NYC Hypnosis
Muscle and nerve disorders
Parkinson's disease
Tourette's syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Neuropathy
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
The symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) can be fairly wide ranging, because the disease involves the deterioration of the myelin which insulates our nerves, and it may happen in different parts of the body in different patients.  (The National MS Society has a good summary of possible symptoms.)

Fortunately, research has started to show that many of the symptoms can be controlled or improved through the use of hypnosis.  In 1996, Joseph R. Dane published an 8-year case study (International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 44:3, 208-231) of a hypnotherapy client with MS who achieved significant pain control and neuromuscular rehabilitation in sitting balance, diplopia (double vision), and ambulatory capacity beginning only 2 weeks after the beginning of treatment.  And George Kraft, director of the Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation, Research, and Training Center in Seattle reports that his initial experiments have been "promising" in relieving MS pain with hypnosis.

Because the symptoms vary so greatly, it is difficult to generalize about treatment duration.  Certain ones like pain and tremor control are fairly easy and don't take very long.  Depression and balance may take longer.  Hearing loss may not be affected by hypnosis.  And your depth of trance will also impact the number of sessions, so if you contact me with your symptoms, I will try to give you an initial estimate which I can confirm by the end of your first session.  Consultation with your doctor is highly recommended.
Parkinson's Disease has gotten more press coverage lately because of celebrity sufferers such as boxer Muhammad Ali and actor Michael J. Fox.  Between 1 and 2 percent of North Americans have symptoms of Parkinson's Disease (PD), and it seems to strike most often at age 50 or above.  The main problem is that those with PD have sustained damage to a part of the brain (substantia nigra) such that not enough dopamine-secreting cells remain to regulate muscle movement.  Symptoms can include muscle tremors, rigidity, rapid or slow movement, postural imbalance, speech and swallowing difficulty, vision problems, fatigue, depression, and insomnia.

I have worked with PD patients to reduce the frequency and severity of tremors, and many of the other symptoms of Parkinson's Disease can be similarly reduced using hypnotherapy.  Because toxins are becoming a larger focus among causes according to research, I also focus on diet and liver health to make sure fewer brain toxins and mineral imbalances occur in the body.  The theory is that if you can stop the flood of minerals and toxins, the progression of the disease can be halted.

In my experience, most clients start to see an improvement in their PD symptoms after only one session, but I recommend at least 3 sessions to increase confidence and check for any adjustment in the suggestions that may be needed.  Since this therapy is only adjunct to your other treatments, consultation with your doctor is not required, but it is recommended as a courtesy.
Tourette's syndrome involves a variety of tics, muscle movements and vocalizations that come in bursts or "bouts."  They can involve a single muscle group or several parts of the body at once.  They can involve unintelligible sounds or bursts of intelligible but often embarassing streams of words.

In my initial experiences with Tourette's syndrome clients, I have noticed a complete cessation of tics during trance, so I am encouraged to follow the protocol of other hypnotherapists who have treated Tourette's syndrome clients and teach self-hypnosis, so that the client can learn to stop each tic earlier and earlier in their onsets.

For most clients with Tourette's syndrome, I would recommend 3 sessions in the first 2 weeks and then monthly refreshers for at least 2 months thereafter.  Consultation with your doctor is highly recommended, especially if you are on antipsychotics or antidepressants.
Huntington's disease
Huntington's disease is similar to Parkinson's disease, but Huntington's seems to be caused by a genetic flaw and protein buildup, and Parkinson's by environmental damage from mineral imbalances or external toxins.  Huntington's also seems to more often involve emotional or behavioral impulsiveness and the movement tics or fidgeting are often less severe and more like jerking and twisting motions.

In 1991, Marylou Witz and Stephen Kahn published a pair of case studies (American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 34, 79-90) in which hypnotherapy was used to treat one Huntington's disease patient with hypnotherapy for 9 years, the other for 10 sessions.  Both patients seemed to see significant improvement in their physical symptoms and their depression.

In order to reduce the frequency and severity of symptoms, I recommend 3 to 6 sessions.  Consultation with your doctor is highly recommended, especially if you are taking antidepressants, tranquilizers, lithium, or antipsychotics, because dosages may have to be discontinued 4 to 24 hours before hypnotherapy may be successfully attempted.
Fibromyalgia involves chronic pain and fatigue in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, and it has only recently gained medical recognition as a serious disease.  The most commonly recommended treatments are physical therapy and exercise, but that may be difficult for many patients because the pains often interrupt sleep and make fatigue a too-frequent barrier to exercise.

In 1991, Haanen, Hoenderdos, et al. published research (Journal of Rheumatology, 18:1, 72-75) suggesting that hypnotherapy yielded significantly better alleviation of muscle pain, fatigue, and sleep disorders than physical therapy in a 2-year study of 40 fibromyalgia patients.

Hypnotherapy treatment for fibromyalgia is a combination of treatment for pain and sleep, so you may want to read my page on sleep disorders as well.  Pain control training can  take between 3 and 6 sessions, depending on your depth of trance, but some clients may experience positive results after only one session.  Consultation with your doctor is recommended, especially if you are on a prescription pain medication.
Peripheral neuropathy is a numbing, tingling, or hypersensitive sensation often in the feet, legs, and/or hands, and it is a complication of several diseases, including:


It may also be a side effect of certain medications or be connected with radiculopathy (neuropathy of the nerve roots).

The Mayo Clinic and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are among numerous agencies that recommend hypnotherapy and hypnosis for controlling pain, including the pain of neuropathy.  The training usually involves a brief meditative exercise you can perform to decrease sensations of pain or discomfort to a tolerable or even an imperceptible level.  It usually requires 1-3 sessions to teach, and refreshers are rarely required.  Consultation with your doctor is recommended if you are taking any prescription medications for pain.
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