Some examples of research carried out into the area of clinical hypnotherapy, shows how effective hypnosis can be, specifically, in medical applications.

Weight loss:
Studies have shown that the use of hypnosis motivational suggestions produced an average 17 pound weight loss compared to half a pound weight loss in the control group after 6 months.
A further study showed including hypnosis in a weight loss program doubled the amount of weight lost.

In a study-of-studies, Kirsch, Montgomery, and Sapirstein analyzed cognitive-behavioral therapy (for all sorts of issues) with and without additional hypnosis. The addition of hypnosis substantially improved results in at least 70% of clients. Effects seemed particularly pronounced for treatment of obesity: clients who had received hypnosis continued to lose weight after the treatment ended. These results were particularly striking because of the few procedural differences between the hypnotic and non hypnotic treatments.

Smoking:
Research supports a thorough, individualised multi-session approach. Elkins and Rajab reported 95% of patients satisfied with their treatment, 81% stopped smoking, and 48% still stopped after one year with a 3-session treatment. Watkins reported 78% immediate quitting and 76% success at six months, and in a review of research, Holroyd found rates at six month follow up of up to 88%. 

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS):
At Manchester University, one study group found long-term follow-up rates of 95% success with classical, refractory IBS cases who had previously failed with an average of six types of treatment. Certain atypical patients had a wide range of lower rates, but classic-form IBS in patients under 50 had a 100% success.

Pain relief:
In a study-of-studies, Malone and Strube found that hypnosis was by far the most effective non-chemical treatment for pain, more effective than biofeedback, cognitive therapy, relaxation, operant behaviour methods, TENS units, and even more effective than a package of several of these. Pain relief, unlike most issues, depends on the natural suggestibility of the patient. Individuals with low hypnotizability find different pain relief methods much the same. But Stern, Brown, Ulett and Sletten found that highly hypnotizable people can find hypnosis even more effective than morphine.A study by Gaal, Goldsmith and Needs found that with hypnosis, children needed only one-fifth of the usual amount of pain medication after an operation.

Recovery from operations:
Quite brief hypnosis (30 - 60 minutes) by the anaesthetist before an operation can notably improve recovery afterwards. Disbrow, Bennet and Owings made suggestions of early return to normal bowel movements and reduced hospital stay so much that an average saving of $1200 per patient was made.

Recovery following injury:
Clinical Hypnotherapy has been shown to be effective in helping people to recover from physical injury (Ginandes, 2003). Broken bones, sprains and soft tissue injuries can be aided to heal more quickly with a course of hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy can accelerate healing at the tissue level by using the mind to help make structural changes to the body.

Hypnosis and the Medical Community:
The benefits of hypnosis have been known for decades. As early as the 1950s, both the British and American Medical Associations declared hypnosis to be a useful therapeutic tool. Modern day hypnotherapy has very strong connections with the worlds of psychotherapy and psychoanalysis.