Eva

M. Clark, M.A. CCHt Mindbasedhealing.com

(+1) 415.699.2574 eva@evamclark.com

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF HYPNOTHERAPY

IN TREATING MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
Eva M. Clark, MA CHt, MIND based Healing, Santa Cruz, California
Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Project, Monterey, California
e-mail: eva@evamclark.com

Abstract

Background: People diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) encounter many symptoms, both physical and mental.
Current treatments seemed to slow down progression but do not reverse or improve the disease and its symptoms. There is
no known cure for MS.
Materials and Methods: The aim of this study was to review literature, both research, books and courses on
hypnotherapy MS and autoimmune disorders, interview hypnotherapists in the field already successful in improving
symptoms of MS and then test these techniques on volunteers diagnosed with MS to evaluate the most effective
hypnotherapeutic approach. The goal of this study was to design a Multiple Sclerosis Hypnotherapy Program.
There was no control group. The first group of volunteers tracked their own symptoms daily, received 12 sessions in a
period of 6 months; the second group also received 12 sessions, tracked their own symptoms daily as well as complete the MS
Quality of Life-54 questionnaire in the first and last session. The third group was formed by members of the first and second
group that agreed to 6 additional sessions to further test hypnosis techniques as well as integrate the learning from the
sessions into their behaviour and life styles.
Results: All three groups experienced improvement in symptoms such as incontinence, fatigue, pain, level of anxiety and
depression and an increase in the ability to stand or walk for longer periods of time and walk unassisted. Those that had 18
sessions had the greatest symptoms improvement. These improvements were true for both remitting and progressive forms
of MS, recently diagnosed cases and those with more than 35 years of debilitating symptoms.
Conclusion: The results show that the hypnotherapy program designed from this study could reduce both physical and
mental symptoms of MS. This study has also led to the conclusion that the most effective hypnotherapy for MS needs to
supply the client with means to control and reduce their own symptoms but, for sustained improvements, would need to
bring to the clients awareness and then transform the mental patterns specific to people with MS. Treating these patterns
appears to have a direct and sustaining effect on their symptoms.
Keywords: multiple sclerosis, MS, hypnotherapy, hypnosis, visual imagery, NLP, anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain,
incontinence.

1. INTRODUCTION

Multiple Sclerosis is thought to be an
autoimmune disease. This means that cells of the
immune system, which normally attack bacteria,
viruses, etc, attack part of the body. When the
disease is active, parts of the immune system,
mainly the T cells, attack the myelin sheath, which
surrounds the nerve fibres in the brain and spinal
cord. This leads to small patches of inflammation.
The inflammation around the myelin sheath stops
the affected nerve fibres from working properly,
and symptoms develop. When the inflammation
clears, the myelin sheath may heal and repair, and
nerve fibres start to work again. However, the
inflammation, or repeated bouts of inflammation,
can leave a small scar (sclerosis), which is thought
to permanently damage nerve fibres.

There are relapsing/remitting types of MS and

progressive types. The course is unpredictable.
Researchers have not found why the immune
system attacks the myelin sheaths of the central
nervous system or what determines its progression.
Additional there appears to be no correlations
between the amount of lesions and the amount and
intensity of symptoms.
Symptoms vary a great deal from one person to
another no two people have the same combination
of symptoms or same speed of progression. MS can
effect a person physically, such as walking difficulty,
numbness and tingling, fatigue, pain, bladder
dysfunction, or muscle spasm to name a few, and
mentally, such as anxiety, cognitive dysfunction, and
depression.
At present, there is no cure for MS. Treatment
and medication focuses on easing certain symptoms
1

Eva M. Clark, M.A. CCHt Mindbasedhealing.com

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and slowing the progression of relapsing/remitting

MS.
Clinical studies on the effectiveness of
hypnotherapy for MS have mainly focused on pain
management. 1 No clinical research has been found
by the author to treat the disease with
hypnotherapy. Other autoimmune diseases, such as
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), have been treated
with hypnotherapy successfully. There is extensive
research demonstrating the effective use of
hypnotherapy on IBS. 2 This has led to the
establishment of clinics providing this form of
treatment for IBS patients in the UK3.
Additionally hypnotherapy and neuro-linguistic
programing (NLP) are demonstrating to be
effective treatments for allergies4. As with MS, an
allergy is an over-reaction of the immune system,
which leads to inflammation.
Peer interviews reporting clients being symptom
free after hypnotherapy treatment has led the
author and hypnotherapist of this study, Eva M.
Clark, to hypothesize that a program could be
designed to treat multiple sclerosis and its
symptoms.
The present study is aimed to review the
material available, test the findings and design an
effective and standardized program.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

