Twenty-four smokers screened from 132 volunteers underwent hypnosis suggestion and performed a smoking-related cue task twice during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning. The number of cigarettes smoked per day was recorded at follow-up visits. The smokers reported decreased craving after hypnosis. Functional connectivity between the rDLPFC and the left insula were increased in the hypnotic state. The reduced craving was related to the DLPFC-insula network, which reflected the immediate mechanism of hypnosis on smoking. The number of cigarette use at the 1-week and 1 month follow-up was correlated with the rMFG activation which reflecting hypnotic depth, suggesting the follow-up effect of hypnosis on smoking depended on the trait of smokers.
Li X, Chen L, Ma R, et al. The neural mechanisms of immediate and follow-up of the treatment effect of hypnosis on smoking craving.

[Published online ahead of print, 2019 Apr 26].
Brain Imaging Behav. 2019;10.1007/s11682-019-00072-0. doi:10.1007/s11682-019-00072-0

A clinical study of six chronic stroke patients were observed for qualitative improvements in motor function including increased range motion, increased grip function and reduced spasticity in upper paretic limb region. Hypnosis was used in conjunction with rehabilitative therapy. Hypnotherapists emphasized with the emotional associations that stroke patients had, validated their contribution to society, and then tailored suggestions to positive emotional associations from the past and imagery of increased motion. Main effects of this study was reduced spasticity of upper limb, increased range of motion and increased strength.

2006 British Society of Experimental & Clinical Hypnosis Contemp. Hypnosis 23: 173–180 (2006)

Hypnosis can be used to amplify whatever it is about therapy that makes it therapeutic. Acute and chronic insomnia often respond to relaxation and hypnotherapy approaches. Hypnotherapy has also helped with nightmares and sleep terrors. There are several reports of successful use of hypnotherapy for parasomnias, specifically for head and body rocking, bedwetting and sleepwalking.

Ann Acad Med Singapore. 2008 Aug;37(8):683-8.

Department of Psychiatry, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.