Hypnotizability and the use of traditional dhami-jhankri healing in Nepal.
This study examined the role of hypnotic responsiveness in the practice of a dhami-jhankri, a traditional Nepali healer. The hypnotic capacity of 248 male patients was measured in an allopathic (Western) clinic, an Ayurvedic (ancient Hindu healing art) clinic, and a dhami-jhankri's practice. Hypnotizability was assessed using the Hypnotic Induction Profile (HIP). The Induction scores of the HIP were significantly higher among the dhami-jhankri's patients than among either the Ayurvedic or allopathic patients. Furthermore, patients who returned to the dhami-jhankri were more highly hypnotizable than first-time dhami-jhankri patients. In addition, treatment satisfaction as reported by dhami-jhankri patients was positively correlated with HIP scores. The authors conclude that hypnotic phenomena as measured in the West might be an important component of the dhami-jhankri's treatment in the East.
Biswas
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Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305-5718, USA.
See
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Kogon
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Spiegel
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D003710:Demography; D006801:Humans; D006990:Hypnosis; D008297:Male; D008518:Medicine, East Asian Traditional; D008602:Mental Healing; D009390:Nepal