The Science Behind Hypnosis
What the Experts Say: The Science Behind Hypnosis and the Healing Power of the Parasympathetic Response
By Chrysalis Hypnosis and Wellness
In today’s fast-paced world, most of us spend too much time in fight-or-flight mode—our sympathetic nervous system constantly on alert. Hypnosis offers a scientifically supported way to shift into the parasympathetic nervous system, the body’s natural state of rest, restoration, and healing.
Below, leading researchers and clinicians share their findings on how hypnosis facilitates this profound shift, restoring calm, clarity, and resilience.
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Dr. David Spiegel – Stanford University
Dr. David Spiegel, psychiatrist and Medical Director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at Stanford University, is one of the world’s foremost authorities on clinical hypnosis. His research demonstrates how hypnosis alters brain activity to promote focused attention and deep relaxation.
“Hypnosis provides a powerful means of enabling people to enter a state of focused attention and relaxation, helping them shift from the ‘fight or flight’ mode of the sympathetic nervous system to the ‘rest and digest’ mode of the parasympathetic nervous system.”
This shift is not just psychological—it’s measurable in heart rate, respiration, and neurochemical activity.
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Dr. Peter Gruzelier – Imperial College London
Dr. Gruzelier’s studies reveal that hypnosis activates parasympathetic responses, fostering balance within the autonomic nervous system.
“Hypnosis has been shown to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, inducing a state of deep relaxation that counteracts the effects of stress and anxiety.”
His findings validate what hypnotherapists witness daily: clients emerging calmer, clearer, and more emotionally regulated.
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Dr. Michael Yapko – Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Yapko, an authority in hypnosis for depression and anxiety, teaches that hypnosis is a natural method of emotional regulation.
“Hypnosis is a natural method of accessing the body’s relaxation response, helping to shift the autonomic nervous system from sympathetic to parasympathetic dominance.”
Through guided hypnotic states, clients learn to access this “relaxation response” whenever needed—empowering themselves to manage stress and restore balance.
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Dr. Herbert Benson – Mind/Body Medical Institute, Harvard
Cardiologist Dr. Herbert Benson introduced the concept of the “relaxation response.” Although not exclusively hypnosis-focused, his research parallels the physiological benefits of hypnotherapy.
“Hypnosis is one way to evoke the relaxation response, engaging the parasympathetic nervous system to lower stress and support bodily functions such as digestion and recovery.”
His work laid the foundation for modern mind-body medicine—proving relaxation is as vital to health as nutrition or exercise.
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Dr. Ernest Rossi – Psychobiology and Mind-Body Healing
A pioneer in psychobiology, Dr. Rossi explored how hypnosis triggers biological processes of repair.
“The psychobiological shifts induced by hypnosis, including the shift to parasympathetic nervous system dominance, are essential for facilitating mind-body healing and recovery.”
Rossi’s work supports the idea that our thoughts, emotions, and physiology are interwoven—and hypnosis provides the bridge between them.
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Dr. Steven Jay Lynn – Binghamton University
Dr. Lynn’s research highlights hypnosis as a reliable pathway to stress reduction and emotional equilibrium.
He emphasizes that hypnosis strengthens the mind’s ability to influence bodily systems—cultivating calm awareness and emotional flexibility.
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Milton H. Erickson – The Father of Modern Hypnotherapy
“The purpose of hypnosis is to assist the patient in achieving his or her own goals.”
Milton Erickson reminded practitioners that every individual already holds the inner resources for transformation. The hypnotist’s role is simply to guide awareness inward, unlocking innate healing potential.
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The Chrysalis Perspective
At Chrysalis Hypnosis and Wellness, we embrace this science-based understanding of hypnosis as a mind-body reset. Whether through guided imagery, breath work, or relaxation hypnosis, our goal is to help clients activate their parasympathetic healing state—a place where stress dissolves and the body’s natural intelligence begins to restore balance.
When you enter hypnosis, you’re not losing control—you’re regaining connection.
You’re allowing your nervous system to remember what calm truly feels like.
Ready to Start your transformation?
👉 Visit hypnosisandhypnotism.ca or call (226) 499-6762 to book your free discovery call.
