against their will). Ordinary-suggestion was as effective as magical-suggestion in changing the participants' imagined objects. For adults, a direct request for compliance produced a stronger effect than did magical suggestion. This effect was not found in children. In Experiment 2, the two types of suggestion were tested on an alternative type of imagined objects. Adult participants were asked to imagine their futures. It was then proposed that (a) a magic spell could be cast on their futures with the aim of changing them either for the worse or for the better (magical-suggestion), or (b) changing a numerical pattern on a computer screen could change their futures (ordinary-suggestion). All participants denied that changing a numerical pattern on a computer screen could affect their lives, yet in their actions they demonstrated an element of belief in this possibility. As in Experiment 1, in Experiment 2 ordinary suggestion was as effective as magical suggestion. The hypothesis of an historic contiguity between magical causality and ordinary suggestion is discussed.

Br J Psychol. 2007 Nov;98(Pt 4):547-74. Subbotsky E. Psychology Department, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK. e.subbotsky@lancaster.ac.uk