All healing takes place on a physical - emotional- mental - and spiritual level.

The skin is a mirror of the inner self, and we frequently use phrases which reflect this: 'getting under your skin', 'thin skinned', 'thick skinned', 'itching to do something' for example. These all reflect the fact that it is recognised as a measure of our vulnerability. We use these phrases without thinking about them. It is only when the skin begins to malfunction that these expressions really start to have a meaning.

To understand where a skin conditions come from, it is appropriate to look at where the skin develops when we are in embryonic stage. The epidermis and nervous system originate from the ectoderm 9a specific type of human tissue) and as such, when the embryo fully develops a strong series of connections exist between the two. Here Auricular Therapy - ear acupressure - is also most beneficial for the same connective reasons. Therefore, an imbalance within the nervous system may frequently be reflected in the epidermis itself. It can be a signal of an implicit vulnerability to a situation, i.e. an upset of emotion, or continuous pressure.

Therefore, treating the symptom alone for psychogenic disorders is not as effective as treating the cause as well. This is why hypnosis for skin conditions can be so productive, and the spiritual aspects are built in with an holistic healer.

Hypnosis is effective for the treatment of dermatological conditions in three specific ways. Firstly, treatment of the root cause; secondly, remission of the symptom, and finally through treating the conditioned response to the symptom (the 'knee jerk' reaction.) It is very important to be aware of the very distressing effects, which these types of condition have on the individual, and their sense of self.

CONTROL: With any condition with a spiritual or emotional component, the patient suffers from feelings of being out of control and this is made worse by the visibility of the symptom. This visibility has social implications and can hold the patient back from forming the social bonds which in themselves can take them away from the problem.

MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS; which is the thing of most concern to you? The emphasis here is on which element of the condition you wish to take control of first.

a) The cause;

b) The symptom;

c) The reaction to the symptom i.e. scratching

STRESS: Stress increases the vulnerability of the autonomic nervous system and this has a direct effect on the epidermis. This increases the dermatological symptoms and sets the patient into an anxiety loop. The worse the external stress becomes, the more the autonomic nervous system reacts in response, the worse any dermatological reaction. One of the most effective ways the therapist can help in alleviating the symptom is to teach the patient self-hypnosis for stress reduction.

DEALING WITH THE SYMPTOM: As the symptom provoked can itself cause additional problems, such as poor self-image, and a lack of confidence, this aspect is addressed through special techniques, both spiritual and other. A final aspect in dealing with the symptom in this type of hypnotherapeutic intervention is the generation of new, healthy skin; patients are constantly surprised at the speedy results.

CONCLUSION: Working with dermatological conditions is one of the most rewarding types of treatment in hypnosis, and can be helped in the best way on a spiritual level too. The changes which take place can be viewed directly, and as the condition improves, so confidence increases, and the patient gets into a positive mind set about themselves and their future.

A spiritual belief is not necessary at all, this form of healing works for everyone, regardless of faith. 

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