*4.2.8 Efficacy of hypnosis in the treatment of headache and migraine*

Hypnosis fulfills the research criteria in clinical psychology for it to be considered a well-established efficacious treatment for headache and migraine [58, 59]. No risks of adverse reactions or side effects are produced by hypnosis; this decreases the cost of medication associated to conventional medical treatments [59].

#### *4.2.9 Use of hypnosis and acupuncture for pain relief*

There exists an inherent relationship between acupuncture as a form of traditional Chinese medicine and hypnotic rituals of awareness under conscious hypnosis. Besides its various competent applications in different fields, it is used in surgical operations as the sole anesthetic for pain relief, and also for patient care during pre-, post-, and intra-operative periods [60].

#### *4.2.10 Hypnoanalgesia*

Benefits of pain relief by hypnosis have been documented in numerous studies. Pin prick and laser heat pain stimulation studies, followed by direct suggestions in hypnosis, resulted in decreased pain measured by means of pain-related brain potentials both subjectively and objectively [61]. Hypnoanalgesia was reported for

**33**

**Author details**

**5. Conclusion**

Mikail Hudu Garba1

University of Abuja, Nigeria

Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria

provided the original work is properly cited.

\*Address all correspondence to: mghudu@yahoo.com

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91619*

*4.2.11 Identification of human sexuality*

*4.3.1 Performance enhancement*

*Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy: The Role of Traditional Versus Alternative Approach*

orientation, preferences, and functioning difficulties [63–66].

**4.3 Application of hypnosis in performance enhancement**

repair of atrial septal defects in three patients and for mitral commissurotomy in four patients, using hypnosis as the sole method of anesthesia for one of the patients [62].

In practice, therapists are often confronted with patients seeking therapy for challenges they face owing to their deep-rooted economic, ethical, family, political, religious, and social backgrounds. Therapists find old and newer hypnotic techniques handy in managing the patients' gender ambivalence, identity, sexual

Sport hypnosis helps enhance performance and well-being of an athlete or a user. This form of hypnosis is based on three combined techniques of mental training procedures: self-hypnosis, eyes-open hypnosis, and traditional eye-closed hypnosis. It is a form of alert hypnosis. Post-hypnotic signals or triggers and rhythmic athletic activities can induce sport hypnotic state (SHS) [63]. An alternative state of consciousness is achieved; performance in sport hypnotic state happens in a flow sate, which increases results despite decreased effort, known otherwise as "relaxed effectiveness." Olympic Games champions' reports show that peak performance is achieved through sport hypnotic state training. In the quest for excellent

\* and Mohammed Mamman<sup>2</sup>

performance, sport hypnosis techniques can also be applied [67].

1 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,

Despite the pejorative image display of hypnosis and misconceptions surrounding it, hypnosis still has numerous applications in contemporary medicine. Hypnotherapy conducted by a trained therapist is considered as a complementary or safe alternative to present day orthodox medication for numerous ailments.

2 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,

© 2020 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91619 Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy: The Role of Traditional Versus Alternative Approach*

repair of atrial septal defects in three patients and for mitral commissurotomy in four patients, using hypnosis as the sole method of anesthesia for one of the patients [62].
