You may not have heard of Hypnopuncture, but I’ve been using it for nearly 20 years as an integrated mind-body therapy employing hypnosis and acupuncture together. If you’re intrigued by this and want to know more then read on.
I’m Paul Haynes, a hypnotherapist and acupuncturist with extensive experience. I offer unique Hypnopuncture treatments from my clinics located in Chester, Manchester, and London.
“I’ve tried all sorts of things in the past, you name it, I’ve tried it, and any changes have never lasted for more than a few weeks. But this time with Hypnopuncture it’s been so different. From the start, it felt so natural and the positive changes I’ve seen, seem to come from deep within me.”
Susie Cusick, Oxfordshire
Hypnopuncture is a treatment that combines Hypnotherapy and Ear Acupuncture and I recommend it to some clients for a range of issues, including weight loss, stopping smoking, habits & addictions and fears & phobias.
The treatment was originally developed at Middlesex University’s Research Centre for Health by myself and acupuncturist Alex Owen in 2007. The treatment was offered as a two-therapist treatment initially, but in 2011 I trained in auricular acupuncture and from then on I have been able to offer hypnopuncture as a single therapist treatment.
This amazing and unique treatment can be used for a wide variety of conditions, but I use it mainly for stopping smoking/addictive behaviours, weight loss and anxiety issues. Hypnopuncture is currently available from my clinics in London, Manchester and Chester.
The mind-body connection is an important aspect to consider when we look at how best to treat many of the conditions that clients need help with.
It is nearly always the case that our issues have both psychological and physical aspects to them. For example, someone with an anxiety disorder will be experiencing anxious and negative thoughts for much of the time, but alongside this there will be the physical symptoms of anxiety such as churning stomach and racing heartbeat.
When a heavy smoker gives up smoking, they will inevitably have to overcome the mental challenge of tempting thoughts to have a cigarette. But they will also probably experience some unpleasant physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal such as headaches, muscle aches and nausea.
So a treatment that can target both the mental and physical symptoms, could have enormous benefits for the client, and this is the key factor behind the idea of combining hypnotherapy with acupuncture.
Hypnotherapy helps with psychological issues by working with the unconscious mind, whilst acupuncture treats the body and is used mainly to help with physical ailments and symptoms. When combined to form an integrated mind-body therapy they can produce amazingly effective results.
The protocol for the treatment is very straightforward. Once the consultation has been completed, and the client is ready to start the treatment, I begin by hygienically inserting four or five very fine and tiny acupuncture needles on the outer ear. All needles are pre-packed, sterilised and single use only.
Once the needles are inserted and the client is comfortable, I then commence the hypnotherapy session. The needles stay in whilst hypnosis is taking place and are taken out just before the client is brought out of the hypnotic trance.
If the client has agreed beforehand, I will then place a number of ear seeds (tiny metal beads) onto specific acupuncture points on the ear. The seeds are attached via small transparent plasters.
The ear seeds stay in for up to 3 or 4 days, and the idea is for the client to press the beads regularly to stimulate the acupuncture points on the ear. The beads can then easily be removed by peeling off the plaster they are attached to.
Acupuncture, is based on the understanding that the proper flow of energy, or qi, (pronounced ‘chee’) within our bodies is essential for good health. The energy flows through invisible channels known as meridians, which have an impact on our physical and mental well-being.
Any disruption in the flow of energy can lead to health problems. These meridians are not limited to our bodies but can also be found in our ears.
Acupuncture involves the use of thin needles or beads that are inserted into specific points along the meridian lines. The purpose of this is to restore the flow of qi by resolving any blockages or disruptions.
Repeated sessions of acupuncture can help the body and mind to heal itself by restoring a healthy flow of natural energies throughout the system.
With Ear or Auricular acupuncture therapy, the outer ear is seen as a microcosm of the rest of the body, and so there are acupuncture points for every part of the body and mind, located on the ear.
Below I have answered some of the most commonly asked questions surrounding ear acupuncture
An experienced ear acupuncturist like myself, will ensure there will be no pain beyond the light pinch of the needles. Many clients feel nothing at all.
Occasionally, if a client is hypersensitive to needles, I will place them into hypnosis before putting the needles in.
The needles will not cause bleeding during insertion but there may be blood spots when they are taken out. A cotton ball is then used to apply pressure to the area.
No, all clients become oblivious to the needles once they go into hypnosis.
No not really, they are quite discreet. The plasters used are transparent and the seeds themselves are very tiny.
If you would like to know more about how I can help you make that positive shift in your life then why not have an initial consultation with me for free. Book your no charge, no-obligation telephone consultation now by entering your name, phone number and email address into the contact form.
If you’re interested in trying Hypnopuncture then please call me on 07367 660341 and leave a message or alternatively fill out my contact form on this page for a no-charge, no-obligation consultation.
