You are here: Home / Archives for general health

Gastric Band through Hypnosis – Ultra-empathy?

January 18, 2012 By

When we hear the words “gastric band”, we think… weight loss surgery. But is surgery necessary if it’s all in the mind?

A woman named Kim Robinson may answer “no”, surgery is not necessary for her. For others though, it may be a different meal on a plate. Kim, who has never physically had gastric band surgery, recently ate her first solid Christmas meal after living on a liquid diet for two years. Kim weighed 21 stone when she chose to have hypnosis for two years to trick her into believing she’d actually physically had gastric band surgery when she hadn’t.

Within 14 months, Kim dropped eight stones – five dress sizes – and is now between size 14 to 16. According to Kim, her hypnotist, Mr Nelson, helped her experience the same feelings that a person really undergoing gastric band surgery would feel. We have to ask, did this all depend on Kim’s openness to suggestion and level of empathy? www.gastricbands.co.uk has its own thoughts.

Hypnosis, empathy and gastric band surgery

People with high levels of empathy, such as those with mirror-touch synaesthesia, can watch a movie and feel emotional and physical responses to what they see on the screen – as if it is really happening to them. It’s because of their overactive mirror neuron system. When reading about a case like Kim Robinson’s, we have to ask:

  • Did the hypnotist use suggestion that appealed in some way to Kim’s mirror neuron system allowing it to become overactive specifically to gastric band surgery, making her feel as if her stomach was the size of a fist for two years even if it wasn’t?
  • Or does Kim naturally have a highly active mirror neuron system that makes her a prime candidate for gastric band hypnosis – taking on physical feelings to what she hears and sees in her mind, like stomach = size of fist?

We have to wonder if those with lower levels of empathy paying for “gastric band” type hypnosis would experience the same kind of result. And, if not empathy, what would make this form of hypnosis work for some and not for others?

Filed Under: general health Tagged With: , ,

Importance of infection control

February 12, 2011 By

We are always surrounded by bacteria and germs and these can sometimes contribute to the development and spread of infections. Infections can be potentially very harmful so it is important to try and control and prevent the spread of infection, especially in areas such as hospitals where patients are already ill and therefore susceptible to infection and in schools because children do not have fully developed immune systems and are consequently prone to illness.

Steps can be taken to control and prevent infections in a variety of settings, from the home to the hospital. In hospitals, members of staff are highly trained in the prevention of cross-infection and work to strict regulations. They also wash their hands on a regular basis, use alcohol hand gel, wear protective clothing, take special precautions when dealing with infected patients and dispose of waste in specific ways.

At home it is possible to reduce the risk of infection by promoting good personal hygiene, washing clothing, bedding and towels regularly, washing hands before preparing food and after going to the toilet and keeping the house clean. It is advisable to disinfect the kitchen and bathroom on a regular basis.

Filed Under: general health Tagged With: , , ,