Hypnosis and medicine (some further thoughts on the P&T Bullshit Hypnosis episode)

11 Comments

Comment by Lee Darrow on January 25, 2008 at 9:15am

Good science or bad science? Without taking a look at the actual research done, it is virtually impossible to tell if the research reported was worth the paper it was printed on - and that is a BIG problem with much of the so-called "science reporting" that goes on in the press today.

The press will latch on to any pilot study that shows any result that may be controversial, or, better yet, SCARY, and publish it like it is Gospel, when the study population might only be thirty people (a statistically insufficient sample) or fail to mention that they didn't control for other confounding variables - how many of the sample population were in what stage OF their cancer and what TYPE of cancer did they have? What control groups did they use and how did they control FOR the nbon-use of hypnosis? How did they evaluate the EFFECTIVENESS of the hypnotic state? Did they use a standardized, "one induction works for all" induction - or did they tailor the session content to the individual patients? If so, how did they control for the variations that such changes in methodology would undoubtedly produce in trance viability?

Without knowing such critical factors, it is very difficult to tell whether the study is worthwhile.

Respectfully,

Lee Darrow, C.H.

Comment by Ian Hawkins on January 25, 2008 at 3:16pm

The article didn't directly relate to hypnosis, my apologies if I didn't make that clear. The article was just something that fed into my thoughts about hypnosis as primary care for life threatening illnesses. Discover magazine, being specifically a science magazine as opposed to a more pop culture magazine tends to do less of the "Fear This" kind of science articles. Note I did say less and not none.

Comment by Seth-Deborah Roth on January 26, 2008 at 11:43pm

One thing is for sure, the hypnotists who go out there and tell people they can cure someone are alientating the medical profession to the marvelous things hypnotherapy can do. The placebo effect is real and is so real it is used when clinical trials are put into place. Doctors agree with this no problem so let's build upon this fact and tell them imagine what else the power of the mind can do.

Hypnosis has a track record for pain control, nausea, IBS, phobias, surgery anxiety, increasing the healing after surgery, minimizing blood loss during surgery, dermatological conditions, use in initial burn treatment and studies show that after hypnosis the WBC count goes up. So let's build upon these facts instead of saying "we cure" because that is where you lose the trust of the medical community. I tell them we can help in emotionally healing which can lead to getting a different perspective on things and handling things differently which can lead to better health.

Seth-Deborah

Comment by The Fries on January 30, 2008 at 12:40pm

Hi-
What is the P&T Bullshit Hypnosis episode? Is this some kind of TV show?

Thanks,
J

Comment by Seth-Deborah Roth on January 30, 2008 at 6:42pm

Isn't it "Penn and Teller" ??

Seth-Deborah

Comment by Ian Hawkins on January 31, 2008 at 7:04am

Penn & Teller, show called Bullshit which airs on Showtime. You can find the specific episode on hypnosis on YouTube if you go looking.

Comment by Lee Darrow on January 31, 2008 at 8:59am

Penn & Teller MISQUOTED Wendi BADLY. In fact, they used a very old trick in advertising called "selective instance" to make it sound like she had said something that she NEVER said! They also IGNORED the FOUR university professors that BACKED Wendi's statements to the hilt.

She has NEVER claimed to cure cancer, as they stated she did. And, after the show aired, Wendi actually got death threats from people who had watched the show and who had either lost family members to cancer or from cancer victims, themselves!

If anything HAD happened to her, Penn & Teller may well have been legally accountable for what occurred, as I understand it, as their show would have been the inciting act that caused the violence!

Wendi was planning on filing suit, but decided that, from what I understand and recall from talking with her about it, that doing so would only fuel the P.R. hype about the negative side of the show and hypnosis in general.

Let it die, people.

Please.

Lee Darrow, C.H.

Comment by Angela Iozzia on February 4, 2008 at 11:40am

I saw part of that when it aired. I shut it off because all I saw were two angry frustrated men trying to prove they are right. When they intereviewd Wendi, It was just too much for me.
I think in the end, P&T along with the rest of the world, needs to realize that healing comes from within. Any qualified medical or complimentary practitioner can help, but can't heal. That is up to the individual.

Blessings,

Angela~

Comment by Lee Darrow on February 4, 2008 at 12:50pm

Fries, the show was taped and in the can BEFORE the first episode ever aired. Wendi was told, SPECIFICALLY by the producers and by Penn & Teller, that it would be a "positive view of hypnosis on her side" and that they would be "attacking some of the fakes out there."

Wendi, to my knowledge, signed NO paperwork regarding litigation (and it wouldn't matter anyway as one cannot sign away one's right to sue) and was apalled at their glad-handing her on the set and then calling her a "hypno-whore" on camera.

As to penile enlargement, you MIGHT want to take a look at the Harvard study on this - there is some research that shows that it works, to a limited extent.

Again, editing out statements, like "to assist in cancer treatment" and "this is not" before "a claim that I have a cure for cancer," is a REALLY good way to torpedo someone and make it sound like that ARE claiming something that they aren't.

P&T are famous for this. Remember: the NEXT episode of the show "proves" that second-hand tobacco smoke is HARMLESS!

That should put their entire show in perspective for everybody.

Lee Darrow, C.H.

Comment by Donn Tefft / Red Crow bfa,mcht (d.d. Hon) on September 12, 2008 at 7:27pm

HUUUUUUUUUUM.

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