The aim of this study was to review literature,
both research papers, books and courses on
hypnotherapy for MS and other autoimmune as well
as neurological disorders, interview hypnothera-
pists in the field already successful in improving
symptoms of MS with hypnosis, and then test these
techniques on volunteers diagnosed with MS to
evaluate the most effective hypnotherapeutic
approach.
The literature review as well as interviews are
not included in this paper.
There was no control group. The first group of
volunteers tracked their six main symptoms daily,
and received 12 individual sessions of
hypnotherapy with E. Clark every other week for a
period of 6 months. Sessions were usually 1.5 2
hours in duration. 7 volunteers began the study and
5 completed the 12 sessions. 17 participants began
the second group, 2 did not continue after the first
session, and 5 only completed have of the program.
10 completed the 6 months. The second group track
their own symptoms daily as well as complete the
MS Quality of Life-54 in the first and last session.
After results of the first two groups as well as
new literature was reviewed that could prove key to

the final design of the program, a third group was

tested. This third group was formed by 10
members of the first and second group that agreed
to 6 additional sessions to further test hypnosis
techniques as well as integrate the learning from
the sessions into their behaviour and life styles.
This third group completed the MSQP-54 in the first
and after the last session. They did not track their
symptoms daily. All 10 members completed the
additional 6 sessions.
The hypnotherapy used included one session of
muscle-relaxation and one hypnotic suggestion
session for increased well-being. All additional
sessions used more modern forms of hypnotherapy
were the client and their unconscious are engaged
in the therapy. These additional sessions were
focused on discovering cause of the disease and the
messages behind each symptoms, altering limiting
beliefs and mental patterns specific to their
symptoms, defining and maintaining personal
boundaries, resolve inner conflicts, re-missioning
their lives, transforming how they see their disease
and future, as well as learning techniques of self-
hypnosis to relieve depression, fatigue, pain,
spasticity, etc.

3. RESULTS

The volunteers showed promising results. For
instance, 6 of the 8 participants that used the MSQL-
54 in their first session, 12th session and 18th
session showed considerable improvements at both
the 12th session and 18th session. In one case the
subject had persistent pneumonia for a good part of
the second half of the study that influenced
negatively her symptoms. In another singular case
the subject began with gradual improvement in
symptoms in the first 8 sessions but then returned
to values noted in the first session by the 12th
session and continued without change up to the 18th
session.
On average, cognitive function went from 65%
at the start to 95% after the 9th month. In energy,
the MSQL-54 showed increases from 30% to 60%
and pain improved from 35% to 50% over that
same time period. Overall the physical health
composite score improved from 45% to 60% and
the mental health composite scored from 50% to
80%. In some cases participants reported being
totally free of several of their symptoms. This is
true for both remitting and progressive forms of MS,
recently diagnosed cases, and those with more than
30 years of debilitating symptoms.

Eva M. Clark, M.A. CCHt Mindbasedhealing.com

(+1) 415.699.2574 eva@evamclark.com

Table 1. Sample of MSQL-54 scores at start, 6 months, and 9 months for cases of Secondary Progressive and Relapsing
Remitting.

Eva M. Clark, M.A. CCHt Mindbasedhealing.com

(+1) 415.699.2574 eva@evamclark.com

Figure 1. The proposed Hypnotherapy Program for the effective treatment of multiple sclerosis in 18 sessions transformed
the Mental Patterns of MS, MS Response to Life, into Healthy Integrated Response to Life

