by Karen Nazor Hill
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2014/sep/28/used-in-childbirth-smoking-cessation-and-surgery/
“Hypnosis, or some sort of trans inductions, has been around for thousands of years,” says Norman West, a clinical psychologist who often uses hypnotherapy in his practice. Though the entertainment industry may have portrayed hypnosis as a means of getting people to act goofy onstage, its effects are far more productive when used therapeutically, says West.
Hypnosis also is being used in medical situations, including childbirth and surgery. In those cases, hypnosis generally is used to calm the patient and reduce anxiety.
Several studies, including ones done by the University of Florida and the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, showed the pregnant women who used hypnosis had shorter and easier labor, needed less pain medication and suffered lower incidents of post-partum depression.
Classes on how to utilize hypnosis during childbirth are offered in Chattanooga. Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis, a method of childbirth preparation that teaches hypnotic techniques, imagery and visualization, helps moms — in the absence of complications — to experience “comfortable, shorter, easier births,” according to chattanoogahypnobabies.com.
Rena Greenberg of Sarasota has been helping people lose weight using the power of suggestion. She uses hypnosis to make people believe that they have undergone lap band surgery when in reality they have not. She has helped Cathy McHugh lose 130 pounds, Kathy Pieper lose 120 pounds, Barbara Cox 100 pounds and a whole lot more of people with gastric bypass hypnosis program.
James Duckworth, 17, from Bury, Greater Manchester, was munching through 40 bags of salted crisps a week before he decided to get help. James, who was told he suffers from Selective Eating Disorder, overcame his 10 year habit after seeking help from Felix Economakis through hypnosis. 
Childbirth is one of the most painful experiences a human being endures even with the use of drugs to block out some of the pain. But long ago, woman gave birth without drugs, at home with the help of a midwife.
The tragic downing of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH17 has left the families of the 298 passengers and crew on board the ill-fated Boeing 777-200 aircraft having to deal with the unexpected grief and loss of loved ones.
