The Shui Gou Point is an acupuncture point in the meridian named Governing Vessel. Applying pressure on this point for...
When fear grips a patient before surgery, their body responds with elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate, and heightened anxiety that can complicate medical procedures. But what if there was a simple, effective way to transform this experience? On our latest episode of “A Better World with Julann and Fran,” we explored this fascinating topic with Seth-Deborah Roth, a pioneering nurse anesthetist and certified hypnotherapist who is revolutionizing patient care through medical hypnosis.
With 50 years of nursing experience, Seth-Deborah Roth brings a unique perspective to healthcare as both a Fellow of the National Board of Clinical Hypnotherapists and a practicing Nurse Anesthetist. Her dual expertise allows her to bridge traditional medical care with innovative hypnotherapeutic techniques, creating better outcomes for patients across the surgical spectrum.
“When people are uptight and scared, it affects them physically.”
– Seth-Deborah Roth
One of the most compelling aspects of our conversation was learning about pre-operative hypnosis applications. Seth-Deborah explains how patients arrive in pre-op areas already in a heightened state of fear – essentially a negative trance state that affects their physiology.
“When people are uptight and scared, it affects them physically,” she shared. “We have all the tools in the world to help them, and most patients are extremely receptive when I simply say, ‘I’m also a hypnotist and I can help you relax if you’d like.'”
During our interview, Seth-Deborah demonstrated the fascinating “glove anesthesia” technique – a hypnotic method that creates numbness in the hand through visualization:
This technique has proven so effective that Seth-Deborah has successfully helped patients who couldn’t tolerate IV insertion due to anxiety.
For procedures requiring conscious sedation, Seth-Deborah has developed an innovative anchoring technique:
Our conversation also explored hypnotherapy’s role in addiction recovery. Seth-Deborah explained how different substances create varying challenges:
The key insight? “It’s like a stroke patient – they can relearn how to walk and talk, but it takes time because you’re rebuilding the brain in a different way.”
“If we could get to people earlier and help them stay healthy using these techniques, it would mean a much easier and happier life for everyone.”
– Seth-Deborah Roth
Perhaps the most compelling testimony came from Seth-Deborah’s personal experiences:
Spinal Fusion Avoidance: Facing a 4-hour spinal fusion surgery, she used visualization techniques for two weeks, imagining blood flow to nerve roots. The result? Complete healing without surgery – she never had the operation and remains pain-free.
Torn ACL Recovery: After tearing her ACL and both meniscus cartilages, six weeks of hypnotic healing work resulted in completely healed meniscus tissue, leaving only the ACL requiring surgical repair.
Seth-Deborah also incorporates Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) techniques, including:
The interview highlighted how emotional states directly affect surgical outcomes:
Seth-Deborah’s work represents a growing movement toward integrative healthcare that combines traditional medical expertise with evidence-based complementary therapies. As she noted, “If we could get to people earlier and help them stay healthy using these techniques, it would mean a much easier and happier life for everyone.”
Ready to explore how medical hypnosis could benefit your healthcare journey? Seth-Deborah Roth continues to practice both as a nurse anesthetist and hypnotherapist, offering services through Zoom consultations and in-person hospital visits.
Listen to the complete interview on “A Better World with Julann and Fran” to hear more about these revolutionary healthcare approaches and discover how the power of the mind can transform medical experiences.
Join hosts Julann and Fran as they explore innovative approaches to creating positive change in healthcare, wellness, and personal development. New episodes feature expert guests sharing practical insights for building a better world, one conversation at a time.
Medical hypnosis is the use of hypnotherapeutic techniques in healthcare settings to help patients manage pain, reduce anxiety, and improve surgical outcomes. It involves guided relaxation and focused attention to create a trance-like state that can reduce stress and promote healing.
Pre-operative hypnosis helps calm patients before surgery by addressing their fear and anxiety. Techniques include relaxation exercises, positive visualization, and creating ‘anchors’ that can be activated during the procedure to maintain calm states and reduce the need for additional medications.
Glove anesthesia is a hypnotic technique where patients imagine their hand in ice-cold water until it becomes numb. The practitioner uses sensory cues and touch to reinforce the numbness, which can then be transferred to other body parts for natural pain management during medical procedures.
Yes, hypnotherapy can be effective for addiction recovery by addressing underlying emotional causes and rebuilding neural pathways. It helps patients develop new coping mechanisms and connects them with their ‘true self’ while healing inner emotional wounds that may contribute to addictive behaviors.
Medical hypnosis is safe when performed by qualified practitioners like certified hypnotherapists with medical training. It complements traditional anesthesia and can actually improve surgical outcomes by reducing patient stress, lowering blood pressure, and making anesthesia management easier.
Medical hypnosis is safe when performed by qualified practitioners like certified hypnotherapists with medical training. It complements traditional anesthesia and can actually improve surgical outcomes by reducing patient stress, lowering blood pressure, and making anesthesia management easier.
The Relieve Your Mind’s Team
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