4. DISCUSSION

The two tracking forms used by the groups did not
appear to show the changes witnessed. Personal
comments
in
session,
testimonials,
the
hypnotherapists observations as well as comments
received from their health practitioners, massage
therapists, and physical therapists marked far
greater improvements than what was recorded by
the participants in their forms. Daily tracking was
considered the most subjective and least accurate
reflector of changes. The MSQLP-54 showed
improvements experienced in physical and mental
health though which symptoms where most
effected is not detailed by the questionnaire.
Most subjects showed significant improvement
after the first few sessions, then a small reduction in
improvements and then further improvements after
the 9th session. Stressful life events (SLE), such as
family conflicts, accidents, flus and holidays had
significant effects on symptoms through the first 12
sessions.
Those that received the 6 additional sessions
continued to experience improvements and, more
importantly, it appears that their improvements
were less susceptible to SLE.
The longer period of hypnotherapy also helped
to re-establish improvements when some of the
participants readapted old habit patterns when
their symptoms decreased (eg. work all day without
breaks, not listening to their bodies, and push
themselves to do more and more) and their
symptoms immediately returned or new symptoms
appeared. This was a marked moment of learning
for both the hypnotherapist and these participants
of the apparent relationship of their mental
patterns and their symptoms.

5. CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study has led to the following
conclusion:

People diagnosed with MS have ingrained habit
patterns of the mind specific to their symptoms.
When those habit patterns are transformed using a
combination of methods that bring (1) insight into a
persons habit patterns and (2) resources to modify
those patterns, the symptoms decrease and
frequently disappear.

Transforming these mental patterns, as
summarized in Figure 1, seems to create the
greatest reduction and stability of reduction in both
mental and physical symptoms, in all four types of
MS.
A clinical trial of this program of hypnotherapy
could demonstrate most accurately these
improvements. The trial would need to utilize test
materials that would cover specific changes in
mental and physical symptoms. Suggested tests
would be:
MS Quality of Life-54 Instrument to assess
quality of life.
Beck Depression Inventory to assess
depression.
Spielbergers State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
to assess anxiety, both apparent and hidden.
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to assess
sleep quality.
Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale
(EDSS) to quantify disability.
Copies of the last MRI administers by their
doctors prior to the first hypnotherapy session
and post the study to assess changes in lesions.

Eva M. Clark, M.A. CCHt Mindbasedhealing.com

(+1) 415.699.2574 eva@evamclark.com

With sufficient clinical support, this program

could become a standard complementary treatment
of MS.

6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The hypnotherapist, E. Clark, would like to
acknowledge Dr. Ruediger Dahlke, medical doctor,
psychotherapist, and author for sharing in detail his
experience and therapy program for clients with
chronic illness, in particular his insights into the
specific mental patterns of people with MS; Dr.
Joaquin Jose Dulcey, neurosurgeon in Columbia, for
sharing the imagery he used successfully with his
patient with MS; Melissa Roth for her Autoimmune
Disorder Program and insights into the possibility
of altering the lesions of MS through this work; Earl
M. Corless and Sharalee Clawson for their
invaluable book and personal shares regarding
Sharalees healing journey through her MS; and

Paula Marie Jackson for sharing her experience in

healing herself through guided imagery as well as
her insights into preparing this study and her
encouragement in continuing this work come rain
or shine.

7. AUTHORS CONTRIBUTIONS

Eva M. Clark designed and held the sessions of
hypnotherapy as well as administered the MSQLP-
54 questionnaire.
Grant Helm, Executive Director of MSQLP,
encouraged his MSQLP members to participate in
the study and has been a follower and supporter
throughout. He helped find funding for the third
group and has continued to seek collaboration to
support and fund a future clinical trial locally and
with members of MSQLP.

References

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Issue 8414, Pages 1232-1234, 1 December 1984

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Correspondence to: Dr. W. M. Gonsalkorale Hypnotherapy Unit, Withington Hospital, Nell Lane, Manchester M20 2LR, UK
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Gastroenterology, 2007: 133: 1430-1436, Nov. 2007
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responsiveness American Journal of Gastroenterology (2002) 97, 954-961; doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2002.05615.x
3 Hypnotherapy in severe irritable bowel syndrome: further experience Gut, 1987, 28, 423-425 By: P. J. Whorwell, Alison Prior

and S. M. Colgan, The Department of Medicine, University Hospital of South Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Disclaimer: The hypnotherapist, Eva M. Clark, utilize induction of hypnosis, and methods and principles used to
help clients discover their inner creative abilities to develop positive thinking and feeling and to transform
undesirable habits and behavior patterns. Eva M. Clark service does not include the practice of medicine, as
Hypnotherapist is not a licensed physician. These services are non-diagnostic, and are complementary to the healing
arts services that are licensed by the state of California.
Open-Access article: This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons (CC)
Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in others forums, provided the original author
and source are credited and subject to any copyright notices concerning any third-party graphics. Etc.