After one hour, 46 genes had already changed in their gene expression, which increased by 154 genes after a day. In total, the expression of a whopping 200 genes changed.
There are indications that we are talking of a domino or cascade-effect, where the first 46 genes trigger the other 154. In the vignette you can read which 40 psychosocial genome functions are influenced by the 200 genes. In most cases, gene expression of damaging reactions like inflammation or cell-death are deactivated, for better immune protection or stem cell healing, for example.
Cozzolino and Rossi believe that this first research is only the start of a new age. With time it will be possible to research more specifically which role hypnosis can play in the treatment of many different illnesses, both somatic and psychosocial ones. Hypnosis could, to be clear, function together with classic medicine, not replace it. It would probably become a part of or complement to the classic treatments.
I am personally convinced that we will be able to distinguish genetic subtypes in the future, and that we can measure for which subtypes of a certain type of cancer it will be useful to incorporate stress management, hypnosis, or self-hypnosis to deliver a significant part of the cure, and for which subtypes this is not useful at all.
Currently we are not sure about this yet. That is the reason why I would use hypnosis as a complement to treatment of an incurable disease, until science can more clearly define and subtype what will work for whom. Meanwhile, I share the opinion that governments and health funds should only finance the ‘evidence based’ treatments, as well as the research for new treatments.
To conclude
Hypnosis is a real physiological process which can clearly help to cure people in certain circumstances.
Scientific research now finally has the tools, such as micro-array DNA-research and radiological imaging, to research how hypnosis works and for whom it may or may not be a useful part of a treatment strategy.
This research is at the start of its possibilities. That is why it is not yet possible to know for which patients hypnosis will help. But it is so that hypnosis, in case it is performed by a medically schooled professional, will do no harm. So no good, no harm, as long as you are in the right hands.
Hypnosis is intensive and several sessions are often needed. It requires more perseverance than the taking of a pil, both for the patient and for the treating person. Hypnosis does not replace human input, which some people like to think, but instead it helps with this.
Read the full Dutch article (pdf):
Can hypnosis genetically manipulate us?