Gary Elkins, PhD, highlights the efficacy of self-hypnosis against hot flashes

A recent randomized clinical trial led by Gary Elkins, PhD, professor at Baylor University, examined the effectiveness of self-administered clinical hypnosis in reducing hot flashes among postmenopausal women and breast cancer survivors.

Participants were assigned to either a 6-week self-hypnosis program or a sham hypnosis control that matched the intervention in session number and contact time. By the end of the 6-week period, women using self-hypnosis experienced an average 53% reduction in hot flashes.

Notably, this improvement continued even after the intervention ended. At 3 months, reductions exceeded 60% overall, with breast cancer survivors achieving approximately a 64% decline. These findings underscore the durability of benefits as women continued independently practicing self-hypnosis after the study period.

According to Elkins, the results have significant implications for accessibility and scalability of symptom management. Previous research has demonstrated the effectiveness of therapist-delivered hypnotherapy—often reducing hot flashes by 60% to 80%—but access has been limited because of the cost and scarcity of trained providers.

This study shows that self-hypnosis paired with guided audio recordings can reproduce meaningful clinical benefits without ongoing therapist involvement, making it feasible for widespread use at low cost. Importantly, participants not only maintained but continued to improve after the structured program ended, suggesting strong long-term potential.

Elkins also noted that self-hypnosis is safe, has no known side effects, and can easily be combined with other vasomotor symptom treatments, including low-dose hormone therapy, antidepressants, and supplements. The self-guided approach is now available through Mindset Health’s Evia app, which delivers daily sessions and enables users to track symptoms. Combining self-hypnosis with other therapies may allow women to use lower doses of medication if desired while gaining additional symptom control and a greater sense of autonomy.

Future research will focus on 2 major areas: testing the integration of self-hypnosis into real-world clinical practice through larger trials, and examining its effects on sleep. Because many women experience sleep disturbances as severely as hot flashes, understanding how hypnosis can support sleep quality and duration is a priority.

Elkins emphasized that clinical hypnosis is a natural state of focused attention—similar to mindfulness or relaxation techniques, but targeted to specific symptoms. Contrary to misconceptions shaped by stage performances, hypnosis is a common and accessible mind-body skill. He anticipates that self-hypnosis will continue emerging as a widely usable, empowering therapy for managing menopausal symptoms.

No relevant disclosures.

Reference

Elkins G, Arring N, Morgan G, et al. Self-administered hypnosis vs sham hypnosis for hot flashes: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(11):e2542537. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.42537