To highlight the effects of hypnotic focused analgesia (HFA), 20 healthy participants underwent a cold pressor test (CPT) in waking basal conditions (WBC) by keeping the right hand in icy water until tolerable (pain tolerance); subjective pain was quantified by visual scale immediately before extracting the hand from water. The test was then repeated while the participants were under hypnosis and underwent HFA suggestions. Cardiovascular parameters were continuously monitored. Pain tolerance was 121.5+/-96.1 sec in WBC and 411.0+/-186.7 sec during HFA (p < 0.0001), and visual rating score 7.75+/-2.29 and 2.45+/-2.98 (p < 0.0001), respectively. CPT-induced increase of total peripheral resistance was non significant during HFA and +21% (p < 0.01) in WBC. HFA therefore reduced both perception and the reflex cardiovascular consequences of pain as well. This indicates that hypnotic analgesia implies a decrease of sensitivity and/or a block of transmission of painful stimuli, with depression of the nervous reflex arc.

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In the last years, the Laboratory of Experimental Hypnosis of the University of Padova and of the Institute Franco Granone of Torino, also in collaboration with the Foundation Hospital San Camillo in Venice, studied the effectiveness and the mechanisms of hypnotic analgesia in non-trigeminal an trigeminal pain. In this paper, the results of our work are summarized, starting from what was already known on the topic and exploring experimentally many different aspects of hypnotic analgesia. All the studies described in the present paper were conducted following scientific protocols and using the methods and means of Galilean science, employing in particular many instruments pertaining to human physiology and belonging to cardiology and neurology. This leads to the demonstration that hypnotic analgesia is an objective, real and measurable phenomenon.

Hypnotic focused analgesia (HFA) induces local anesthesia. The possibility to induce hypnotic general anesthesia (HGA) has never been investigated. An experimental study was conducted with 10 highly-hypnotizable young volunteers to compare the effects of HFA and those, if any, of HGA on pain perception and its reflex consequences. Pain tolerance was measured through the mA of current necessary to induce maximum tolerable pain, and sympathetic discharge through the response of peripheral resistance (PR). All experienced pain reduction at the maximum ESMN during HFA (-75%, p<0.0001) and HGA (-87%, p<0.0001) in comparison to prehypnosis; 4 during HFA and 7 during HGA reported complete analgesia. The pain tolerance increased by 68% and by 101% (p=0.034), respectively. In prehypnosis, a 65.8% increase of the forearm PR was observed during maximum tolerable pain. Lower variations of PR were observed during HFA and no variations during HGA. HGA therefore exists and prevents pain perception and its consequences.