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Home | Reading Minds | Mind Control Tests | Secret Skills | Behind the screen | Find Out More
In this week's episode of Mind Control, Derren invites three medical students to join him at London's Old Operating Theatre for what turns out to be one of his most disquieting performances. Seated within its ominous confines, he asks each of them if they have ever experienced toothache. No sooner has he finished talking about the blinding, excruciating agony, than each student's mouth contorts with pain. Seconds later – on Derren's instruction – the pain is suddenly gone.
Then, confident that his volunteer will feel nothing, Derren threads a needle through the hand of one student. The others in the group are shocked that their friend does not feel any pain or discomfort.
How then, does Derren have the power to cause or kill pain at will? The answer, he believes, lies in the art of suggestion. 'It's about keeping the mind off the pain,' says Derren. 'Before the needle experiment, for instance, I have convinced the student that his hand is completely numb. Another analogy might be when you are cutting vegetables and don't realise that you have cut your finger until you see blood. As soon as you notice the cut, it suddenly starts to hurt.'
This natural anaesthetising technique has intrigued, and in some cases assisted, the medical profession for many years. One of the most perplexing stories is that of the Brazilian José Arigó who became famous in the 1960s for reportedly performing an emergency operation on a dying woman, using a rusty knife. Subsequent operations carried out under similar circumstances, proved just as successful.
These experiences rely on hypnosis as a form of natural pain control. This has become increasingly significant in all fields of medicine and is now used to help alleviate everything from phobias to the pain of childbirth. Hypnosis expert David Spiegel, for example, says that he has been able to help several women experience painless childbirth by 'hypnotising them into concentrating on things other than the forthcoming pain.'
'Pain,' says Derren, 'is a very subjective thing.'
Anyone considering attempting any of Derren's 'pain power' experiments, however, should take note: unless you've spent years honing your technique like he has, don't try this at home; unless you want to lose friends and alienate people, don't try this at parties. And, when it comes to toothache, stick to aspirin for now.
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The Beginner's Guide to Self Hypnosis by Ursula Markham (Vega Books, 2003)
Informative and easy-to-understand introduction offers a range of self-help techniques from which everyone can benefit. Problems such as smoking, stress, pain and low self-esteem are tackled. Buy this book from Amazon.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hypnosis by Linda Temes (Alpha Books, 1999)
A fun, easy-to-follow and responsible guide that shows readers how they can practice hypnotherapy on themselves or others as a tool against such behaviours or disorders as smoking, overeating, insomnia, depression, migraine headaches, impotence and much more. Buy this book from Amazon.
Self-hypnosis: The complete guide to better health and self-change by Brian Alman (Souvenir Press, 1993)
Addresses many issues that we all have trouble with, to greater or lesser extents, with an excellent chapter on pain control. Buy this book from Amazon.
Hypnosis for the People
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/sci_tech/2002/ boston_2002/1825175.stm
Professor David Spiegel argues that all doctors should know how to use hypnotherapy on their patients, the benefits being effective pain relief and help coping with long-term illness.
The Power of Mind Over Matter
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/325928.stm
A consultant psychologist argues the case for using hypnosis in the treatment of cancer, and a dentist explains why she uses hypnosis to relieve pain in many of her patients.